Shire Bridgetown-Greenbushes poised to make a run at taking over the Old Bridgetown Hospital site

The Shire Bridgetown-Greenbushes is poised to make a run at taking over the Old Bridgetown Hospital site, with potential plans to turn it into workers accommodation or a different community-led project.

With the site under the Department of Education’s control, councillors at their most recent meeting voted to write to Minister Tony Buti requesting clarity around the possibility of transferring the land.

The site, which sits on Roe Street, was constructed in 1887 as a residence and used as a hospital from 1899 to 1978.

It was later used as a camp school, but the meeting agenda said the building was now vacant after “this use proved financially unsustainable”.

The agenda said there were concerns the Department of Education may be considering demolishing the building, but states there had been no official confirmation of this as “no one in the education (department) will confirm or deny plans for demolition”.

“The shire is seeking to understand if there is an opportunity for the land to be transferred from the Department of Education,” the agenda item read.

“Should the department decide to demolish the building prior to the transfer, the shire could re-purpose the land for workers accommodation and residential housing, aligning with the Cook Government’s policy to increase affordable housing.

“Alternatively, if the land and building are transferred together, and the department declines to cover demolition costs, the shire could conduct a community consultation to explore potential uses for the buildings.

“The purpose of sending the attached letter is to gain clarity from the minister regarding these options, which will assist guide (sic) council’s next steps, including whether to engage the broader community in decision-making.”

The letter, to be sent from shire president Jenny Mountford, noted the significance of the site to the community’s history.

“The Old Bridgetown Hospital holds significant historical and social value to our community,” it reads.

The letter requests clarification on whether there is an opportunity to transfer the land to the shire and also asks for clarity on whether the buildings would remain or be demolished as part of a transfer.

Councillors voted unanimously to send the letter.