Point Dundas, Majestic Hotel Site, Boardwalk and Applecross Jetty

Child Places

• 03829 Majestic Hotel - Site of

Statement of Significance

Applecross Jetty is significant for the following reasons:

Historic Value: The jetty was built for the ferry service that provided the only direct link to Perth after the original Applecross subdivision.

Social Value: Important due to it's association with the establishment of the original local community and with recreation on the river.

Physical Description

Point Dundas is now subdivided and developed as residential lots. There is no physical trace of the original house nor the Hotel. The modern Boardwalk around the base of the high ground of the Point is a timber deck and handrail on timber sub-frame into the foreshore.

The Applecross Jetty is a timber-decked narrow walkway supported on timber framing, a timber handrail and piles into the Swan River. Remnants of earlier timber planking and stone ballast survive at the landform end of the Jetty, to control erosion of the beach. The Reserve is a grassed and treed public recreation area with adjacent car parks.

History

Point Dundas was used by the Beeliar Nyoongars for hunting and camping. The Aboriginal name for Point Dundas is “Moundauo” or “Moondaap”.

Point Dundas

Point Dundas was named by Captain James Stirling in 1827 after Viscount Melville’s family name ‘Dundas’.

Majestic Hotel Site

A house was built on the Point by A. P. Matheson in 1897 as a gift to the State Government in 1897, but the Governor declined to accept it. The house became the Hotel Melville and had many owners. The Stack family purchased the Hotel in 1924 and renamed it ‘Majestic Hotel’ in 1925. The Stack family ran the Hotel until 1981. The Hotel was also used as a residence for prominent identities.

During World War II, Fremantle was the second largest Allied submarine base in the world. Secrecy surrounding the operation of the Fremantle submarine base means that its existence was little known at the time. In 1942 Japanese submarines were extremely active in Australian waters and spy planes frequently made surveillance flights over major cities. Without a safe haven in the Pacific, Allied submarine forces relocated to Fremantle, which became a vital submarine base. Fremantle became flooded with more than 10,000 international sailors from the US Navy, Royal Dutch Navy and the Royal Navy. Some sailors were billeted in private homes while large groups of submariners were in leased accommodation at some well known Perth establishments – The Weld Club, Ocean Beach Hotel Cottesloe, Balmoral Hotel Victoria Park, Majestic Hotel Applecross, and the Perth City hotels Palace, His Majesty’s, Wentworth, King Edward and Hyde Park.

The Hotel was used by the Australia II syndicate as a training camp during the 1987 America’s Cup defence.
The Hotel was demolished in 1989.

Applecross Jetty

The Applecross Jetty was constructed in 1897 as an early ferry stop on the Swan River. The Jetty and surrounding areas were popular for prawning and crabbing parties, a mooring start for yachtsmen, and the original home of the Applecross Swimming Club.

Integrity/Authenticity

Modifications: Some
Extent of Original Fabric: Most

Condition

Sound; Hotel demolished for redevelopment and subdivision.

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.