New civic building and gardens

Image: Rendering of Botanic Arc in new civic building and gardens design

Background

The City of Subiaco’s Civic Precinct, located in the mid-section of Rokeby Road, is a historically significant local landmark, having served a variety of community functions for over a century.

Today, it forms the heart of the City, encompassing key community facilities such as the E H Parker Library, Subiaco Museum, the old Council Chambers and Administration Centre, as well as the Rankin Gardens, the Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial Clock Tower, and a number of heritage trees and open green spaces. Together, these elements form an integral part of Subiaco’s cultural, civic, and environmental identity.

The Civic Precinct provides an important place for the community to come together for key community events such as the City’s ANZAC and Remembrance Day services, along with outdoor Library and Museum programs like Storytime and Rhymetime.

How this project came about

Originally constructed in the 1960s, the old Council Chambers and Administration Centre (the civic building) at 241 Rokeby Road was nearing the end of its serviceable life when it was further compromised by a fire in September 2022. In response, Council resolved in December 2022 to proceed with the demolition and construction of a new building, subject to a detailed economic analysis.

Ongoing community feedback through a range of engagement activities undertaken over the last several years, including the MARKYT Community Scorecard and Council Plan survey, were used to develop a preliminary concept design for a new civic building and surrounding landscape that is centred around community amenity.

Design of new civic building

In May 2025, following a competitive tender process, which included a jury of architectural industry experts, Lyons Architects were appointed as lead architect firm for the new civic building and gardens.
 
Lyons responded to a design brief, which was informed by community feedback gathered over the past few years through a number of consultation projects, including:
  • 2024 MARKYT Community Scorecard
  • 2025 Council Plan
  • 2020-21 Social Infrastructure Plan
  • 2025 Shenton Park Community Centre consultation
  • 2025 Shenton Park streetscape design consultation.

Click the link above to view an interactive map of the Civic Precinct concept design.

You can also view static renderings from the concept design, which includes a community hub, festival lawn, flexible exhibition space, new civic building - including Council Chambers, grass roots pavilion, botanic arc and more, via this link.
  Rendering
Image: Rendering of Festival Lawn in new civic building and gardens design

Digital flythrough videos of the concept design can be viewed on our YouTube channel.

Have your say

The City is eager to hear from the community about the indoor and outdoor community spaces and what the community would like to see within the surrounding gardens.

There are a variety of ways to provide your feedback, including:
  • A short online survey via Have Your Say Subiaco
  • In person, or postcards to fill out at Postal Walk on Tuesday 18 November, from 11.30am to 1.30pm
  • In person, or postcards to fill out at Subi Farmers Market on Saturday 29 November, from 8am to 12pm
  • In person, or postcards to fill out at the Daglish Tennis Club on Thursday 4 December, from 3.30pm to 5.30pm
  • In person, or postcards to fill out at the Shenton Park Community Centre on Tuesday 9 December, from 8.30am to 10.30am
  • Postcards that will be available to fill out at the City of Subiaco Office at Level 2 388 Hay Street, Subiaco Library, or Lords Recreation Centre.
Community engagement will be open from Friday 14 November to Wednesday 31 December 2025.

Frequently asked questions

Please visit this link to read frequently asked questions about the project and the concept design.

Timeline of Civic Precinct

  • 2024: Design brief development - complete
  • 2025: Architect procurement - complete
  • 2025: Concept design - complete
  • 2025: Community engagement - in progress
  • 2026: Concept verification - in progress
  • 2026-2027: Detailed design
  • 2027-2028: Construction tender process and builder selection
  • 2028-2030: Construction
  • 2030: Estimated practical completion
To read a more detailed timeline of the Civic Precinct redevelopment, and relevant Council resolutions related to the Precinct, visit this link.

More information

Website articles Council decisions
  • February 2021 Ordinary Council Meeting – Decision to investigate potential refurbishment and redevelopment options for the Council Chambers and Administration Centre in the context of a broader Civic Precinct.
  • December 2022 Ordinary Council Meeting – Decision to demolish and rebuild the Council Chambers and Administration Centre at 241 Rokeby Road, and hold Elected Member workshops to develop a project design brief for the Civic Precinct.
  • August 2024 Ordinary Council Meeting – Decision to initiate a two-stage tender process for an architect to prepare a concept design for a new civic building, and a preliminary master plan for the new surrounds within the Civic Precinct.
  • May 2025 Ordinary Council Meeting – Decision to appoint Lyons as lead architect firm for the Civic Precinct redevelopment.
Other concept designs considered by the jury can be viewed here.

Contact

E: city@subiaco.wa.gov.au

extraMile by Dapth