APPLY FOR STATE HERITAGE GRANTS

Applications are now open for owners of heritage listed places to share in more than $1.2 million for conservation and cultural landscape works.

The 2024-25 Heritage Grants Program offers $150,000 through its Community Heritage Grants stream and the remainder through the State Heritage Grants funding stream.

Property owners can use the grants for conservation works, to develop heritage conservation or cultural landscape plans, and undertaking feasibility studies.

Eligible not-for-profit organisations, businesses and local governments are encouraged to apply for the Community Heritage Grants that assist innovative community engagement activities or interpretation projects that promote or celebrate a State registered heritage place or local heritage listed places.

Last year 28 grants were awarded, including $100,000 for conservation repairs to historic Mead Homestead in Leda, to help its ongoing activities for people living with diverse abilities.

Deep-sea surveyors Wrecksploration received more than $11,900 to help create detailed 3D models of historical shipwrecks in waters south-west of Rottnest Island, giving a unique insight into Western Australia’s maritime heritage.

To apply for the 2024-25 Heritage Grants Program, visit https://wa.gov.au/heritage-grants(link is external)

Applications close on Friday, 9 August 2024.

INCOMPLETE FREMANTLE OVAL CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT PLAN

The planned future development of Fremantle Oval will be significant for Fremantle, so we need to get it as close to perfect as possible. Whenever I am on the train and drive by Claremont Oval, it makes me very worried that we could get something similar here in the port city, and that would be a disaster, I believe.

The Fremantle Oval Conservation Management Plan has been the start of community consultation, but the assessment has mainly ignored that Fremantle Oval is part of the Buffer Zone of the World Heritage listed Fremantle Prison. The FOCMP assessed the future of the oval in isolation, instead of acknowledging that it is in the Buffer Zone.

There is concern by those keen to develop the oval, that the heritage significance of the area might create severe constraints on development at and near Fremantle Oval, but so it should be, I believe.

The World Heritage Lists states that “Fremantle Prison is part of the ‘Australian Convict Sites World Heritage Property’ and therefore management decisions that adversely impact its heritage values may impact the OUV of the Australian Convict Sites as a whole.”

The Fremantle Oval Conservation Management Plan in its current form has no reference to the Fremantle Prison Heritage Management Plan, so it does not address any of these important heritage protection issues.

Heritage experts believe that the current FOCMP needs a substantial redraft, so that the importance of the Fremantle Prison Heritage Management Plan is been given due consideration, so that it is understood by all of us.

We are already getting an inappropriate Police Complex within the Fremantle Prison Buffer Zone, that will destroy parts of the heritage significant Convict Establishment wall, so it is absolutely essential that Fremantle Council and the WA Government consider all these aspects before moving forward with any development plans for the oval.

Roel Loopers

HISTORIC FREMANTLE PORT CRANES TO BE RESTORED

In a collaborative effort between Fremantle Ports and the WA Maritime Museum, the iconic heritage cranes on Victoria Quay will be conserved and prepared for future exhibition.

Working closely with the Heritage Council, Fremantle Ports and the Western Australian Maritime Museum have developed a conservation strategy to restore and re-erect a representation of each crane type as part of the Victoria Quay redevelopment.

The three luffing cranes, dating from the early-to-mid 20th century, were decommissioned in the 1990s and have since stood as examples of the port’s early infrastructure and significant pieces of early maritime engineering.

The 1925 Babcock & Wilcox level luffing crane, measuring over twenty metres tall and weighing sixty tonnes, is the last remaining crane of this type at any Australian port.

Due to its historical importance, parts of the structure will be carefully disassembled and preserved, awaiting future plans for reinstallation and display.

The pair of 1952 Stothert & Pitt cranes will be disassembled, primed, and kept on-site, where components from both cranes will be used to construct a single crane.

Luffing cranes of the 20th century typically had a working load of just a few tonnes, compared with the 65-tonne capacity of modern gantry container cranes, as seen on North Quay today.

The cranes will be dismantled one at a time, with work on the first crane to commence over coming weeks, with the remainder of the works to be undertaken throughout 2023.

Fremantle Ports CEO Michael Parker said: “The retention of these visually striking iron giants will enhance the precinct and serve as ongoing visual reminders of our port’s early years.”

For the full story, visit www.fremantleports.com.au

THREE MILLION DOLLAR CONSERVATION WORK FOR FREMANTLE PRISON

Extensive conservation works on Fremantle Prison’s Commissariat, Main Cell Block and Parade Ground have been completed following a $3.16 million, 20-month program funded by the State and Federal Governments.

The Prison secured more than $1.5 million in COVID-19 stimulus funds from the Federal Government for works on the Commissariat and the Main Cell Block.

Another $1.6 million in funding from the McGowan Government was invested mainly in the conservation of the Parade Ground, with $500,000 going to the prison hospital, currently leased to The Literature Centre.

The conservation program involved restoration work and repairs to original elements of each area, access improvements, and the installation of new interpretative signage.

A universal access platform lift has been installed in the Commissariat, allowing visitors using mobility and ambulant devices to access the basement level for the first time. A compliant staircase has been installed, as well as handrails and railings on existing steps.

Within the Main Cell Block, two new universal access ramps have been installed on a key tour route with other work allowing for wheelchair access through an isolation cell and out to the solitary confinement block. Drainage and service improvements in the Parade Ground support ongoing sustainability of this significant building.

Kardan Construction, an Aboriginal business with extensive experience in the refurbishment and renovation of many challenging buildings including heritage sites, worked on the Commissariat and Parade Ground (north).

Colgan Industries delivered on conservation works for the Main Cell Block. In partnership with the Prison, Colgan Industries also provided on-site talks and demonstrations to university students on best practice heritage conservation.

Delivery of the conservation works marks the completion of the Prison’s significant projects.

Built by convicts in the 1850s and decommissioned as an operating prison in 1991, Fremantle Prison now offers a range of interpretive tours, as well as exhibitions and cultural events.

Fremantle Prison is enjoying record visitor numbers with 119,599 people visiting in the year to date, a 3.45 per cent rise compared to 2019-20 visitor numbers.

Roel Loopers

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HERITAGE GRANTS, FREO!

More than $1 million is available to owners of State Registered Heritage Places to undertake vital conservation works, protecting our past and sharing the stories of some of Western Australia’s most valuable historic sites.

The annual Heritage Grants program – which is now open for application – makes funds available for urgent conservation works at a State Registered Heritage Place, or to develop heritage conservation plans, cultural landscape plans or feasibility studies.

Funding for these State Heritage Grants ranges from up to $40,000 for works projects when supported by matched funding, and up to 80 per cent of the cost for documentation projects – to a maximum of $16,000.

Owners can also apply for up to $100,000 in matched funding through the Major Conservation Project category, to complete large scale projects that deliver strong heritage outcomes with wider benefits.

This includes projects that aim to enliven heritage places – encouraging people to rediscover and enjoy the history, along with projects that proactively respond to natural disasters, support economic recovery, and create jobs at a local or State level.

A dedicated grant stream is available for innovative community engagement activities or interpretation projects which promote or celebrate a State Registered Heritage Place – or a place on the Heritage Council’s assessment program.

Eligible not-for-profit organisations, businesses and local governments are encouraged to apply for the Community Heritage Grants, which offer up to $20,000 in matched funding through financial or in-kind contributions.

To apply for the Heritage Grants Program 2022-23, visit https://wa.gov.au/heritage-grants. Applications close Friday September 30, 2022.

CAMOUFLAGE COLOURS ON THE SOUTH MOLE

Photo supplied by Fremantle Ports

I am so happy and eternally grateful that Fremantle Ports has listened to Peter Dutton and is preparing our port for the war with China. I am only kidding of course!

The camouflage colours on the South Mole buildings are there to make them more attractive and reflective of the history, when Freo Port was the biggest submarine port in the southern hemisphere during World War II.

Fremantle Ports says that “The camouflage pattern is consistent with that on the Buckland Hill artillery emplacements and we’ve worked with the artillery association on various aspects. The next step is to put some interpretation signage out there, so visitors better understand what the facility was and its role. 

The preservation works have been completed on the gun emplacement and associated block houses on South Mole, as part of our commitment to maintain heritage structures on the port.

The works included concrete repair, rejuvenation of metal components and painting in camouflage colours matching Buckland Hill installations. 

The gun emplacement  was constructed in 1942 and housed twin 6-pounder rapid fire guns. It formed part of the greater defence strategy  for the port, known as Fortress Fremantle. They never fired a shot in anger. The guns themselves were of course removed after the war.“

Roel Loopers

FREMANTLE PORTS SERIOUS ABOUT HERITAGE CONSERVATION

It is great to see that Fremantle Ports is getting serious about heritage preservation! It has been spending a lot of money on Victoria Quay, the Slip Street buildings and A Shed, and will be commencing with C Shed in the next few weeks, replacing the temporary roof, reinforcing the foundations and straightening the structure, so that it can be leased out in the future, and help activate Victoria Quay.

E Shed is also getting a necessary facelift, so things are looking up for heritage in Freo.

Roel Loopers

NEW CONSERVATION PLAN FOR FREMANTLE ARTS CENTRE

The FPOL Committee of Fremantle Council endorsed the conservation plan for the Fremantle Arts Centre on Wednesday.

FAC was built using convict labour and opened its doors in 1864 as the Convict Establishment Fremantle Lunatic Asylum and Invalid Depot. It was included on the State Register of Heritage Places in 1993.

As part of its focus on asset management and the conservation of its heritage assets, the City of Fremantle last year engaged a consultant heritage architect to prepare a new conservation management plan for the building. The Finance, Policy, Operations and Legislation Committee has accepted all of the plan’s 118 recommendations.

The Fremantle Arts Centre is one of the biggest attractions in Fremantle, with over 500,000 people visiting the building each year to enjoy exhibitions, events, concerts, courses, the café and gift shop.

Due to its age, exposed environment, variety of uses and building work over its history, and the demands placed on the facility with ongoing public use, the building is now in need of some important conservation works.

The new conservation management plan will not only help to record the important history of the building but also guide its conservation and ongoing management.”

The Fremantle Arts Centre land is owned by the state through the Department of Lands and is vested in the City of Fremantle under a management order. The City is responsible for the place, its conservation and routine management.

The conservation works identified in the new management plan include repairs to the roof, walls, structure, fit out, fixtures and surrounding infrastructure on the site. The estimated cost of all the works identified is $4.95 million.

I wonder though where the money will come from, when the urgent Arthur’s Head and Roundhouse conservation works still have not been completed.

Roel Loopers

FREMANTLE’S HERITAGE NEGLECT TO CONTINUE

While council rates in Fremantle are going up almost 4 per cent it does not look that much money will be spent on heritage conservation-again!

There are reports of leaking roofs at some of the City of Fremantle heritage properties and other urgent work that needs to be done, but like they did with the Townhall for many years, only patch-up work will be done, and that will mean that in years to come substantial, and substantially more expensive, repairs will need to be done. That is not good governance!

There is not enough money available for repairs to the Fremantle Arts Centre, Victoria Hall, the Roundhouse, etc.

The Unions building in High Street and the Old Fire Station in Phillimore Street need new windows, but all they have been getting is a bit of paint to cover it up.

Work at the Old Boys School at Princess My Park will be done, but only through DADAA, that are leasing the building. They received a Lotterywest grant.

Heritage buildings are so important for Fremantle and are the reason many people visit our city, but for Fremantle Council they appear to be just a nuisance on which they don’t want to waste money. How very disappointing!

Roel Loopers