Geraldton’s Radio Theatre Building and San Spirito Chapel share in $1.2m of Heritage Grants Program funding

Two heritage sites in Geraldton have received $150,000 of State Government funding to repair and restore their buildings and preserve cultural history.

The Radio Theatre Building, formerly a cinema and built in 1937, is the beneficiary of $100,000. This will cover costs of removing asbestos, repairing of windows, carpentry and painting.

In 2023, the State Government allocated $5 million to develop the West End precinct, prioritising the reopening of the Radio Theatre Building as a community and entertainment venue.

In 2024 the council waived their usual charges related to building and developing. Councillors expressed support for revitalising the building, saying it would benefit the community and tourists visiting the West End.

Blair Armstrong, representing site owners ADA Capital, last year said that the developments would be a “huge revitalisation” in an area that “has been underutilised for such a long time”.

The Chapel of San Spirito will receive $50,000 for roof works and wall repairs. The chapel was built in 1936, originally designed as a burial place for members of the Roman Catholic clergy, according to the Heritage Council. The architect, Monsignor John Hawes, designed several churches in the Mid West.

The funding is part of an annual Heritage Grants Program, which has invested more than $27m into Western Australian heritage buildings since its inception in 1997. This year, 39 projects have shared in a $1.2m investment in cultural conservation. This includes 14 Perth sites, 17 regional sites, and eight community programs.

Heritage Minister Simone McGurk said she was pleased to see both regional and metropolitan areas represented.

“These projects represent the breadth and richness of Western Australia’s heritage, from much-loved community spaces to landmark buildings and important local stories,” Ms McGurk said.