Tourism hopes for Fergusson Gallery

PERTH: Artwork’s move may lead to new attraction in city

One of Perth’s most iconic buildings could become a new tourist attraction drawing tens of thousands of visitors to the city.

Currently fewer than 900 people a month visit the Fergusson Gallery to view works by the internationally-important artist JD Fergusson.

Moving the artwork to the £30 million Perth City Hall and Perth Museum and Art Gallery redevelopment is understood to be under consideration, freeing up the A-listed waterfront building for a more commercial use such as a whisky-themed visitor attraction.

Murdo Fraser MSP said: “If the gallery was to be relocated then this great building would be not short of possible future uses and I would encourage Culture Perth and Kinross to explore all options.”

The building was constructed at a time when its mundane use as the city’s waterworks was not a constraint on design.

Dating from 1832, it was designed in the style of a Roman Doric temple by Adam Anderson, the rector of Perth Academy, to supply fresh water that was pumped from filter beds on Moncreiffe Island.

It is thought to be the earliest cast iron building in the world, assembled from panels cast by the Dundee Foundry Company and mounted on a substantial masonry base.

The building was almost demolished in the 1960s, but saved thanks to the efforts of the newly-formed Perth Civic Trust.

It underwent a £1 million refurbishment in 2002-2003, which involved the dismantling and conservation of the entire cast iron structure.