A POTENTIAL buyer for the landmark but derelict South Fremantle power station has had talks with owner, Synergy.

Real estate principal William Porteous confirmed to the Herald a client had held discussions with a selling agent acting for the energy company.

Mr Porteous wouldn’t divulge any details of his client, saying only they were “very interested”. “There was no further instruction,” he said.

The Herald’s attempts to find out from Synergy whether the property was officially for sale bordered on the kafkaesque.

Public relations manager Doug White first asked us if Mr Porteous was the agent for the interested party and whether we could confirm if a firm offer had been made.

“Furthermore if there was, it would likely be commercial-in-confidence and I wouldn’t be divulging it—maybe Mr Porteous is trying to find out if there is any competition for his client,” he said.

But he sidestepped whether the building was on the open market, simply saying “there were discussions last week”. The Herald could find no references online to the property being for sale.

The power house has been closed since September 1985, becoming a hang-out for graffiti artists and homeless people.

It’s flagged as a centerpiece of the $4.9 billion redevelopment of the Cockburn coast, slated to house a mix of apartments and an entertainment precinct at ground level. Cockburn mayor Logan Howlett wants to see Sci-tech relocated there, with a museum and a giant water slide hanging from the top of the building.

by LAURA CARTER