Commercial Hotel, Fremantle
The Commercial Hotel is a hotel at 80 High Street in Fremantle, Western Australia.[1] The current building is of three storeys in the Federation Free Classic style, and was registered on the Register of the National Estate in 1978.[2] It is now the Sundancers Backpackers Hostel.
| Commercial Hotel | |
|---|---|
 Commercial Hotel in 2017 | |
| |
| Former names | Albert Hotel, Southern Cross Hotel, Sundancer Backpackers Hostel |
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Inter-War Free Classical style |
| Address | 80 High Street |
| Town or city | Fremantle |
| Country | Western Australia |
| Coordinates | 32.05461°S 115.74537°E |
| Completed | 1840 |
| Renovated | 1908 |
| Height | |
| Architectural | Federation Free Classic |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 3 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | John McNeece |
| Architecture firm | John McNeece and son |
| Type | State Registered Place |
| Designated | 1 |
| Part of | West End, Fremantle (25225) |
| Reference no. | 921 |
History
In 1840 Captain John Thomas built the Southern Cross Hotel, and his wife managed it while he was away at sea.[1] It was later renamed the Albert Hotel[2] and then later the Commercial Hotel.
In 1891 the publican of the Commercial Hotel was E. Jonas.[3]
The hotel was re-built in 1908,[1] and possibly renovated the same year.[4] At this time, a number of other old buildings in nearby lots were being demolished — a newspaper of 1907 reports that:
Fremantle's "rat castles" and microbe homes are gradually coming down. Some have already been erased, and the "rodents' resort" next the Commercial Hotel is in course of demolition.[5]
Current usage
In about 2000 the hotel was converted into the Sun Dancer Resort backpackers' hostel.[2]
References
- Cernecca, Dario; Harris, Mike; O'Sullivan, Tim; Zagari, Laurie (1981). Hotels: Architecture and Culture, A Building Type (Report).
- "Commercial Hotel". InHerit. Heritage Council of Western Australia. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
- "Accident at Fremantle". The West Australian. 7 (1, 698). Western Australia. 10 July 1891. p. 5. Retrieved 17 March 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
- "The Commercial Hotel". Sunday Times (572). Perth. 20 December 1908. p. 8. Retrieved 17 March 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
- "Fremantle Fantasies". Truth (207). Perth. 1 June 1907. p. 8 (City Edition). Retrieved 17 March 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
External links
- Sundancer Backpackers Hostel, official site