FREMANTLE PRIMARY SCHOOL (FMR)

Statement of Significance

South Terrace Primary School, Alma Street, a two storey brick school building surrounded by ancillary buildings, play grounds, grassed areas and basketball courts has social value being representative of the improvement in educational opportunities for Fremantle's children. Aesthetically it is representative of typical school buildings designed by the PWD in this period. The school has historic value for its associations with the original school located on South Terrace.

Physical Description

A primary school site comprising a two storey brick and iron school building, other associated single storey buildings, playgrounds, grassed areas and basketball courts surrounded by a low level steel post and mesh wire fence.

History

Alma Street is named after the Alma River in the Ukraine and the Battle of Alma of the 1854 Crimean War. It doesn't appear on a survey of town in 1844 - only after the Convict Establishment was settled with guards from ships once in military service to that war.

Alma Street Primary school replaced an earlier primary school on the site of Fremantle Public Hospital. Both the primary and infants schools were in existence on the South Terrace/Alma Street site in 1951. The new school was built close to the site of the old Fremantle cemetery which was cleared of burials in order that the school might be constructed. Certain old and small houses were also demolished when the school was built. The original primary school building appears to have been converted into the Day Centre Block "A".

This place was identified in the "Heritage Report on: 19th century limestone walls and steps in Fremantle" prepared by Silvana Grassadonia, for the City of Fremantle, 1986.

Archaeology

Built close to the site of the old Fremantle cemetery which was cleared of burials in order that the school might be constructed.

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.