CNR CROKE & MOUAT STREETS-Former FREMANTLE FIRE STATION (no 1)
By the height of the gold rush in the late 1890’s, the population of Western Australia had grown from 48,500 to over 180,000. This created a huge demand for services such as a public water supply, and, finally, the formation of organised fire brigades. A formal Western Australian fire service commenced with the first Fire Brigades Act of 1898 and the establishment of a Fire Brigades Board.
Originally from NSW John ‘Jack’ Fraser worked in the Phoenix Foundry in Ballarat and with the local fire brigade there before becoming Superintendent of the Yarraville Brigade (Melbourne). Arriving in Western Australia- he was appointed in August 1892, as one of the first three superintendents of fire brigades in Western Australia responsible for the Fremantle (and then East Fremantle) Brigade.
He was interviewed about a fire in Fremantle in 1894 and the role of the Fire Brigade. (reference)
18 Jan 1895 FREMANTLE FIRE BRIGADE. The usual monthly meeting of the Fremantle Fire Brigade was held on Wednesday evening at the Fire Station, Mouatt-street. Superintendent Fraser occupied the chair, and business was at once proceeded with by the reading and confirmation of the minutes of the last meeting. Engineer Hartley proposed that Fireman Barrett, Weekes, Kemp, Lewis, and Forrester be posted on "watch" duty for one week each at the Fremantle Town Hall, according to a resolution carried at a recent meeting. This was seconded by ex-Engineer Garvey and carried. It was proposed by ex-Engineer Garvey and seconded by Fireman Weekes "That a committee consisting of the officers and mover be appointed to formulate a scheme for the disposal, with the sanction of the Council, of the manual engine, and also to arrange for the purchase of a steamer in the place thereof." This was carried unanimously. (reference)
During his 8 and a half years as Superintendent of the Fremantle Brigade Fraser designed and built the first hose reels and hose cart, purchased the first horse used in a Brigade and employed the first permanent fireman in WA. Fraser was the first man to ever drive a steam fire engine in WA. He also created the first out-stations and installed the first fire alarms in WA. In conjunction with Superintendent Cameron, he founded the West Australian Fire Brigade Association at a time when there were only four brigades in the State— in Perth, Fremantle, Geraldton and the Goldfields. Simultaneously with his Fremantle position he was advisory superintendent for the Public Works Department and superintendent of the Railway Department fire brigades, organising all brigades at the different stations.
Firemen at this time were paid by honorariums and fees collected from businesses and Fraser threatened to resign from Fremantle in 1897, but upon being given an honorarium of 50 pounds a year by the Fremantle Council, he rescinded his resignation and stayed on until 1899.
1896 The Fremantle Chess Club, which is now installed in its new room at the Fire Brigade station, Mouatt-street -is also making excellent progress with its tournament. (reference)
1896 FIRE AT FREMANTLE. The boiling over of a pot of tar at the corporation yard, adjoining the Fremantle fire station, in Mouatt-street, yesterday morning caused a large quantity of the resinous substance to ignite. The yard and fire station were immediately enveloped in dense volumes of smoke… (reference)
The Fremantle Fire Station (no 2) It wasn’t until 1908 that the second Fremantle Fire Station, in Phillimore Street, was built for the Fremantle Fire Brigade. The new fire station was designed to house four horse-drawn vehicles, including the district's ambulance, which was also operated by the fire brigade.
20 June 1908 FREMANTLE'S NEW FIRE STATION, FOUNDATION STONE LAID. Yesterday afternoon, in the presence of a large and representative gathering of citizens of Fremantle and Perth, the Minister for Public Works (Mr. James Price) performed the ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the new Fremantle Fire Station, at the corner of Mouatt and Phillimore streets… Mr. Fred Rowe, secretary of the Fremantle Lumpers' Union said he had that afternoon been deputed by his Union to hand over to the Mayor of Fremantle on behalf of the citizens of Fremantle an ambulance van. The van was the result of efforts put forward by his Union, which recognised the great necessity for such a conveyance being ever available for the use of the injured. He had however, had a most unpleasant experience. In company with a driver he had entered the van at the old fire station, and they had commenced to drive to the site of the new station. When High-street was reached the horse apparently thought it was on the way to a fire, and without the slightest notice bolted… (reference)
1926 A start has been made with the work of erecting the new naval drill hall. The new building, at the corner of Mouatt and Crake (sic) streets, will be a welcome addition in a part of the town which has lost, much of its former business life. On either side of the new structure there are old and unattractive premises, long since abandoned, which will look still more dingy under the shadow of the new drill hall. The old fire station is one of these, a stable like structure of wood and iron which is overdue for demolition. (reference)
1928 Some months ago a start was made to demolish the old iron building in Mouatt-street, formerly used as a fire brigade station. Sheets of iron were stripped from the tower, and then the work stopped, leaving a picture of desolation uglier than before. This dismantled ruin stands on land controlled by the governing body of the Sailors' Rest... A promise was given by the Fremantle Council to round off the street corner when this old structure was removed, thus providing a more convenient entrance to the naval hall. All the parties concerned desire to see this improvement made, but no one appears to have power to make it. The sale of material alone would pay for the cost of demolition, so why isn't lt done? (reference)
1928 LANDMARK DISAPPEARS - Look-out tower: A start has been made with the demolition of the old fire station at the corner of Mouatt and Crake (sic) streets, Fremantle, the tower of which was a landmark 20 or more years ago. (reference)
