38-40 Henry St, Notre Dame University ND35 - School of Medicine - Fowler's Warehouse (Fmr)
The bold facade of the Fowler Warehouse, built in 1899, is richly moulded with classical details; pillars, architraves, a frieze and cornice. The balustrade bears the name of the firm D. and J. Fowler. The warehouse, which extends through to Pakenham Street, was entered through a 5.5 metre gate built for wagons.
D. and J. Fowler was a South Australian mercantile firm, whose importation of goods into Australia was significant at the turn of the century and they made a significant contribution to the commercial development of Fremantle. The company was founded by siblings from a Scottish family: James Fowler (1830-1858) and his sister Margaret, who immigrated to SA in 1850. James was joined by elder brother David (1826-1881) in 1854 and when he died in 1858, a third brother George (arriving in 1860) became a partner in the firm. They retained the name D. & J. Fowler. By 1865 business had grown to such an extent that they opened branch offices in London, Fremantle, Broken Hill and Kalgoorlie. They acquired the dealership for Shell products and set up a shipping agency to handle not only their imports but exports of wool, wheat, meat, flour butter and other materials. They manufactured Lion brand products, Fowlers Vacola bottling products and were agents for Amgoourie and Robur tea. In 1982-3 the company was taken over by Southern Farmers Ltd..
In 1897 their warehouse in Norfolk St was gutted by fire:
Despite the efforts of the brigade, the building, which consisted of wood and iron, was totally destroyed, together with the stock of general merchandise, which was valued at £8,000. It is, however, covered by insurance in an Adelaide coy. The building was valued at £600 (reference)
1899 A more substantial warehouse was built by Fremantle architect Frederick William Burwell in 1899 and opened in 1900. It included offices, a warehouse, an engine room, a packing and coffee roasting house, stables and sheds. See images in an article- (link) This warehouse also sustained a fire but this time was saved by the Fremantle Fire Brigade:
1905 WAREHOUSE ON FIRE. A fire broke out about 3 o'clock on Saturday morning in Messrs. D. and J. Fowler's warehouse in Henry and Packenham streets, Fremantle. The brigade turned out promptly, and extinguished the flames just as they seemed to be getting a good hold of one of the most valuable warehouses in Fremantle. (reference)
1905 D. AND J. FOWLER'S ANNUAL PICNIC. The annual picnic in connection with the Fremantle and Perth houses of D. and J. Fowler Ltd., was held on Wednesday last. The staff, numbering about 70 proceeded to Melville Park in drags, which left the warehouse in Henry-street at 9.30 a.m. On arrival at the ground the sports committee initiated a good programme, which was successfully carried out. The weather was perfect, and the picnic in every way proved most enjoyable. Article mentions names of staff (reference)
1911 James Rushby, a storeman in the employ of Messrs. D. and J. Fowler, fell down the lift of the firm's warehouse at Fremantle on Saturday forenoon, and sustained serious injuries. (reference)
1920 INDUSTRIAL BOYS ON STRIKE. About 40 boys, employed in the packing department of D. and J. Fowler's warehouse, Fremantle, went on strike this morning as a protest against what they characterise as the defective machinery which they have to use in their work. (reference)
1933 Mr. B. S. Kiernan, an executive was for some years with Messrs. D. and J. Fowler in their Fremantle warehouse: 'What he does not know about Chinese, Ceylon, Assam, Pekoe, Orange Pekoe, and teas from tip to dust is not worth knowing.” (reference)
1946 A Fatal Fall -WINDOW CLEANER'S END. Slipping from a position on the exterior of a Fremantle warehouse the windows of which he had been cleaning, Ernest Charles Meyers (47), fell about 45 ft. to his death. He had been cleaning the windows of D. and J. Fowler Ltd., in Henry street, Fremantle, with the aid of a ladder which was resting on the window ledge. He was seen by his employer, Walter Ernest Bush, to fall, clutching at the ladder which came away from its position… (reference)
The City of Fremantle purchased the property in 1971 and leased it to a wool stores company. In 1991–1992 the City undertook restoration of the buildings. It was registered as a State Registered Place on the 9 November 1993.
During the 1990s it was occupied by the Fremantle Furniture Factory.
2005: Notre Dame University leased the building for its School of Medicine
In 2004 the University, having received approval from the Commonwealth Government and with strong endorsement from of the Western Australian State Government, achieved accreditation from the Australian Medical Council enabling it to open a graduate entry Medical School on the Fremantle Campus in 2005. This was to be the second Medical School in Western Australia and the first in Australia at a private university… The Howard Government supported the initiative with Commonwealth funded Medical places and a capital grant for facilities. The State Labor Government, with the direct involvement and approval of the Premier, Dr Geoff Gallop, provided a $3 million low interest capital loan to help develop the beautiful and historic building (owned by the City of Fremantle and leased to Notre Dame for the long-term) designated to house the Medical School, in Henry Street, Fremantle… This new Medical School, under its Foundation Dean, Adrian Bower, and his deputy, Jenny McConnell, rapidly gained a reputation for the quality of its staff and curriculum, its clinical training experiences, and the excellence of its students and its graduates
From the Founding and Establishment of Notre Dame, 1986-2014 by Peter Tannock 2014
Occupants:
Lot 86 was originally owned by Curtis ( 1855) then transferred to M. Dyett (1856-1879) and Lot 87 by Lefroy & Vigors (1855-1878)
1913 - 1919 FOWLER LTD, D. & J., merchants & shipping agents, & at Murray st, Perth & Brookman st, Kalgoorlie; also at Adelaide & London.
1920 - 1938 Fowler Ltd, D & J., merchants & shipping agents, British Imperial oil Co Ltd (registered office), Canton Insurance Office Ltd (D & J Fowler Ltd, agents)
1938 - 1942 Fowler Ltd D & J., merchants, grocers, wholesale & shipping agents, North China Insurance Co (D & J Fowler Ltd, agents)
1943 - 1949 Fowler Ltd D & J., merchants, grocers, wholesale & shipping agents
1971 City of Fremantle
1990s Fremantle Furniture Factory
2005 Notre Dame University
