10-12 Mouat Street, Adelaide Steamship House (former)
These were the offices of the Adelaide Steamship Company-one of the major national shipping companies in Fremantle. Adelaide Steamship conducted their WA shipping business out of these buildings for more than seventy years, until the buildings were sold in 1978.
It also housed the Australasian Steam Ship Owners Federation - and so a lot of history happened here around Lumpers wages, strikes and other colourful business of the Port.
Adelaide Steamship House is a fine example of the Federation Free Classical style. The place comprises two buildings fronting Mouat Street and outbuildings at the rear of the site. The buildings, one of which is two storeyed and the other single storey, share uniform Italianate stucco details which unite their presence in the streetscape. On the ground floor these details include a granite plinth, rusticated wall, broad doric pilasters and large arched openings. The upper floor of the principal includes paired ionic pilasters, false balustrades under the heavily moulded aedicule windows, a heavily moulded cornice, balustraded parapet and decorative central pediment.
1895 THE ADELAIDE STEAMSHIP COMPANY. Their Fremantle agent advised that yesterday the company's new steamer Marloo had arrived at Fremantle that morning from the UK… Each steamer is capable of accommodating 100 passengers in the saloon and 300 in-the second cabin. (reference)
1901 Landing of their royal highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York, Saturday, July 20, 1901. Special notice- The two large Stands on the South Quay, Fremantle, erected by the Perth Royal Celebrations Committee, capable of holding 4,000 persons, will be reserved on Saturday next for the Women and Children of Fremantle and district. The Barriers will be absolutely closed at One o'Clock (1) p.m. Admission by ticket only. Tickets may be obtained from the Committee's Offices, Adelaide Steamship Company's buildings, Mouatt-street… (reference)
1913 Shipping firms make no secret of their dissatisfaction with their treatment at the hands of the controlling authorities at Fremantle. On the representations of the merchants and the Australasian Steam-ship Owners' Federation, the Trust has materially reduced transhipment charges for the current financial year; and it is claimed that these are now as low as in any port in the Commonwealth. But it is freely alleged that Fremantle is, on the whole, the most expensive Australian port, and that the Trust's powers are to some extent abused. (reference)
1914 NEW LUMPERS' WAGES. 'GASPING WITH SHOCK.' The new Federal award, covering Waterside workers has caused a sensation in shipping circles. Mr. W. T. Appleton, chairman of directors of Huddart, Parker, Ltd., and president of the Australasian Steam Ship Owners' Federation, said the award had been made too hurriedly. More than once the shipowners had refused to pay the rates demanded by the wharf laborers, and had refused to make any increase on the existing rates. When the case was before the Court ample evidence was called in support of the shipowners' position, but apparently his Honor had not duly considered the facts. Captain T. Langley Webb, a director of Huddart, Parker, Ltd., was asked what the inter-State shipowners thought of the award. “We cannot say anything about it,” he replied ''We are simply gasping with the shock. The terms of the award have taken our breath away.” (reference)
1927 FREMANTLE WHARVES The Labour Question. The secretary of the Association of Employers of Waterside Labour (Mr. F. Hardouin) said yesterday that the forecast made at the end of October, that there would be a shortage of wharf labour during the following months, had been borne out fully by the records taken during December, when the members of the Fremantle Lumpers' Union were insufficient to meet all requirements, the daily shortage ranging from 30 to 400 men. The shortage had been only partially overcome by the employment of non-members of the Fremantle Lumpers Union… Mr. Hardouin said, 'the Fremantle Lumpers' Union's vigilant officer will not, as in the past, allow any but members of that union to assemble for engagement adjacent to the wharves, where employers can engage the labour they individually require. As a result, non-members of the Lumpers' Union seeking employment on the wharves have to congregate at the Trades Hall… Mr. Hardouin stated that the employers objected strongly to the present attitude of the union, and were continuing to make representations to have the conditions altered in the interests of the Port and all concerned. (reference)
1935 It is possible that the dispute regarding the unloading of cement from the Arkaba at Fremantle may have a serious effect on the construction work on the Canning dam. If an early settlement is not reached the Adelaide Steamship Co. may decide to send the cement back to Geelong, the port of loading, and this will result in a serious shortage in cement at the Canning dam. The Director of Works (Mr. E. Tindale) said that if the cement were not delivered to the dam, temporary unemployment for about 50 men might result. Lumpers who were engaged in unloading the cement again refused to work today unless they were paid an additional rate… When the secretary of the Lumpers' Union (Mr. T. Fox) and the secretary of the Association of Employers of Waterside Labor (Mr. F. Hardouin) were approached they declined to comment on the situation, beyond admitting that a deadlock had been reached. (reference)
1947 FREMANTLE FIRE Mysterious Blaze DUTCH NAVY RECORDS DESTROYED One room was gutted and its contents destroyed in a fire which broke out on the second floor of the Adelaide Steamship Co's. building, Mouatt street, Fremantle, about 2 p.m. on Saturday. Five typewriters, a compto-meter and a large quantity of records belonging to the Royal Netherlands Navy, which occupies the second floor of the building, were destroyed… While the blaze was at its height portion of the flooring was burnt through and two typewriters crashed through the ceiling of the Adelaide Steamship Co's. office. This was followed by other pieces of burnt furniture and debris which littered the entrance to the office. The fire was reported to the Fremantle Fire Station, which is only about 100 yards from the scene and, within half an hour, the blaze was extinguished. (reference)
OCCUPANTS
Lot 41 owners:
1829 - 1837 Williams, George
1855 Broun, R
1857 - 1859 Brown, R M B
1876 - 1879 Brown
No. 10 (single story)
1899 W. A. Forwarding & Carrying Co. customs & shipping agents, Sydney Durrant, insurance agent- despite going bankrupt in 1898 (reference)
Rudeforth, John, dining rooms
1900 - 1901
Vergona, J, fruiterer
Barrow, H C, com. agent
Fothergill & Co. (E.H.), accountants
1921 - 1936 Adelaide Steamship Co. Ltd (pay office)
1978- Piccolo Lunch bar
2017 Pasta Addiction, Tihana and Denis Simich
No. 10 & No. 12
Adelaide Steamship Company's Buildings (pre 1920)
1901 - 1920 Adelaide Steamship Co. Ltd (The) (1901-1918: W E Moxon, manager for WA; 1919-1920: J H Downer, manager for WA)
1902 - 1910 Forrest, Emanuel & Co. stock & station agents
1903 - 1912 Australasian Steam Ship Owners Federation (1910-1913: George Hunter, secretary; 1915-1916 & 1920: F Hardouin, secretary)
1910 - 1920 Commonwealth S S Owners Association (1910-1913: George Hunter, secretary; 1920: F Hardouin, secretary)
1911 - 1920 Emanuel Bros Ltd, auctioneers, stock, station, land, insurance and shipping agents
1913 - 1920 Association S S Owners Federation (1913: George N Hunter, secretary; 1915-1916 & 1920: F Hardouin, secretary)
1917 - 1920 Association of Employers Waterside Labor WA (F Hardouin, secretary-1920-1935)
No. 12
Adelaide SS Company's Buildings (post 1920)
1921 - 1928 Emanuel Bros Ltd, auctioneers, stock, station, insurance and shipping agents
1921 - 1949 Adelaide Steamship Co. Ltd (The) (1921-1935: J H Downer, manager for WA)
