Published on Tuesday, 28 January 2025 at 2:54:00 PM
Welcome to #TimeWarpTuesday! This week we bring to you the next part of our mini-series on heritage places from the Town’s Municipal Heritage Inventory published in June 2000.
Heritage Places - Part Three
Technology Park
“In 1985 a Government initiative to stimulate industrial design and business in high technology equipment was established close to Curtin University. Technology Park, the ‘Silicon Valley of WA’, was the first of its type planned in Australia. Technology Park today, (1997) has 70 organisations and 1400 people employed and generates a large export income. A significant amount of capital and people are involved in research and development and it keeps close ties with WA tertiary institutions.
The CRA Advances Technical Development facility, one of the buildings in the Technology Park, has been recognised for its outstanding Architectural design. As well as an Architecture Design Award in 1990, the building received a special mention in the 1991 International Research and Development Laboratory Awards, was awarded the Triennial Architecture Medal in 1993 and the Architecture Medal (RAIA WA Chapter) for 1994.
“Description
“This is a precinct of individual modern buildings, the most significant of which is the award winning CRA buildings.
“This building, designed by Architects Forbes and Fitzharding in the mid 1980s, won a State RAIA Design Award in its category, followed by a Bronze Medal three years later. The Bronze Medal is awarded to the best of the yearly award winners.
“It is a modern, slick, corporate building which reflects the high profile of a company such as CRA and addressed the design issues of circulation, climate control and function in a direct and uncompromising, yet skilfully designed way. This is tempered by its manicured landscape setting with rolling lawns and dramatic ramped entry over water. On awarding the Triennial Architecture Medal in 1993 the Jury stated:
…was impressed by the high degree of resolution of all aspects of the judging criteria, the consistency and discipline of the formal language in keeping with the technological nature of the facility, the functional articulation of the complex and finally the exploration of a steel aesthetic in the context of Perth’s strong masonry tradition.
“Statement of Significance
“Technology Park has aesthetic, historic and social significance. Though the buildings are an amalgamation of different architectural styles, they blend well to enhance the scale and setting of the Park.
“Strong design has led to recognition for architectural innovation. Historically this is the first of this type of development in Western Australia. Social heritage value is reflected in Technology Park’s strong association with Curtin University which encourages a good flow of communication in Research and Development between the two places.” (1)
Call to Action
Has this story inspired you? Did you or do you work at the Technology Park? Would you like to help us capture the history of our Town? Then you might like to make a submission to the 2025 Local History Awards (https://www.victoriaparklibrary.wa.gov.au/local-history/local-history-awards). Even if you just have one old photograph of a place, event or thing in the Town’s long history, we’d love to see it. Please put your thinking cap on, get out your camera, talk to your relatives and neighbours and get documenting and researching. Your entry could win you a prize too, but you will be arguably winning the greater prize of knowing you have helped both present and future generations understand their community better.
#LoveVicPark
References:
- Heritage Today 2000, ‘Town of Victoria Park Local Heritage Inventory, Heritage Today, Mount Lawley.
PH00243-01 CRA Advanced Technical Development Building, Technology Park, Bentley
Photographed by Heritage Today circa 1996-2000 for the Town of Victoria Park Municipal Heritage Inventory, published June 2000.
Local History Collection, Town of Victoria Park Library Service.
PH00243-02 Another view of the CRA Building at Technology Park, Bentley
Photographed by Heritage Today circa 1996-2000 for the Town of Victoria Park Municipal Heritage Inventory, published June 2000.
Local History Collection, Town of Victoria Park Library Service.
PH00243-03 - A different view of the CRA Advanced Technical Development Building, Technology Park, Bentley
Photographed by Heritage Today circa 1996-2000 for the Town of Victoria Park Municipal Heritage Inventory, published June 2000.
Local History Collection, Town of Victoria Park Library Service.
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