Uni returns to old boys' school roots
WA's biggest tertiary institution is revisiting its roots by expanding its presence in the city.
Curtin University announced yesterday that it would take over the lease of the Old Perth Boys' School building on St Georges Terrace.
The university will partner with the National Trust of WA to occupy the space from this year.
Curtin vice-chancellor Deborah Terry said the building would become a hub for community and stakeholder engagement.
"It will be a city presence for the university where we can have high-level meetings with some of our partners in industry and government," she said.
"It will also be a space for the public to come and learn about our university."
The building was once home to Perth Technical College, run by Curtin.
"We are going back to our roots," Professor Terry said.
It has also been home to the office of the National Trust and housed coffee shops.
National Trust of WA chief executive Tom Perrigo said Curtin stood out among a host of applicants to use the space.
"We are delighted Curtin stepped up, because we wanted to have sustainable and compatible use," Mr Perrigo said.
"It was a public school and now it will be a facility for public education. We could have converted the space into a bar, but that would not have been compatible."
Curtin also runs its Graduate School of Business on Murray Street in the heart of the city.
The Old Perth Boys' School building should be fully kitted out by Curtin by the end of this year.
