Central Chambers (Fremantle) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Central Chambers |
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Central Chambers building in 2016
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| General information | |
| Address | 61-63 High Street |
| Town or city | Fremantle |
| Country | Western Australia |
| Construction started | 1906 |
| Completed | 1907 |
| Opened | April 1907 |
| Client | W.S & G.Pearse |
| Height | |
| Architectural | Federation Free Classical |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | F.W.Burwell |
| Main contractor | R.Rennie |
| Type | State Registered Place |
| Designated | 19 November 1993 |
| Part of | West End, Fremantle (25225) |
| Reference no. | 917 |
Central Chambers is a really old and important building located at 61-63 High Street in Fremantle, Western Australia. It sits right on the corner of Pakenham Street. This building was one of many business places built in Fremantle during the exciting gold boom period, around the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Contents
Building History
Building Central Chambers started in 1906 and was finished in 1907. It got a big makeover in 1991 to keep it looking great. The building's style is called Federation Free Classical, which was a popular design choice back then.
Before Central Chambers
Before Central Chambers was built, a butcher named William Pearse had a shop on this very spot. That was way back in the 1850s. Later, a two-storey building in the Georgian style stood there. It had a roof made of she-oak shingles, which were later replaced with corrugated iron in the 1870s. This older building was taken down in 1906 to make room for the Central Chambers we see today.
Who Built It?
The main builder for Central Chambers was Richard Rennie. He was quite famous for building other important places in Fremantle. For example, he also built Owston's Buildings in 1903 and the National Hotel in 1895.
The building was designed by a talented architect named Frederick William Burwell. He designed many other well-known buildings in the area, including the Victoria Pavilion, the Sail and Anchor Hotel, Fowler's Warehouse, Owston's Buildings, and Marmion House. The people who asked for the building to be made were George and William Silas Pearse. When it first opened, Central Chambers had many different shops and offices inside.
Building Design
Central Chambers is built mostly from brick. It sits on a strong base made of rough-looking bluestone. The front of the first floor is very fancy. It has the words Central Chambers written in stucco, which is a type of plaster used for decoration.
Windows and Details
The windows are in pairs and have decorative stucco around them. They also have special columns called pilasters and arched tops with detailed designs. Below the windows, there are more decorative piers.
At the very top of the building, there's a low wall called a parapet. This parapet has a decorative railing, known as a balustrade. It also features five highly decorated pediments, which are triangle-shaped designs.
Inside the Building
The original entrance to the building is still there, located between the shops. It has beautiful stained glass panels on the sides and French doors. When you first walked in, the entrance hall and vestibule (a small lobby) led to the shops and offices. The staircase inside was made from polished Jarrah wood, a strong and beautiful timber. Different coloured tiles were used for the lower parts of the walls (dados), the hallways, and other decorations. The whole building is decorated in a style similar to the Italian Renaissance.
Changes Over Time
Originally, the building had verandahs (porches) at the front, but these were removed in 1952. In 1957, the owners at the time, J & W Bateman, added a loading ramp at the back of the building.
In 1954, a small fire broke out on the second floor. Firefighters quickly got it under control in about 20 minutes. The fire caused some damage, but thankfully, it wasn't too serious.
In 2016, the building was home to a fashion store called Love in Tokyo and a beauty treatment centre named Djurra Spa.
