3-5 Henry St (was 21-23 pre 1938), Quartermaine’s Buildings (former)
1903 a building was constructed on the lot built for William Balchin Ltd, replacing earlier buildings.
From 1925-1943 this was the office of Frank G. Unmack (1873-1943), Fremantle’s most famous solicitor.
In 1936 the building was the Fremantle Workers' Social & Leisure Club, when additions were carried out by Ochiltree & Hargrave architects.
1956/7 occupied by Quartermaine Travel:
‘The company was established in 1954 but the move to the premises in Henry Street would have been around about 1956, 1957. So that’s a lovely old building; it was formerly a bank, I believe, number 3. Murray Quartermaine had two buildings there, number 3 Henry Street and number 5 and he joined them together. There was like a hospital ramp going from the upper floor from one storey to another and it was a typical old Fremantle building: you walk in and there’s a huge walk-in safe down the back. There’s a big cellar underneath which goes halfway across Henry Street and as children I can remember vividly running around the whole remit of the building and going into the cellar. My father continued the export/import agency for wine, so he also had the official customs bond store there, so he had to hold all the wine in a secure location because I think at that time duty wasn’t paid or tax wasn’t paid until the wine was actually sold…
Quartermaine Travel had been developed into quite a successful business: it was probably the largest privately owned travel agency in the country at the time and it’s a very strong brand today: I speak to elderly people—they still remember the name Quartermaine Travel… we had, I think, seven or eight travel branches in the Perth area, we had an office in Singapore, an office in Barclay Street in London…
As the travel agency grew, it sponsored the America’s Cup with Southern Cross II, and also I guess it was good for him because he got a lot of corporate accounts out of his association with Alan Bond as well, which enabled the travel agency to flourish.” From oral history interview with Lance Quartermaine for the Fremantle Library (2021) Interviewer Anne Yardley.
In 1984, it was converted to commercial/residential use. Part of the warehouse was leased by Spare Parts Puppet Theatre until mid-1985. There was also a craft outlet on the ground floor.
From early 2000’s was usewd for residential-warehouse apartments
OCCUPANTS
Lot 57 owners:
1829 - 1837 Gresswell, John
1855 - 1859 Lodge, O
1876 - 1878 Gregory, Mr
No 3 (was 21 pre 1938)
1913 - 1916 Moss & Dwyer, solicitors
1917
Moss, Unmack & Thomas, solicitors
Moss, M L Dwyer, solicitor (M. U & T)
1918 - 1920 Moss, M L, Dwyer, Unmack and Thomas, solicitors
1920 - 1924 British Bye Products Co Ltd (reg off)
1921 - 1929 Dwyer, Unmack & Thomas, solicitors
1930 - 1943 Unmack F G, solicitor
1944 - 1946 Vacant
1947 Crouchleys Ltd, wine & spirit merchants - wholesaler
1949 Luscane Wine & Spirit Merchants, wine & spirit merchants - wholesale
1956- Both 3-5 occupied by Quartermaine Travel- Murray Vernon Quartermaine
No. 5 (was 23 pre 1938)
1900 - 1910 Moss & Barsden, solicitors
1901 - 1907 Balchin Ltd. W. wine, spirit & general merchants
1908 - 1909 Lohmann & Co. merchants & manufacturers' agents
1910 Manford & Co. Frederick commercial agents
1912
Joyce Bros. Ltd. bag & sack manufacturers
Wm. J. Drafflin, manager
Moss & Dwyer, solicitors
1913 Wood & Son, G. wholesale grocers
1916 - 1922 Thompson, Walker & Co Ltd, green & product merchants (1916 & 1921: W Ockerby, manager; 1917 - 1920: H Rose, manager)
1916 - 1925 Ockerby & Co Ltd, product merchants
1927 - 1929 vacant
1930 - 1949 Brown & Dureau Pty Ltd
1930 - 1934 merchants, manufacturers agents and brokers
1934 - 1935 bus agents & house & land agents
1935 - 1949 wholesale / Rosella Preserving & Manufacturing Co Ltd, jam manufacturers / McKenzie & Co Pty Ltd / James F, manufacturing grocers
1956- Both 3-5 occupied by Quartermaine Travel- Murray Vernon Quartermaine
