Proposals have been submitted for a AUS$25m (€15.5m, £13.4m, US$18.3m) hot springs development on the banks of Swan River in Perth, Australia.

Formerly Dalkeith Hot Pools, the site used to be a popular bathing spot for tourists and the local community in the 1920s and 50s.

After reading articles about the history of Dalkeith Hot Pools, local investor and director of FJM Property Barry Jones was inspired in 2018 to redevelop the destination.

Now, plans for Tawarri Hot Springs project are currently under assessment for approval by the West Australian Government.

Designed by Plus Architecture, the 5,500sq m development will be open to all members of the public and house a two-floor spa, a range of indoor and outdoor geothermal pools, saunas, hammams, steamrooms, cold plunge pools, treatment rooms and relaxation areas, as well as a restaurant and cafe.

These experiences will be both indoor and outdoor, with audiovisuals, subtle lighting and fragrances designed to stimulate senses and evoke calm and relaxation.

“We want to create a classic European-style spa and wellness centre that will be unique in Australia,” said Jones, “the design vision for Tawarri Hot Springs is to create an atmosphere of tranquillity using geothermally heated water and natural building materials.”

He told Spa Business it’s hoped construction will kick off in late 2021 if the proposal is successful. He anticipates the project will take two years to complete.

To realise the concept for the geothermal wellness destination, Plus Architects drew inspiration from global spa destinations including Peninsula Hot Springs in Melbourne, Spa Resort Therme Geinberg in Austria and both North America’s Groupe Nordik locations and the UK’s Aqua Sana venues.

Developers want to create a quiet, reflective, recuperative space with flow from one end of the facility to the other.

The goal is to emphasise Tawarri Hot Springs’ prime riverfront location so that its acoustic, visual and sensory impacts help amplify the location’s activities and atmosphere.

Styling will be sophisticated using natural materials, with Western Australian materials, produce and stories utilised throughout.