Federal Hotel, Fremantle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Federal Hotel |
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| Alternative names | Rosie O'Grady's |
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Victorian Free Classical |
| Address | 23-25 William Street |
| Town or city | Fremantle |
| Coordinates | 32°03′17″S 115°44′52″E / 32.0548°S 115.7479°E |
| Opened | July 1887 |
| Renovated | 1904, 1995, 2016 |
| Client | James Herbert Jnr |
| Owner | Nikola Jurin |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 3 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | George Charles Inskip |
| Main contractor | Jordine and Ruthven |
| Renovating team | |
| Architect | J. H. Eales (1904) Maxwell Cox Architects (1995) |
The Federal Hotel is a historic building located at 23-25 William Street in Fremantle, Western Australia. It stands directly across the street from the Fremantle Town Hall. This three-storey hotel has a long and interesting history, showcasing a beautiful old architectural style.
Contents
A Look Back at the Federal Hotel's History
Building a Grand Hotel
The Federal Hotel was designed by a clever architect named George Charles Inskip. It was built by a company called Jordine and Ruthven. The hotel was made for James Herbert Junior, who already owned other hotels in the area.
George Inskip was a well-known architect from Melbourne. He came to Western Australia in 1879 to help with a big project, St George's Cathedral, Perth. He also designed several Union Bank buildings in different towns. When the Federal Hotel was first built in July 1887, people said it was "far in advance" of any other building in Western Australia. They even thought it was as good as the best hotels in other Australian colonies!
Changes in Ownership and Additions
In August 1888, the ownership of the hotel changed. It was transferred to two important figures, Alexander Forrest and Sir John Forrest.
Later, in 1904, a local architect named Joseph Herbert Eales made some big changes to the Federal Hotel. He added the front verandahs, which are like covered balconies, and also a new section on the western side of the building.
New Names and Renovations
In 1989, the hotel was given a new name: Rosie O'Grady's. It became an Irish-themed pub. The building had more changes inside in 1995. The two-storey front verandah was rebuilt, and the front of the building was repainted. These works were done by Maxwell Cox Architects. Even more changes were made inside the hotel in 2001.
However, in January 2016, Rosie O'Grady's closed its doors. The hotel then reopened under its original name, the Federal Hotel.
Protecting a Piece of History
The Federal Hotel is considered a very important historical building. Because of its age and unique design, it has been officially recognized and protected by several groups.
On 21 October 1980, the building was added to the Register of the National Estate. This register lists places that are important to Australia's history. Then, on 1 August 1983, it was classified by the National Trust of Australia (WA). This group works to protect Australia's heritage.
The City of Fremantle also recognized the hotel's importance. They included it on their Municipal Inventory on 18 September 2000. Later, on 8 March 2007, they added it to their official Heritage List. These listings help make sure the Federal Hotel is preserved for future generations to enjoy.
