WESTPAC BANK (FMR), 66-70 HIGH STREET

Author

City of Fremantle

Place Number

00919

Location

66-70 High St Fremantle

Location Details

Other Name(s)

Commercial Bank of Australia

Local Government

Fremantle

Region

Metropolitan

Construction Date

Constructed from 1908

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type Status Date Documents
Heritage List YES 08 Mar 2007

Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations

Type Status Date Documents
RHP - Assessed - Below Threshold Current 27 Oct 2017

Other Heritage Listings and Surveys

Type Status Date Grading/Management
Category
Municipal Inventory Adopted 18 Sep 2000 Level 1B
Classified by the National Trust Classified 27 May 1974
Register of the National Estate Permanent 21 Oct 1980

Statement of Significance

The place is historically significant as a former bank representing the development of Fremantle’s Old Port City as a centre of commerce and trade from the gold boom period of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. 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 significant because, when viewed from the street, it is a substantially intact example of a federation period commercial building which contributes to the very significant Old Port City of Fremantle. The place is a significant landmark in the Old Port City of Fremantle.The place is of social significance as evidenced by its classification by the National Trust.

Physical Description

Two storey building on corner site. The first floor façade has elaborate stucco decoration, a parapet with balustrade and pilastered and stucco arched windows have decorative stucco above and engaged low piers below. No 66 addresses the corner The awning over the ground floor shops at 68-70 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. The building is known as the former Commonwealth Bank of Australia, though rate books do not show the bank owning or using a portion of the building as banking premises until 1925-26. There has been some variance in the information regarding No. 66 High Street. The National Trust lists the original owner as the estate of E. H. Fothergill and the date of construction, 1906. Mr F. W. Burwell is listed as the architect and J. McCracken the builder. However, research carried out at the Fremantle and Battye libraries indicates that the property was owned by Frederick Mason from 1882-1921. Mason alias May (c1829-1921) was a Fremantle jeweller and entrepreneur owning considerable property in the Fremantle and North Fremantle areas. Between 1906-08 considerable building activity occurred along High Street. On 22 February 1908, mention is made in the WA Mining Building and Engineering Journal (WAMBEJ) that plans for the erection of two-storey shops and residential premises on the corner of High and Pakenham streets, had been completed by Mr J. McNeece and tenders were to be invited shortly. By May 1908 the tender had been accepted by Mr J. P. Anderson for the erection of four shops for Mr F. Mason at a price of £5, 546. Preliminary works had started by 30 May and on 15 August the WAMBEJ reported that Mr Anderson was pushing ahead and the brickwork was well forward. By October 1908, the work was practically completed. Constructed of brick with cement dressings, the premises consisted of four two-storey shops with residential premises above. Late in November 1908, Mr McNeece handed over the building to the owner, Mr Mason. Currently (2013), various retail and commercial outlets.

Condition

Good.

Associations

Name Type Year From Year To
John McNeece Architect - -

Place Type

Individual Building or Group

Uses

Epoch General Specific
Present Use COMMERCIAL Bank
Original Use COMMERCIAL Bank
Present Use COMMERCIAL Shop\Retail Store {single}
Original Use COMMERCIAL Other

Architectural Styles

Style
Federation Academic Classical
Federation Free Classical

Construction Materials

Type General Specific
Other GLASS Glass
Wall RENDER Smooth

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 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.