Fremantle Town Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fremantle Town Hall |
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The building remains almost unchanged since construction
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| General information | |
| Type | Town hall |
| Location | Fremantle, Western Australia |
| Coordinates | 32°03′15″S 115°44′53″E / 32.0542°S 115.7480°E |
| Type | State Registered Place |
| Designated | 9 November 1993 |
| Reference no. | 1015 |
The Fremantle Town Hall is a special building in the port city of Fremantle, Western Australia. You can find it right in the middle of the city, at the corner of High, William, and Adelaide Streets.
This important building officially opened on 22 June 1887. This date was chosen to celebrate Queen Victoria's Jubilee, which was a big celebration of her 50 years as queen. Because of this, the mayor, Daniel Keen Congdon, and the state governor, Sir Frederick Broome, named it the Town and Jubilee Hall.
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Planning a Community Hub
In 1876, a local leader named Councillor E. H. Higham suggested that Fremantle needed a proper town hall. He thought a piece of government land on South Terrace and Essex Street would be a good spot. The state governor at the time, Sir William Robinson, agreed. He even offered help from convict workers and free building plans from the government engineer. He also promised to ask the government for money to help build it.
However, the first plans didn't work out. People in the town talked about how much money was needed. Another suggestion was to buy a more central spot on High Street instead. This idea didn't happen right away because they couldn't raise enough money.
Finding the Right Spot
Later in 1876, the council bought the more central spot on High Street. This land became available when the Church of England decided to build a new church. They sold part of their old land to the council. This created a perfect triangular piece of land for the new town hall.
In 1881, the idea of building the town hall came up again. The goal was to build it for no more than £8,000. But again, they struggled to raise enough money locally. The first architect's plans were also changed. Instead, architects John Grainger and Charles D'Ebro from Melbourne were chosen. They also designed the National Bank in Fremantle.
How It Was Built
In 1884, builders were asked to submit bids for the project. But all the bids were too expensive. After making some changes to the design, they asked for bids again. This time, only one builder, Edward V. Keane, offered to do the work. He gave four different price options. The council chose to work with him but decided to build only part of the building at first, including the auditorium, supper room, kitchen, and entrance area.
However, another meeting was held with the town's residents. They strongly encouraged the council to build the entire building as planned.
Starting the Work
Construction began on 28 May 1885. The building was supposed to be finished by 28 November 1886. The foundation stone, which is the very first stone laid, was put in place on 10 September 1885 by Governor Frederick Napier Broome.
The grand opening finally happened on 22 June 1887. This was seven months later than planned, but it allowed the opening to happen on the same day as Queen Victoria's Jubilee celebration. The opening day was a big event with sports and a special ball in the evening. As an extra treat, children attending government schools in Perth and Fremantle even got an extra week of holiday!
What It Looks Like
The Fremantle Town Hall has a very grand and detailed design. Local architects Griffiths and Considine, who worked with the Melbourne designers, described it. They said the building uses many classic design elements. These include triangular shapes above windows (pediments), strong columns (Corinthian pilasters), and detailed carvings. All these features are made to look like stone.
At the very top, the building has many towers. These towers give the building a unique and exciting look that makes it stand out.
