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Central Chambers

Author

City of Fremantle

Place Number

00917
There no heritage location found in the Google fusion table.

Location

61-63 High St Fremantle

Location Details

Local Government

Fremantle

Region

Metropolitan

Construction Date

Constructed from 1906

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type Status Date Documents More information
Heritage List YES 08 Mar 2007

Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations

Type Status Date Documents
(no listings)

Other Heritage Listings and Surveys

Type Status Date Grading/Management More information
Category Description
Municipal Inventory Adopted 18 Sep 2000 Level 1B

Level 1B

The City of Fremantle has identified this place as being of exceptional cultural heritage significance in its own right within the context of Fremantle and its conservation is required. It is recommended that this place be considered for entry in the Heritage Council of Western Australia's Register of Heritage Places.

Classified by the National Trust Classified 28 Oct 1974

Heritage Council
Register of the National Estate Permanent 21 Mar 1978

Heritage Council

Statement of Significance

The place is of historic significance as an example of a commercial building in the Old Port City of Fremantle dating from the gold boom period in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. The place is a fine example of a Federation Free Classical style building, with elaborate stucco decoration above the ground floor level, that makes a significant contribution to the streetscape. The place is of social significance as evidenced by its classification by the National Trust. Awning and shop fronts are not significant.

Physical Description

Two storey building on corner site with single storey at rear onto Pakenham Street. There is a highly decorative first floor façade featuring 'Central Chambers' in stucco, a parapet with balustrade and five highly decorative pediments. The pilastered and stucco arched windows have decorative stucco above and engaged low piers below. There is an original entrance between the shops with stained glass leadlight sidelights and French doors between. The awning over the ground floor shop fronts are not original.

History

High Street was named by Surveyor General Roe - as was customary in English towns, the main street of the town was named High Street. Eastward from William Street the roadway was completed by convict labour after the Town Hall was built in 1887. High Street around the Town Hall closed to traffic in 1966. The High Street Mall was trialled in November 1973 and made a permanent pedestrian mall in 1975.
William Pearse's butcher shop dating from 1850s, a Georgian style two storey building with she-oak shingled roof, was originally on the lot. It was updated with a cgi roof and verandahs c1870s, before being demolished c1906 to make way for this building. Built by R Rennie and designed by F Burwell in 1907, it originally had verandahs, removed 1952. Owners in 1957, J & W Bateman added a loading ramp (rear?) (Plan 1062).
In 1991 Duncan Stephen & Mercer Architects made changes to the shopfront, (from 1950s, not original) carrying out a photographic survey prior to changes. In 1993-94 the first floor was converted to two residences, as well as alterations to the rear and renovations of the façade, by the March Partnership Architects & Interior Designers. A photographic survey and measured drawings were completed prior to changes.
In 2002, ground floor housed Fremantle Surplus Store and Aboriginal Art Emporium.
Currently (2013), ground floor houses Fremantle Surplus Store and Love in Tokyo.

Condition

Fair.

Associations

Name Type Year From Year To
Frederick William Burwell Architect - -

Place Type

Individual Building or Group

Uses

Epoch General Specific
Original Use COMMERCIAL Office or Administration Bldg
Other Use COMMERCIAL Shopping Complex
Present Use COMMERCIAL Office or Administration Bldg
Original Use COMMERCIAL Other

Architectural Styles

Style
Federation Free Classical

Construction Materials

Type General Specific
Wall BRICK Rendered Brick
Wall STONE Other Stone
Wall BRICK Common Brick
Other GLASS Glass

Historic Themes

General Specific
OCCUPATIONS Commercial & service industries

Creation Date

30 May 1989

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

26 Feb 2020

Disclaimer

This data is provided by the City of Fremantle. While every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of this data, the City of Fremantle makes no representations or warranties about its accuracy, reliability, completeness or suitability for any particular purpose and disclaims all responsibility and all liability (including without limitation, liability in negligence) for all expenses, losses, damages (including indirect or consequential damage) and costs which you might incur as a result of the data being inaccurate or incomplete in any way and for any reason. Under no circumstances should this data be used to carry out any work without first contacting the City of Fremantle for the appropriate confirmation and approval.