Fremantle Customs House

The Old Customs House is a building in Fremantle, Western Australia that was built in 1908 to house the main branch of the Customs Department of Western Australia.[1] It is one of only a handful of extant Customs Houses in the state; others are in Albany, Broome, Cossack, and Geraldton.

For the current Customs House, see Falk & Company Warehouse.

Old Customs House
1926
General information
Architectural styleFederation Free
Address4-8 Phillimore Street (corner of Cliff Street and Phillimore Streets)
Town or cityFremantle
CountryAustralia
Coordinates32.0546°S 115.7423°E / -32.0546; 115.7423
Current tenantsArtsource
Construction started1908[1]
Opened1908
Cost£10,000 (planned)
Technical details
Floor counttwo
Design and construction
Architecture firmPublic Works Department
Main contractorAshman and Warner
Official nameCustoms House (former)
TypeState Registered Place
Designated23 April 1999
Part ofWest End, Fremantle (25225)
Reference no.977

History
Photograph of the Customs House viewed from the south (corner of Cliff and Phillimore Streets)

It was built on the corner of Cliff Street and Phillimore Streets on the site of the old railway station, a location selected by William Lyne[2] (and recommended by the Fremantle Citizens League[3]). William Hedges also lobbied in support of the location.[3]

An earlier idea of renovating the old Post Office building for Customs' use was scrapped.[4]

On 18 September 1907, the state government allocated £7,500 (of the total projected cost of £10,000) to be spent on construction in the following year.[5]

The architectural plans were prepared by the State's Public Works Department under the supervision of the Principal Architect, Hillson Beasley. The building construction was undertaken by a local firm, Ashman and Warner, under the supervision of Mr Sefton of the Public Works Department.[6]

The two storey building is constructed of brick on a base of Cottesloe limestone.[6] The heavily moulded cornices and facings were constructed from Donnybrook stone, which was chosen in preference (due to lower cost, and better weather resistance) to Sydney freestone.[7] Western Australian timbers were also used.[8]

The Postmaster-General decided not to open a telegraph office in the new building, because one already existed close by.[9]

Current use

In 1986 the building was used to house the Fremantle Arts Foundation (FAF), with the creation of eight artist's studios. The FAF was established by the State Government to provide a cultural component to 1987 America's Cup Defence.[10] The building was subsequently purchased by the State and managed by the Foundation. In 1992 FAF changed its name to the Artists Foundation of Western Australia Ltd (AFWA), providing support for visual artists through statewide delivery of professional development, support and advocacy services. In 2004 AFWA was rebranded and now trades as Artsource.[11] The building housed the WA Circus School until 2017, and currently accommodates 24 artist's studios.

Heritage value

The building was classified by the National Trust of Australia (WA) on 28 October 1974 and was placed on the Register of the National Estate on 21 March 1978.[12]

The building was formally listed on the State Register of Heritage Places by the Heritage Council of Western Australia on 23 April 1999.[13] It is also listed on the City of Fremantle's municipal heritage list.[14]

See also

References
  1. Heritage Council of Western Australia (23 April 1999), Register of Heritage Places – Assessment Documentation: Customs House (fmr), archived from the original on 13 December 2013, retrieved 7 August 2013
  2. "Fremantle Customs House". The Daily News. Perth: National Library of Australia. 21 February 1907. p. 3. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  3. "New Customs House". The Daily News. Perth: National Library of Australia. 13 February 1907. p. 10 Edition: SECOND EDITION. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  4. "Fremantle Customs House". The Daily News. Perth: National Library of Australia. 21 August 1906. p. 7 (Third Edition). Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  5. "Fremantle Customs House". The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 19 September 1907. p. 5. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  6. "The New Fremantle Customs Offices". The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 11 August 1908. p. 3. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  7. "Fremantle Customs House". Western Mail. Perth: National Library of Australia. 2 March 1907. p. 22. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  8. "Fremantle Customs House". Western Mail. Perth: National Library of Australia. 9 November 1907. p. 45. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  9. "Fremantle Customs House". The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 25 January 1908. p. 12. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  10. "Urban renewal of maritime buildings". Australian Federal Government. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
  11. "Our History". Artsource. Archived from the original on 7 September 2013. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  12. "Customs House (former), 2-8 Phillimore St, Fremantle, WA, Australia". Australian Heritage Database. Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  13. "Customs House (fmr) Place No. 00977". Register of Heritage Places. Heritage Council of Western Australia. 24 May 2013. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  14. "City of Fremantle Heritage List" (PDF). City of Fremantle. Archived from the original (pdf) on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
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