CNR CROKE & MOUAT STREETS-Former FREMANTLE FIRE STATION

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)

Cnr Croke & Mouat Sts.PNG

30 MOUAT STREET, STRELITZ BUILDINGS

30 Mouat St (was 46 pre 1938) Strelitz Buildings.

Pre 1897 Mr. Hitchcock's Reminiscences: On portion of the site of Strelitz's Buildings there stood an old two-storied house with gable ends, and next to it was a first-class boarding house conducted by Mr. John Henderson, under the sign of "Auld Reekie." (reference)

Originally from Hamburg, Richard Strelitz was a German-born Jew who came to WA in 1893. He lived in High Street, Fremantle, and became a lieutenant in the Fremantle Infantry (militia). When his brother Paul arrived in 1894 they established Strelitz Brothers, Merchants and Shipping Agents, of Fremantle and Kalgoorlie, and then a second business in Perth and were influential in international trade and diplomacy and local politics in Perth and Fremantle. The Strelitz Brothers company was closely identified with the commercial expansion of Perth and Fremantle, during Western Australia's gold boom of the 1890s. Strelitz Bros also held the agency for Alfred Nobel's Hamburg Explosive Company, Ltd and through this had agencies for magazines in the goldfields. They also imported railway material and mining machinery.

Richard was popular and successful, and by 1901 he was consul to Denmark, and then also to Sweden and Norway.

Contrary to historic references of Richard Strelitz being interned as an enemy alien during the 1914 - 1918 war, he was not. But he was under a heavy cloud of suspicion from those who didn’t know him, and he moved his family to Sydney in 1917. Paul later followed with his family where, in NSW, they flourished.

OCCUPANTS

Lot 49 owners:

1855 - 1878 Pace, Ann

1879 Carter, H & Co.

1897 William Lovegrove Solicitor, No 1 Strelitz Buildings

A.U.S.N co, shipping

No. 30

1910 - 1920 Strelitz Building

Strelitz Bros, importers and shipping & commercial agents

1910 - 1911 Brown & Dureau, mercantile brokers

1910 - 1914 German Aust. S. S. Co. Strelitz Bros. agents

1910 - 1916

Strelitz, Paul, consul for the Netherlands

Strelitz, Richard, consul for Sweden & Denmark

1921 - 1939 Majora Buildings

1921 - 1926 Thorn, W J, carrier

1921 - 1946 Turton, A, lighting agent

1921 - 1949 Evans & Co. George, paint manufacturers

1928 Wattle Preparation Coy

14 MOUAT ST

14 Mouat St (was 16 pre 1938)

The building was built for E.H. Fothergill, & Co, shipping, insurance, customs and commission agents, who were operating from the building in 1900. (reference)

The original part of the building is a two storey stone and rendered stone building, with zero setback from the pavement. There is a parapet with open circles and a central pediment, which features a stucco wreath. The building is sided by engaged pilasters and the ground floor has an open drive through entrance to the right side and front entrance to the left. The first floor has arched timber sash windows with decorative stucco above and decorative skirts below.

1904 E. H. FOTHERIGILL and CO., 16 Mouatt-st., Fremantle SOLE AGENTS: The British Anti-Fouling Composition Paint Co Ltd. - Anti-corrosive and Anti-fouling Paints. Buring and Sobe’s Spring Vale Wines. David Corsair and Sons' Canvas. Tea Company. - "Tamil" Tea. The Colonial Mutual Fire Insurance Company Limited., The "Minimax" Fire Extinguisher., S.S. Reliance, Towing and Watering in Harbour and River. Schooner Rescue, Schooner Alice, trading to North-West ports. Wool and M.O.P Shell shipped from all ports on through bill of lading, to London and the Continent… (reference)

From 1919- 1926 the building housed the Sandalwood export business of John Hector until his sudden death in 1926 (reference). Hector had worked previously for Guthrie & Co c 1903. He was a member of the Scottish group, the Fremantle Caledonian Society.

In May, 1924, Hector and Sons. submitted to the Government a proposition for the organisation of the Sandalwood industry and the improvement of existing conditions in Qld. The firm offered as much as £44 per ton, including royalty. This proposition was investigated, and the correspondence received from a number of cutters intimated that they were definitelv in favour of an organisation being set up to control export. An attempt was later made at reorganisation, but Messrs. Hector and Son advised that they could not comply with all the conditions of their tender, and the endevour had to be abandoned. (reference)

1924 The only persons holding authority to obtain sandalwood from Crown lands-in the southern portion of the State, are the following: Messrs: Paterson & Co. Ltd., Perth, Messrs Burridge & Warren, E. S. and A. Bank Chambers, Perth, Mr. John Hector, 26 Mount-street, Fremantle, W.A. Sandalwood Co-operative Co. Ltd., Royal Bank Chambers (reference)

Anne and Peter Hector Established Mt Romance, an Albany sandalwood distillary in 1997, and pioneered the distillation and use of Australian sandalwood (Santalum spicatum) in the fragrance industry. In 2008, Mt Romance became a part of Quintis, the world’s largest producer of natural sandalwood products. Quintis first sourced the seeds from Mysore in India in 1997 and began growing plantations of Sandalwood Album in Kununurra, Western Australia.

Sold in 2002, the building was renovated and a four storey addition was built to the rear of the building.

Occupants

Lot 42 owners:

1829 - 1837 McDonald, Hugh

1855 Broun, R

1856 Brown, R. Mc

1857 - 1859 Brown, R M B

1876 Franciso, Alex

1877 - 1879 Harwood, J J

1902 - 1903 Adams & Co. G. H. wine, spirit & general merchants became-

1902 - 1941 Fothergill & Co Ltd, E H, merchants & land agents (1902-1915: accountants)

1903- 1904 Rosman & Co. accountants

1904 - 1910 Andrews, Charles, accountant & auditor

1905 - 1906 White, F G, commercial agent

1905 - 1907 Mannering & Co. printers

1911 - 1941 Colonial Mutual Fire Ins Co Ltd, insurance company (1911-1926: E H Fothergill & Co Ltd, chief agents)
1912 - 1927 City Mutual Life Assurance Society Ltd(1912-1924: Colonial MLAS Ltd)

1919 - 1923 Hector, John, sandalwood merchant, previously with Guthrie & son (reference)

1920 - 1930 MCL Print Ltd (Reg off) (E H Fothergill, managing director)

1924 - 1926 Hector & Sons, John, merchants

1924 - 1927 Premier Coal Mining Co. Ld.

1942 - 1946 Mackay, Mrs Margaret, refreshment rooms

1947 - 1949 Ken's Port-O-Call Cafe, restaurant

14 Mouat St.PNG

10-12 MOUAT ST ADELAIDE STEAMSHIP HOUSE

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)

10-12 Mouat St.PNG

5 MOUAT ST

5 Mouat St (was 17 pre 1938) Tarantella nite club

This three storey building, a unique Federation Romanesque style, was designed by architect Edward Herbert Dean Smith for William De Lacey Bacon and the North German Lloyd Steamship Company in 1902, and constructed in 1903. The facade is constructed from limestone with contrasting bluestone columns and plinths. There are decorative string courses defining the floor levels and the building is entered through an arched opening supported by two bluestone columns with bowl capitals. It has a steep gabled roof which has been topped with an elaborately decorated square turret that has a steep pyramidal roof. The side and rear external brick walls are constructed in English bond brickwork.

1905 A large number of the Italian residents of Fremantle called on the Italian Vice-Consul, Mr Louis Ritazzi, to pay their respects to him as the representative of their King on the occasion of His Majesty's thirty-seventh birthday. The Italian ensign and other flags were flown over the consulate in honor of the.occasion, and His Majesty’s health was drunk by those present. (reference)

1907 Chevalier Zunini, the Italian Consul, proposes leaving the State on a visit to Italy. Mr. Ratazzi will assume the duties of Acting Consul for Italy during Chevalier Zunini's absence. (reference)

1909 The outbreak of fire on the German steamer Borkun, which put back to Mauritius on Friday last, has not yet been under control and according to a cable received by the local agents for the steamer (Messrs. Ratazzi and Co.) on Saturday morning from Captain Stolberg, the cargo is still burning fiercely… Captain Stolberg tried to save as much of the cargo as possible, but just prior to arrival at Port Louis the fire gained so that he decided for the safety of those on board to jettison 4000 cases of dynamite and 20 cases of detonators. The explosives were all consigned to Messrs. Barrymore and Co., of Fremantle and it is stated were valued at about £10,000. (reference)

1911 Herr L. Ratazzi, the German Consul in this State, who recently returned from a trip to Europe, states that the people in Germany are not obsessed with Anglophobia, but rather are satisfied with the feeling that both nations understand each other better and are content to let matters stand as they are. (reference)

1913 The Chevalier L. Ratazzi, Consul for Germany in West Australia, and local manager for the Nord Deutcher Lloyd- asked whether the feeling between Great Britain and Germany was any more cordial, he said ‘There is no doubt that a strong friendly feeling now exists between the two countries.’ (reference)

Prior to World War I it was rumoured that C. P. Ratazzi, the German Consul in WA, used the attic in the building to spy on movements in Fremantle Harbour and in 1914 Ratazzi was ordered by the Federal Government to cease acting as Consul. (reference)

1914 On Saturday night a noise as if some persons were breaking windows was heard by a man as he was walking in the direction of the North German Lloyd office in Fremantle. One of these offices is occupied by Mr L. Ratazzi, formerly the German Consul. On arrival at the scene of the disturbance, it was found that the front windows of the office had been broken. (reference)

1915 Apparently some of our Fremantle patriots are unable to taste the sweets of victory with a spirit unperturbed. When Mr. Lovekin, with scare headlines in the "Daily Ooze" on Monday evening announced a great Russian naval victory, the exuberance of their spirits got the better of them, and they began to simmer with excitement. That excitement soon reached the boiling point of resentment… Having given Wittorf what they considered enough, they moved on, drunk with: excitement and bug-juice, to ex-Consul Ratazzi's residence, the windows of which they also wrecked. (reference)

1915 There is a good deal of talk in Perth and Fremantle concerning the anomalous position of one Ratazzi, who lives and has his lager beer at the port when he isn't travelling on the continent. It reminds one forcibly of Mrs. Malaprop's Gereberus "Three gentlemen in one, aren't you?" The gentleman's full moniker is Carl Peter Ludwig Ratazzi. A naturalised Australian, he was born at Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany. In addition he is the consular agent for Italy in this part of King George's dominions, and has been decorated by the King of Italy for services rendered to that country. As a naturalised Australian, he is bound to hope that victory should crown the British arms, as a German bold he could hardly be blamed for thinking kindly of his native country, and as an Italian consul he is voluntarily expected to throw his hat in the air and whoop for the descendants of the Caesars. It is a complicated case. (reference)

1919 On Saturday last Mr. H. Momber (local manager for Messrs. Wm. Crosby and Co.) together with his wife and child, sailed per the s.s. Hermiston for Melbourne, all of them having recently recovered from severe attacks of the flu. (reference)

1924 Two more commercial houses are installing Dodge Brothers cars for business purposes. Both Messrs William Crosby and Co., of Fremantle... (reference)

1926 The firm is one of the oldest in Australia, established in 1857 (reference) Notice is hereby given that the registered office of William Crosby and Co. Pty Ltd is situated at 17-19 Mouat street, Fremantle, and that such office will be open to the public between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m, on weekdays, except Saturdays, when the hours will be from 10 a.m. to noon. (reference)

1931 Demolition of an old two-storey building in Pakenham-street, Fremantle, near Short-street, is to make room for a new brick building for the Federal Stevedoring Co. The bottom floor will be occupied by William Crosby and Co shipping agents, and the top floor will be let as private offices. The architects for the new building are Messrs. Owen and Nicholas, of Fremantle, and the cost of erection is £1700. The builder is Mr. C. W. Melrose. (reference) 

 In 1951 it was purchased and occupied by Dickenson's Transport Agency and in 1971, L.H. & A.E. Webb acquired the building.

From 1972 - 1993 the building was known infamously as Tarantella Nite Club.

The building was leased by Jose ‘Joe’ Faria and Jose Rebelo of Lanham Holdings Pty Ltd. They opened up the ground floor internal walls, making a large open space that could be used as a dance floor and bar area.

1976 Tarantella Tavern was a strip club and hookup joint for prostitutes and drunken sailors; as an undergrouund haven for the crooked, transgendered and otherwise excluded. Patrons would compare the merits of local penitentiaries and make deals while hunkering shadily around the bar tables, watching the strippers out of the corner of their eyes. Each night, one of the prostitutes would climb to the highest point and sing House of the Rising Sun, the performance often descending into an all-in-all brawl, with the singer and her sister- both big ladies - and tough- taking on all comers… (from Nine Parts Water, One Part Sand: Kim Salmon and the Formula for Grunge, By Douglas Galbraith, 2019)

1976 Kim Salmon (of The Scientists) initiated himself into the world of live music with a cabaret band called 'Troubled Waters' They obtained a residency at Tarantellas Nightclub in Fremantle, only to lose the young Kim Salmon after (only) eight weeks…(reference) Troubled Waters was formed by John Farley, (singer bass player and band leader). They played cover songs- three sets a night from 11-3, six nights a week at Tarentellas Tavern… (reference)

In 1986, Faria and Rebelo purchased the building and in 1992 the building was sold to Fabray Pty Ltd, a division of Fini Homes.

As Tarantellas, it earned a well-earned reputation as one of WA’s seediest nightclubs, which served only to make it more popular. ( Freostuff link)

As the Tarentella Night Club in the seventies and eighties, the building is all those things. It is port life in the raw. There were syringes in the street, midnight sex being vigourously and noisily transacted over car bonnets, angry adjoining residents, and insifde there’s metal strippers’ cage painted red. Is it to protect the strippers from the patrons or vica versa? Ron Davidson Fremantle Impressions, 2008 (p 269)

On Friday, 13 February 1993, the night club finally closed.

The building was restored and converted for residential use, by local architect Michael Patroni.

It was sold in 2015 for $1,450,000 (reference)

OCCUPANTS

Lot 28 owner:

1829 - 1879 Samson, Lionel

1903 - 1914 Nord-Deutscher Lloyd ( North German Lloyd Steamship Company) Imperial Mail Steamers (L Ratazzi & Co. general agents for W A)

1903 - 1916 Ratazzi C. P. L.

1903 - 1909 Imperial German Consul

1910 - 1914 Imperial German Consul & consular agent Italy

1915 - 1916 Consular agent Italy

1903 - 1917 Ratazzi & Co. L. general merchants & general agents for W A of the N.D.L. Imperial German Mail Line(1903-1905: wine, spirit)

1918 - 1932 William Crosby & Co Pty Ltd., ship owners & agents(1920 - 1932 Hubert Momber, manager)

1933 - 1934

Pocklington & Co, L H, estate agents, sworn valuators

Atlas Assurance Co Ltd (Pocklington & Co, L H, agents)

1936 - 1940 Parsons Bros & Co Pty Ltd (bulk store)

1940 - 1943 vacant

1944 - 1945 Burns Philp & Co Ltd, ship owners, ship agents & merchants

1947 Colyer Watson Pty Ltd, exporters

1949 Bankers Health Society, organisation; National Packers

1970s Tarentellas Tavern

1980s-1993 Tarentellas Nite club

2011- 2015 Fremantle Bed & Breakfast, owner Peter Donovan

Tarantellas Bed & Breakfast

5 Mouat St.PNG

ND9 Cnr of Croke and Mouat St

Notre Dame University ND9 - Chapel and Chaplaincy

Bateman Buildings, 1 - 2 Croke St, corner Mouat and Croke St

All the buildings in this group have historic significance and association with the Bateman family who were involved in the shipping industry in Fremantle in the nineteenth century.

The original owners, the Bateman family, arrived from England in 1830. John Bateman supplied provisions for the Swan River colony until his death in 1855. By 1859 his sons, John and Walter Bateman were the colony's leading importers and exporters, with their own fleet of sailing ships.