The James Street Cultural Precinct is one of Esperance’s most significant community redevelopment projects, designed to bring together arts, culture, heritage, community spaces and public amenities in a renewed central precinct. The project aims to create a safer, more welcoming and more accessible destination for locals and visitors, while honouring the heritage of the former railway precinct.
The Shire of Esperance is progressing the project through a staged design and development process, supported by guidance from H+H Architects and informed by stakeholder and community input.
Development Application
A Development Application has been lodged with the Shire of Esperance, and the proposal is open for public comment.
Submissions may be made on the proposal on or before 4pm Thursday, 25 June 2026.
Comments on the proposal may be submitted to the local government in writing to:
Chief Executive Officer
Shire of Esperance
PO Box 507
ESPERANCE WA 6450
Or email shire@esperance.wa.gov.au
Design Development Report Overview
The project will create a connected, easy-to-use community space in the heart of Esperance, bringing together key services and public areas into one welcoming location.
The precinct will include the library, volunteer resource, visitor centre, café, community spaces and links to the museum, all designed to work together in a clear, easy-to-navigate layout.
The design focuses on making the space:
- Easy to access for everyone, with safe pathways, gentle slopes and clear signage
- Welcoming and comfortable, with places to sit, gather and spend time
- Safe to use, including better lighting and visibility
Existing buildings and heritage features will be retained and adapted where possible, helping to tell the story of the former railway precinct.
Outdoor areas will be improved with:
- Shaded spaces
- Landscaping
- Areas for events and informal use
- Safer spaces for day and night use
The design also considers:
- Sustainability, including energy efficiency and climate-responsive design
- Durability, so the precinct lasts over time
- Opportunities to improve how the site operates and reduces ongoing costs
The project has also been planned so it can be:
- Delivered in stages if needed
- Managed within budget
- Built while keeping services running where possible
Community Outcomes
The project will deliver:
- A central community hub for everyday use, events and gatherings
- Spaces that are accessible and inclusive for people of all abilities
- A better experience for both locals and visitors
- A place that supports learning, tourism and community pride
Operational Outcomes
The design will:
- Support efficient day-to-day operations for staff and services
- Clearly separate public areas from staff and service zones where needed
- Improve safety through good design, lighting and visibility
- Be practical to build and operate into the future
The Goods Shed (Esperance Museum) will be respectfully repurposed after completion of Stage 2 of the new Museum, which adjoins the future library facility.
The redevelopment will introduce a mix of contemporary and traditional uses, including:
- food and beverage offerings
- cultural‑art museum space
- museum storage and back‑of‑house areas
- maker space
- digital creative space
Key heritage principles include:
- preserving the original gable form
- protecting view lines toward the water
- exposing original internal structure where appropriate
- designing surrounding buildings so they do not overshadow the heritage form
- using the proportions of original openings to guide any new access points
- incorporating interpretation of the former rail alignment into the landscape
These approaches ensure the Goods Shed remains recognisable and respected as a former Customs and Goods Shed while becoming more accessible and engaging for visitors.
Landscape design is an important part of the project. The review identifies which mature trees are being retained and how new planting will complement the revitalised precinct.
The design has been adjusted so the following significant trees remain:
- Two mature Norfolk Pines (Araucaria heterophylla)
- Large Sheoaks (Casuarina equisetifolia) located at James Street and The Esplanade
These trees provide long‑established shade, character and identity for the precinct, linking the existing landscape to the new public realm.
The design review confirms that the pond, created in the mid‑1970s during redevelopment of the former railway goods yard, will be retired as part of the precinct’s renewal. The Shire acknowledges that many community members have fond memories of the pond.
In its place, the project will deliver the Local Garden, a greener, more sheltered and more accessible space designed for community use. Removing the pond also improves visibility, safety and connectivity through to the internal Communal Square.
With Council’s acceptance of the Design Development Report, the project moves into:
- Development Application phase
- Tender documentation
- refined staging and project programming
- more detailed landscape planning
- shading and comfort design
- water‑sensitive urban design (WSUD) development
- ongoing stakeholder and operational engagement
Further updates will be provided as work progresses.
You can make a submission as part of the Development Application process.
Submissions close: 4pm Thursday, 25 June 2026
View the plans on this site and provide feedback in writing to:
Chief Executive Officer
Shire of Esperance
PO Box 507
ESPERANCE WA 6450
or email shire@esperance.wa.gov.au
All submissions will be considered as part of the Development Application process.
This is a formal process that helps inform decision-making.
