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$450,000 funding boost for Fremantle History Museum & Arts Centre

THE City of Fremantle has scored a $453,400 grant from the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts to help with restoration works at the Fremantle History Museum and Arts Centre.

Granted under the 2007-08 National Heritage Investment Initiative, the money will be used for stage four of conservation works – including completion of the Ord Street façade, roof and stormwater system repairs and a central courtyard upgrade.

It follows a recent $106,000 Lotterywest grant to help implement stage three of conservation works, involving an upgrade of the Fremantle Arts Centre’s outdoor performance facilities.

City of Fremantle CEO Graeme Mackenzie said stages three and four would be done as one project, given the works complemented each other in various ways.

“The grants will be matched with relevant funding from council’s 2008-09 capital projects budget when it’s adopted,” he said.

“The Fremantle History Museum and Arts Centre play an important role for the people of WA and Australia, through their architecture, history, cultural and social aspect.

“That’s why the City of Fremantle has a strong commitment to preserving this much-loved landmark for the future, a sentiment echoed by organisations supporting our conservation work with their funding grants.”

Both grants and associated works form part of the Fremantle Arts Centre Conservation Plan, adopted by the City of Fremantle in 2001, which acts as a guide for the conservation/adaptation of the buildings and upgrades to the grounds.

The historic building was originally built as a psychiatric hospital by convict labour between 1861 and 1868 and was the largest public building built by convicts, after the Fremantle Prison in the 1850s.

Designed in a colonial gothic style, a number of additions were incorporated over the next 30 years. After the hospital closed, it was used as housing for homeless women and then as a midwifery school.

During World War II, it became headquarters for US armed services and then used as an annexe of Fremantle Technical School.

In 1957, the Education Department proposed demolition of the building – but a public outcry and opposition campaign from Fremantle Mayor Frederick Samson and Professor George Seddon helped save it from being destroyed.

“The battle took several years and faced a further challenge when Main Roads proposed demolishing the north-west corner to reconstruct Ord and Finnerty Streets,” Mr Mackenzie said.

“After many years of lobbying for State and Federal government funding, a major restoration project began in 1970 and, since 1972, the Fremantle Arts Centre has grown into a fantastic cultural hub for all of WA.

“I’m pleased we’ve retained this building for generations to come and continue to work on ensuring its conservation.”