“It’s a beautiful piece of architecture and beautiful in its use of local timber and stone,” Mr Barnett said at the opening ceremony attended by about 300 people.

“The construction of this centre represents excellent value for money for residents and sends a strong message to the community that the shire is a local government that invests in its future,” he said, quipping that State Treasury had helped, providing a $7m loan over 20 years with “very attractive interest”.

Official guests at the opening included state and federal politicians, Perth Chinese Consulate Consul General Madam Wang Yiner, Perth Indonesian Consulate Consul General Syarief Syamsuri, and representatives from neighbouring councils and state and regional development and planning commissions.

Shire president Ray Colyer paid tribute to previous councils and staff who “had to endure aging facilities” while they helped plan and build the new centre which had been designed to serve the community “for 50 to 60 years to come”.

Tours of the new centre proved popular, with Cr Ian Earl joining Infrastructure Services director Wayne Prangnell and project manager Rob Lewis leading them. Mitchella Hutchins of the Wardandi led the welcome to country.

See more pictures from the opening on Photo Galleries