Commissariat Buildings facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Commissariat Buildings |
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The south façade of the Commissariat buildings as viewed from opposite Marine Terrace in 2013
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| General information | |
| Type | Museum |
| Location | Fremantle, Western Australia |
| Coordinates | 32°03′25″S 115°44′33″E / 32.056906°S 115.742579°E |
| Type | State Registered Place |
| Designated | 22 June 2001 |
| Part of | West End, Fremantle (25225) |
| Reference no. | 857 |
The Commissariat Buildings are two important buildings in Fremantle, Western Australia. They are located at 6 Marine Terrace in the West End area. Building started in 1852, making them one of the first places built using convict workers in the Swan River colony.
For many years, different government groups used these buildings for various purposes. Since 1979, they have been home to the Western Australian Maritime Museum's shipwreck galleries. You can still visit them today to learn about shipwrecks!
Contents
Why Were They Built?
Before these buildings existed, all supplies for the convict settlement were stored in a temporary prison in Fremantle. Sometimes, they were even taken all the way to a warehouse in Perth. The Commissariat Buildings were constructed to make storing these important supplies much easier and faster.
History of the Buildings
Early Days
The buildings were designed by an architect named James Manning. Their construction began in 1852 and took about 50 years to complete in different stages. Captain Edmund Henderson, a Royal Engineer, oversaw the work.
Originally, the buildings were meant to be a "commissariat." This means they stored food, clothing, and building materials for the colony. However, there were many delays. Supplies were even stored there before the roof was finished! Because of these delays, a planned third part of the building was never completed.
From 1879 to 1908, the buildings were also used as a Customs House by the government. This is where taxes were collected on goods coming into the area. At the same time, from 1879 to 1890, the Post and Telegraph Office also used the site.
In the 1890s, Western Australia had a big gold rush. This meant more business and more ships coming to Fremantle Port. The port had to be made deeper by dredging. As trade moved closer to the newly improved port, the Commissariat Buildings became less important for commerce. They were left empty in 1909.
Government Stores Department Era
The Commissariat Buildings remained under government control from 1908 to 1923, but we don't know exactly what they were used for during this time. In 1923, the Government Stores Department moved in. They used parts of the building until 1977.
Over time, this department took over most of the building. It became a central place for sending out and bringing in goods for the whole state. During this period, the building saw some changes and damage. For example, when vehicles became common, some wooden floors had to be replaced with concrete. Also, forklifts damaged some of the archways inside.
Other groups also shared the buildings during this time. These included the Child Welfare Department in the 1930s and a maintenance section for Stateships from around 1935 to 1975. The Fisheries and Wildlife Department also used the site from 1939 to 1981.
WA Shipwrecks Museum
In the 1970s, both the state and federal governments passed laws to protect historic shipwrecks. The Western Australian Museum then started thinking about how to better preserve its own maritime items. This, along with the discovery and digging up of the Batavia shipwreck, led to a big change.
The State Government provided money to turn the Commissariat Buildings into the Western Australian Maritime Museum shipwreck galleries. These galleries opened to the public in 1979. Today, the site is known as the WA Shipwrecks Museum. It is also listed on the City of Fremantle's Municipal Heritage List, which means it's an important historical place.
What They Look Like
Design and Style
The Commissariat Buildings were designed to be useful and practical by architect James Manning. They combine styles from the Victorian and Georgian periods, as well as Victorian Regency. They were built over 50 years, starting in 1852.
These two buildings really add to the look of Fremantle's West End. Their style matches other nearby historic buildings, like the Round House and the Old Kerosene Store at Bathers Beach. The Commissariat Buildings are actually two separate structures.
The Warehouse
The larger of the two buildings is a two-story warehouse. It has strong, pointed roof sections called gables. This warehouse includes several parts built at different times: the 'A' store (1852), the 'B' store (1860-1861), the 'Drum' Store (1895-1896), and the 'New Store' (1898). All of these, except the 'New Store', were built in the Victorian-Georgian style.
The Warehouse faces Croke Lane, Marine Terrace, and the railway area. Its walls are made of rough limestone blocks. The roof is made of Colorbond finished corrugated iron.
The Administration Building
The other building on the site is the smaller Administration Building. Only parts of it are two stories high. It was built for a different purpose than the warehouse, so it has a more detailed Victorian Regency style.
The Administration Building was first built in 1852. A southern part was added around 1894, and a two-story northern part was added in 1896. Another southern extension was made in 1897.
See also
- Convict era of Western Australia
- List of museums in Western Australia
