IT’S on – finally.

After a four-year delay, Fremantle council and its development partner Sirona Capital were due to break ground on the $270 million Kings Square redevelopment on Friday (after the Herald’s deadline).

WA treasurer and finance minister Ben Wyatt was due to attend the ceremonial start to the project, which will create 25,800sqm of commercial office and retail space in Fremantle’s CBD.

It will also include the controversial new $50m council admin building and civic centre.

• How Kings Square will look in 2019, now that the project is under way.

Sirona is managing the project and will kick off with its side, developing the old Myer and Queensgate buildings into a retail/food hub and offices to house 1500 state government employees.

Probuild won the contract for demolition and construction and 1100 workers will be employed.

“This is a significant day and the best evidence yet that Kings Square Fremantle is on its way,” Sirona managing director Matthew McNeilly said.

“We have dedicated ourselves to delivering an integrated and co-ordinated renewal outcome in Kings Square Fremantle and we are now close to seeing the area become a hive of activity.

“Our plans for the retail component are exciting and will challenge the conventional thinking of not only retail property in Fremantle but around the entire metropolitan area.”

Fremantle mayor Brad Pettitt said the new city centre will be sympathetic to the area’s heritage and designed with high levels of environmental sustainability and energy efficiency.

Work is expected to be completed late 2019 and the state departments will move in from early 2020. While the works are progressing, council staff will relocate to Fremantle Oval.