Perth turned its former City Hall into a museum
The March 2024 opening created a new home for the Stone of Destiny and local collections.
News report
Perth Museum opened on March 30, 2024, following the transformation of the city’s former City Hall. The project created a new home for the Stone of Destiny, also known as the Stone of Scone, alongside collections relating to Perth and Kinross.
The museum put the building’s transformation at £27 million, with a £10 million contribution through the Tay Cities Region Deal and additional support from Perth and Kinross Council. Culture Perth and Kinross operates the institution.
Reusing the Edwardian City Hall connected a familiar civic building with a new cultural purpose. The museum’s opening programme extended into the city centre and linked with activities at Perth Art Gallery and other venues, placing the launch within the wider local cultural network.
The inaugural temporary exhibition examined the unicorn’s place in Scotland’s history and identity. That opening exhibition was distinct from the museum’s permanent role as a home for the Stone of Destiny and the area’s recognised collections.
A later museum account confirmed the opening and reported that the institution had welcomed its 100,000th visitor. That is an attendance milestone rather than a count of different individuals. Together, the project and its early use offer a concrete example of a city investing in an existing public building for collections, interpretation and visits. The lasting development is the converted venue; temporary shows and their admission arrangements continue to change within it.
