The Shire of Ravensthorpe is thrilled to announce the official opening of the Ravensthorpe Cultural Precinct will take place on Monday 11 September from 3-5pm. So many groups and people have contributed to the project's success and we warmly welcome the whole community to celebrate the culmination of over a decade of creativity and dedication.
The stunning collection of timber buildings, crafted from 30 year old plantation stock and integrated with the new Shire of Ravensthorpe offices, ushers Ravensthorpe into the modern era. Honorary Freeman of the Shire and former Shire President Ian Goldfinch was heavily involved in the project from the beginning and says this is a building the whole community can enjoy and be proud of.
“It came about because the old Ravensthorpe Shire offices were built in 1905 and didn’t have the room needed to service a Shire, and also because the community very much wanted to have a modern, cultural space,” Mr Goldfinch said.
It was in 2013 when the Ravensthorpe Community Resource Centre and the Ravensthorpe District Art Group developed plans for renovating their existing buildings. Those discussions led to a proposal to invite all community groups based around Jubilee Park to explore the possibility of a cultural precinct.
In June 2020, Ravensthorpe secured $5.27 million from the Federal Government's Building Better Regions Fund to initiate the development of the Ravensthorpe Cultural Precinct, kick-starting the planning and execution of the distinctive timber project for the main street.
Read more about the project here.
Monday 11 September 2023
3.30pm: MC Geoff Fyfe opens the event, acknowledges dignitaries and invites Annie Dabb (Esperance) and Harley Coyne (Albany) for the Welcome
3.35pm: Joint Welcome to Country – Annie Dabb and Harley Coyne
3.40pm: Ravensthorpe Primary Choir sings Waltzing Matilda
3.45pm: MC introduces Ravensthorpe Historical Society president Andy Chapman to give a 5 min overview of the history of the site
3.50pm: MC calls on Shire President Keith Dunlop to give 5 min overview of project history
3.55pm: Shire President, Keith Dunlop calls on Honorary Freeman of the Shire and former Shire President, Ian Goldfinch. Together they do the Ribbon Cutting/plaque unveiling/ building officially opened.
Formalities will be followed by afternoon tea provided by Ravensthorpe District High School P&C and live music by musician Paige Valentine. Guests are then invited to take a tour to view recent upgrades to the Ravensthorpe Community Centre. The Dunnart Gallery Memory Lane Exhibition will also be open. At 5pm, the Ravensthorpe Wildflower Show will be officially opened at the Ravensthorpe Town Hall.