81-83 High Street (pre 1938 - 99/101 High Street)- Hicks Building ‘The White House’, Wyola Club, RSL Club

The White House was an alteration of an original building. Alterations were carried out in 1893 by architect P.J. Wilson and built by Messrs. Pond and McCarthy (reference) for J.A Hicks and Company.

James Albert Hicks (born WA in 1857- died 1942.) worked with W.G Hearman before joining Edward Thomas Hope (founder of Bon Marche) in Hope & Hicks, in Fremantle, before forming his own company J.A. Hicks. He conducted large drapery businesses in Northam, Kalgoorlie and Fremantle in the 1890s and early 1900’s. All these emporiums were called ‘the White Houses’ (see Ad in Kalgoorlie Miner, 1905). Hicks became a resident of Fremantle, a JP and a prominent citizen (reference). He married Matilda Wearne, a Sunday School teacher in the Fremantle Weslyean Church, and they had ten children: Muriel Ursula; Verna May; Ilma Beatrice; Harry Crandon; Eileen Foster; Terence Leeder; Percy Albert; Frederic Beach; Eudora Albina and Leslie James.

1904 J. A. HICKS AND CO., DRAPERS, CLOTHIERS, MERCERS, MILLINERS, TAILORS, DRESSMAKERS, "THE WHITE HOUSE," 97 and 99 HIGH STREET, FREMANTLE, ANOTHER year gone, but the "White House" is still catering for the people…"The White House," is one of the finest and most up-to-date drapers' emporiums to be found in the State… proprietors, Messrs.J. A. Hicks and Co., on the latest and most approved American plan, and constructed on the most modern scientific principles in regard to lighting and ventilation, "The White House," so called from practically all the decorative work and paint work being pure white, is an imposing two-storeyed structure, with a handsomely ornamented stone facade. A large ball, which is illuminated at night, is placed in position on top and is visible from the harbour, and for a great distance around… the shop’s proportions: its length being 165ft. by 30ft….the magnificent light, which seems nearly as bright as sunlight. This is effected by means of a lantern roof, which is, in effect, an immense skylight, running along the whole centre of the roof. The light descends to the ground floor by means of three large "wells," or openings in the first floor… electric bells and telephonettes connect the different departments on the ground floor with those above. The 'Premier," or "Catapult Cash" system is in use and working well… Messrs. Hicks and Co. give employment to seventy hands, and state that it is their intention to give each of them a week's holiday each year on full pay. (reference)

1906 A complaint was made about Mr Vincents Cafe and Bakery, on premises owned by J.A. Hicks in High St. Fremantle Council Health Inspectors wanted to remove all the outhouses at th the rear of the building… (reference)

1906 Mr. J. A. Hicks at a meeting of the committee of the Fremantle District Traders Association last evening, introduced the subject of the weekly half-holiday, and gave notice of his intention to move at the opening annual meeting "That in the opinion of this Association the time has arrived when the weekly half-holiday might with advantage to all parties concerned be altered from Wednesday, to Saturday." (reference)

1930 The extraordinary popularity of miniature golf was strikingly evidenced last night when St. Andrew's course at 99 High-street, Fremantle, was opened. (reference)

In the 1970’s this building became the RSL Wyola Club. Various changes and restorations were made to the building in 1946 for the Wyola Club and again in 1955 (Allen & Nicholas Architects).

OCCUPANTS

Lot 421, 428 & 429 owners: 1829 - 1837 (421) Moulton, James A, (428) Andrews, F James, 1855 - 1859 Davies, A, 1876 - 1878 (421) Webster, P, (428 & 429) Davies, A, 1879 Davies, George A

No. 81

pre 1893 offices of the Hon D.K. Congdon MLC. (reference)

1899 - 1903 John & Cleary, drapers

1904 - 1915 Hicks & Co. J. A. The White House, drapers, clothiers

No. 83

1899 - 1901 Webb & Webb, photographers

2 May 1901 A FREMANTLE STUDIO. The well-known photographic studio of Messrs. Webb and Webb, High-street, Fremantle, has been taken over by Messrs Bayley and Craig, under the name of the Adelphi Studio. (reference)

1899 - 1906 Bell Mrs. Jane, confectioner

1902 Bailey & Cameron /Craig, photographers

1903 - 1906 Cambie, E, photographer

1907 - 1915 Hicks & Co. J. A. The White House, drapers

No. 81 & 83

1916 - 1920 Montgomery Bros Ltd, drapers

1921 - 1924 Montgomery's Successors, drapers

1925 - 1929 Barton's, drapers

1930 Vacant

1931 - 1932 Midget Golf

1933 - 1944 Rex Cabaret Shooting Gallery, shooting gallery (1933 - 1938 E. R. Banks)

1938 - 1939 Melville Doris, dancing teacher & Gough Jean, dancing teacher