Seppelts Warehouse

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 façade is an important visual element in the Pakenham Street streetscape.

Physical Description

Two level painted brick and façade only intact with zero setback from the pavement. Façade features a parapet with a decorative pediment, stucco decorative skirts under the stucco arched architraves over the windows, and ashlar effect pilasters on the ground floor. There is a large face brick office complex behind, extending from nos. 5, 7 & 9 Pakenham Street.

History

In 1880, Lot 100 was owned by Mrs McCann, a widow, who owned a house on the lot. She probably put on additions and used it as a boarding house in 1882. Mrs McCann sold the boarding house to Fay Lawrence in 1887, who continued to use the premises until 1904. In 1904, the property was bought by the Strelitz brothers, who did not develop the lot until 1908, when they built a two-storey office and used the rest of the lot for warehouse purposes, for their newly created Vacume Oil Company. In 1908, the Brothers bought lots 75 & 76 Henry Street to further expand their warehouse premises, which now ran the full depth between Pakenham and Henry streets. The Vacume Oil Company was bought out by Patterson & Co., food manufacturers, in 1916 and subsequently sold in 1950 to Elders Smith & Co.
In 1968, Seppelts bought No. 7 Pakenham Street and used it as their warehouse for the storage of wines and spirits. This site was purchased by Interstruct in 1984 and there is a new development behind the façade of Nos. 5, 7 & 9 Pakenham St.
Currently (2002), only the façade of the building remains.

Condition

Good.

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

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.