Foster and Partners, Nouvel and OMA have been shortlisted to design and build the AU$428.3m (US$332.679m, GB£209.84m, €293.893m) Western Australian Museum, along with their respective teams.

Foster and Partners, responsible for the British Museum's Great Court, is working with local architects Hames Sharley in a bid led by local contractor John Holland.

Ateliers Jean Nouvel, responsible for the Musee du Quai Branly in Paris, is working with local architects Cameron Chisholm Nicol and Parry and Rosenthal Architects, in a bid led by Doric and Tecnicas Reunidas.

OMA, responsible for the Musee National Des Beaux Arts in Quebec, is working with local architects Hassell, in a bid led by Brookfield Multiplex.

Australian Culture and the Arts Minister John Day said: "The driving philosophy behind the museum is 'people first'."

He added the Western Australian Museum had been working with a range of groups on the content and visitor experience.

"With the State Government engaging in extensive and ongoing consultation with a range of reference groups and key stakeholders, we are confident we can provide the consortia with the best advice to ensure we get the world-class museum all West Australians deserve."

Early works for the new museum project are already underway, including conservation works to heritage buildings at the Perth site, where the new museum will be located, as well as the refurbishment and upgrade of the museum's Welshpool Collections and Research Centre.

The winner is to be announced later in the year with work commencing in 2016. It is hoped the museum will open in 2020.