1 Henry St (was 19 pre 1938) The Fremantle Club
Now the NDU carpark at 1 Henry St,
Lot 56, no. 1 Henry Street, was the site of the three-storey Lodge's Hotel (also known as the Castle Hotel)
The ‘Castle Hotel’ was built in 1876- the first 3-storey building in the state. In 1869 it was used as a private house for William Dalgety Moore, and then became a school for young ladies until 1880, then a private hotel 1884-6. (Mr Webster- reference)
From 1 June 1884, the owner William Marmion rented the building to Henry Russell Alvarenga- and wife Jane, who had previously run the Alvarenga Coffee Palace (in Packenham St (reference). They refurbished the grand Castle Hotel, supplied service for 23 rooms and applied for a billiard table license (reference). They also made available Club rooms (see Ad).
18 June 1884 The Upper Hall will at all reasonable times be open, free of charge, for Public Meetings, and may be specially hired for Private Parties, Balls… The Service will be carefully superintended by MRS. ALVARENGA, whose experience is a sufficient guarantee that civility and attention will be given to visitors by the servants employed at the Hotel. (reference)
In January 1885 Henry Alvarenga became very ill and his licence was postponed. (reference). He was declared bankrupt in March 1885 (reference) and it was suggested then that his building be utilised by the Fremantle Club (reference). In April the entire contents of the Castle Hotel were sold at auction (reference) and Henry died 24 May 1885 (reference)
28 May 1885 Mrs. Alvarenga, widow of the deceased proprietor of Alvarenga's Restaurant enquired if His Worship would grant her a temporary license, to carry on a boarding and lodging house on the premises occupied by her late husband. (reference)
Jane was granted a boarding house licence in June 1884 (reference) but decided to return to her previous establishment in Packenham St in July 1885. (reference)
In 1886 the building became the Fremantle Club and Its first President was William Edward Marmion (1845-1896)
The Fremantle Workers Social and Leisure Club, purchased the building in 1916 from the AMP Society for £2000.
This club became the Fremantle Workers Club., and they demolished the building in 1956.
The Fremantle Club, a club for Gentlemen, included all the highly ranked members of Society in Fremantle such as Michael Samson, the Pearse Brothers, James Lilly, Arthur Diamond, J.W. Bateman, Jack Higham, William Moore, Lucus Manning. It had strict rules of conduct, dress and eligibility- allowing however Roman Catholics (excluded form the Freemasons).
Like its brother club, the Weld Club, in Perth- women of course were excluded, including Mary Higham (head of Higham & Sons). However in 1910 the club was infiltrated by a 28 year old Margaret Able, who as ‘Martin Able’, worked there as a steward.
27 Jan 1886 At a preliminary meeting of the promoters of the Fremantle Club, held at Messrs.Waldeck, Smith & Co.'s yesterday, it was decided to take steps forthwith to open the institution, the entrance fee of membership being fixed at five guineas and a similar sum for annual subscription. (reference)
25 March 1886 The Fremantle Club require the services of a good Cook, a Scullery Maid, an experienced steady Waiter, a thorough Housemaid, civil, attentive youth for Billiard Room, and a handy man for ''Boots” and generally useful. Apply to C. J. HUGHES, Manager.
April 1886 The Fremantle Club was opened on Monday last, and bids well to become a favorite resort for the numerous members already enrolled. The want of such an institution had been long felt, and I need scarcely say will be well appreciated here, similarly as the Weld and Perth Clubs are in the City. The new Club has an excellent start, while the manager-- who has already been spoken of as experienced, in the management of the well-known Coffee Palaces of Sydney- is likely to give satisfaction to members by his untiring energy to make the whole of the arrangements in every way satisfactory. A large number of gentlemen met at the Club on Monday, on the occasion of its inauguration. (reference)
9 Sep 1886 the Secretary of the Fremantle Club, wrote to the Fremantle Council calling attention to the necessity for a lamp at the foot of Henry Street. (reference)
June 1889 A large number of gentlemen attended the Fremantle Club to bid farewell to J. J. Higham before his forthcoming visit to England (reference)
1925 Fremantle Club's History- Once the Resort of Titled Exclusives - Now The Rendezvous of Brawny Toilers -A Queer Metamorphosis… Housed in a fine three-storey building—the first in Fremantle—beautifully furnished and carpeted, its Chinese service a thing of wonder the Fremantle Club was RIGIDLY EXCLUSIVE…The transfer of the head offices of many of the big firms to Perth seriously affected the club's membership, and the formation of the Commercial Travellers' Club took its toll of the younger members. The result was that eventually the Fremantle Club became non-existent. Later it was taken over by the Fremantle Workers' Club, whose membership consists in great part of lumpers…The top storey is not now used, but the two lower storeys are fully occupied. The library, comprising some 6000 volumes, is one of the finest of its kind in Australia… In the Workers Club, Fremantle has much of which it may be proud. But the ghosts of some of the long-dead autocrats who first occupied the buildings as a club must turn in their graves occasionally! (reference The Mirror, ) Image above right shows inset- Mr L. Carey, vice president and Mr A.L.F. Gregg, Secretary of the Fremantle Workers Club
The Workers Club gained a purpose-built building at 7-9 Henry St from 1956, and the Lodge's Hotel building was demolished in 1958 to provide a carpark for Workers members.
OCCUPANTS
Lot 57 owners:
1829 - 1837 Gresswell, John
1855 - 1859 Lodge, O
1876 - 1878 Gregory, Mr
1886 - 1913 Fremantle Club
1897 - 1898 T. Birrell Gray, secretary
1899 - 1900 Percy C. Collins, secretary
1901 - 1902 H. F. Keep, secretary
1903 - 1904 H. N. Southwell, secretary
1905 - 1906 T. Russell, secretary
1907 - 1909 G. F. Gallop, secretary
1910 - 1913 R. Stanley Jeffreys, secretary, mentioned in Margaret Bales story as being the man who employed her.
1911 Moss & Dwyer, solicitors
1915 - 1956 Fremantle Workers Social & Leisure Club
1915 - 1916 Herbert H. Taylor, secretary
1917 - 1918 Robert McCutcheon, manager
1918 - 1919 Knox, Charles, caretaker
1919 - 1920 A E Pryce, secretary and manager
1920 Greville, William, caretaker
1921 - 1923 William Roche, secretary
1921 - 1928 Grenfell, William, caretaker
1924 - 1931 Alfred Gregg, secretary
The Workers Club takes over the Fremantle Club, Mirror 24 Jan 1925 p 11
