Wangaratta Creative Precinct

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The Rural City of Wangaratta is thrilled to announce the completion of the Detailed Design for the Wangaratta Creative Precinct. The Detailed Design reimagines the co-development of the Wangaratta Art Gallery, Wangaratta Performing Arts & Convention Centre, and the Wangaratta Visitor Information Centre, creating a holistic, vibrant, and connected cultural precinct within the central business district of Wangaratta.

This significant milestone enables the project to move to the next stage and Council will now actively explore funding opportunities to bring the vision to life.

In June 2023, Council awarded the Wangaratta Creative Precinct Detailed Design contract to Sibling Architecture with funding support from the Victorian Government’s Enabling Tourism Fund. The result is a striking, contemporary, community-led design that draws inspiration from the Wangaratta textile story, the converging of the rivers, and the site’s existing heritage architecture. It addresses constraints such as retaining the elm tree and upgrading essential infrastructure services to meet future needs.

The Creative Precinct will become the heart of Wangaratta. Providing a place for the community to gather and connect, feel welcome and proud - showcasing the best of what our town has to offer.

The completed Detailed Design supplies construction documentation, material specifications, 3D renders and costings for the future development of the Wangaratta Creative Precinct. The planning permit for the project has been submitted and Council is now actively seeking funding support from state and federal government bodies, private donors, and enterprises.

 

Floorplan

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Detailed Design

Download your copy(PDF, 2MB) 

Our journey so far

2014
  • Urgent infrastructure redevelopment identified for Wangaratta Art Gallery; Creative Victoria support secured
2018
  • Funding support secured for Wangaratta Art Gallery feasibility study and location options explored

2020
  • Wangaratta Art Gallery feasibility study completed by Positive Solutions Consultants
  • Wangaratta Performing Arts & Convention Centre business development study with Rob Gerbert Arts Consultancy
  • Creative Victoria infrastructure planning funding secured for the Wangaratta creative business case and concept design
  • Contract awarded to Outside the Square & McCabe Architects for business case and concept designs
2021 to 2022
  • Wangaratta Creative Precinct community consultation
2022 to 2023
  • Wangaratta Creative Precinct business case and concept design completed and adopted by Council

2023
  • Regional Development Victoria funding secured for Wangaratta Creative Precinct Detailed Design
  • Contract awarded to Sibling Architecture for Detailed Design
2024
  • Detailed Design completed
Ongoing
  • Sourcing funding for further stages

Frequently asked questions

The Wangaratta Creative Precinct will enhance existing facilities and address urgent infrastructure needs. Increasing the community's access to Wangaratta's arts and cultural services and ultimately improving the wellbeing of our regional community. It will also attract new cultural opportunities and cultural tourism offering economic growth to the region.

The Wangaratta Creative Precinct will reimagine the existing facilities:

  • Art Gallery: The Gallery requires urgent upgrades; its age and condition mean that significant maintenance costs will continue to grow without work. With additional floor space, the Gallery will be able to accommodate and attract travelling and blockbuster exhibitions and present important First Nations stories. It will provide dedicated spaces for educational programs and community events.
  • Visitor Information Centre: A purpose-built space for visitors in the heart of the Wangaratta CBD, replacing the current kiosk within the WPACC.
  • Performing Arts & Conventions Centre: Now 15 years old, the venue is at physical capacity across conference, convention, and event spaces, it also lacks the expected storage options. The new design provides multipurpose spaces for varying community needs and additional programming for more intimate black box performances.
  • Development of a new dynamic precinct entry on Ovens Street
  • Refurbishment and re-purposing of the existing heritage gallery facilities
  • Construction of new state-of-the-art gallery and back-of-house facilities
  • The addition of a Wangaratta Visitor Information Centre
  • Remodelled café area and increased foyer space
  • Renewed the Memorial Hall spaces and theatre back-of-house facilities
  • Installation of new commercial kitchen and bar facility
  • Outdoor (decked) event and gathering area
  • Loading docks 

The completion of the Detailed Design includes a detailed cost plan (design development). Since November 2021, when the business case figures were submitted, the economy has faced cost escalations in building materials. In addition, finalising the design details increased overall construction costs.

The Detailed Design explored costing options for Precinct's development, including:

  • Simultaneous development: $22,544,891 
  • Staged development: $23,847,891

To date the project has attracted both philanthropic and Victorian State Government support to create the required documentation to enable the project to become shovel ready. Funding contributed to delivery of a comprehensive feasibility study, business case and concept design, and most recently a Detailed Design including design development and construction documentation. See Detailed Design here(PDF, 2MB).

The Rural City of Wangaratta continues to advocate for the Wangaratta Creative Precinct and is now actively seeking funding support from state and federal government bodies, private donors, and enterprises.

Download

Detailed Design(PDF, 2MB)

Contacts

Project Managers

Simone Nolan & Harriet Stone

Phone: (03) 5722 0888

Email: council@wangaratta.vic.gov.au 

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