Notre Dame University ND36 - School of Education - , His Lordship's Larder, His Majesty's Hotel, Phillimore's Hotel, corner Phillimore and Mouat Sts.
Lot 39 was originally owned by H Willet & Co. (1829-1837) then Morgan King &Co. (1846-59) and Lot 40 by J.M. Davey (1829-1837) then both sold to L. A Manning in 1876.
“An old widow lady named Mrs Agett resided in a fairly large bungalow house on the site now occupied by His Majesty’s Hotel. During the gold boom times this house underwent alterations and additions, and became Fremantle’s first café under the name of ‘His Lordship’s Larder’. In course of time a hotel license was secured, and the old building gave place to the present modern structure”. Hitchcock, Early Days of Fremantle (reference)
She may have been related to a Mr Agett, who worked as a clerk in the Custom department, Fremantle from 1850- 1853 (reference) In 1860 Mrs Agett is recorded as having received may casks of liquor via shipping documents. In 1862 she is recorded selling women’s clothes from ‘Beach House, Moate St (sic)’. (reference) By 1886 she is trading from Henry St. (reference).
Charles Henry Pierce (1860-1913), originally from New Zealand, came to Fremantle in 1886 and was the proprietor of His Lordships Larder until a few months before his death in 1913. He married Elizabeth Hughes, daughter of local Captain, David Hughes in 1885. He also served as a Fremantle councillor. (You can read his biography here)
1897 His Lordship’s Larder- One of the oldest and most popular hostelries at the Port of Fremantle. The proprietor is Mr C. H. Pierce, who is the oldest Boniface in Fremantle. Visitors to the Port from the interior goldfields, or new arrivals by sea, are always sure of a hearty welcome at the Larder, where the purest of good liquors are dispensed. There is an excellent billiard room, which is always well conducted... (reference) (see photo)
Dec 1898 The refurbishing and enlarging of His Lordship’s Larder. Pierce and Murphy proprietors…showing Saloon Bar (reference)
August 1900 Mr. Pierce, in response to an influential requisition, consented to nominate himself for the vacancy in the Fremantle Council caused by the retirement of Mr. R. Laurie. (reference) He was successfully elected as a representative of the East Ward of the Fremantle Municipality. (reference)
29th June 1901- A PRETTY AVIARY. SOME BEAUTIFUL BIRDS. Very few people passing by His Lordship's Larder Hotel, would imagine that in the trellised courtyard in the centre of the building there was to be found one of the finest collections of small birds and parrots to be seen in WA. Mr. Charles Pierce, the genial landlord, is noted for the pride he takes, not only in sport of every kind, but also for his lore of the feathered tribes. Seeing that at Fremantle Dog and Poultry Show last week Mr Pierce gained such signal success with all his exhibits, a representative interviewed him with a view to inspect his collection, which is always opened to the public, and which is well worth a visit. Canaries are one of his chief hobbies, and in the spacious aviaries, of which there are three, may be seen about 70 of the sweet songsters… The whole place is kept in most perfect order, and during the summer time is a blaze of flowers. Mr. Pierce spares neither time nor money in making his collection as complete as possible. (reference)
In 1903 Fremantle experienced an outbreak of Bubonic Plague:
Two days ago a yardman employed at His Lordship's Larder Hotel fell ill, and last night, becoming worse, called in a medical man. The latter, finding suspicious symptoms, referred the case to Dr. Anderson, who this morning examined the patient and had no difficulty in pronouncing his illness as bubonic plague. The victim's name is Percy Cartwright, aged 27, and he has been employed at the hotel for about seven months. He resided on the premises…. the hotel should at once be closed. Besides the victim there are at the hotel 15 contacts: three adult men, six adult ladies, and six children. Arrangements are being made this afternoon for the removal of the contacts to Woodman's Point…. Amongst the rats examined by Dr Anderson this morning three were found to be infected with bubonic plague. These all came from Victoria Quay. (reference)
1903 The Lordships Larder was demolished and a new Hotel - His Majesty’s Hotel planned. (reference)
1904 One of the most striking features, amongst the building improvements at the Port is the change which has come over the scene at the corner of Mouatt and Phillimore streets, where a large and handsome hotel has taken the place of His Lordship's Larder, which for so many years kept pace in the progressive movement of the town Messrs. Pierce and Murphy, the licensees, are now established in one of the most up-to-date houses in Fremantle, which has been erected at a cost of about £7,000. The base of the building comprises Cottesloe freestone, and the upper portion is of tuck-pointed brick work. Spacious balconies surround the structure, forming a handsome ornamentation to an artistically designed building. (reference)
The new Hotel was designed by T. Anthoness, and built by Taylor.
1905 About a fortnight ago the licensed victuallers of Fremantle met in solemn conclave and decided to form a branch of the Licensed Victuallers' Association. They elected as their first president Mr J. B. Murphy, licensee of His Majesty's Hotel, whose portrait is here given. About a year ago Mr Murpliy took over the management of His Majesty's Hotel, and still reigns there… (reference)
1919 The proprietor was Gordon Staples.
1920 Irish National Foresters Convention, The 24th. Annual Convention of the Irish National Foresters was held at His Majesty's Hotel, Fremantle…There was a fine gathering of delegates from the branches, including a representation from the Goldfields. (reference)
1926 Proprietor C Jackson was accused of harboring ‘scabs’ at His Majesty’s hotel, Fremantle during the 1919 Lumpers riots by Miss Cecelia Shelley, president of the Hotel and Restaurants union. He vigorously defended himself… (reference)
1931 The death occurred at Fremantle early this morning of Mr. Arthur Edmund Bursey, licensee of His Majesty's Hotel. Fremantle. Deceased was born in Berkshire (England) 70 years ago, and came to WA in 1901. Prior to taking over His Majesty's Hotel early this year he conducted the Newmarket Hotel, South Fremantle… (reference)
1950 A yardman at His Majesty's Hotel bought two lottery tickets. One was for Mrs. Maude Moore who also works at the hotel, and the other was shared between them. Today, Mrs. Moore s ticket won the £3000 first prize. Mrs. Moore said that for the 11 months she had been working at the hotel she had been taking lottery tickets with the yardman. This time she had a separate ticket as well. She said her first job was to tell her 11-year-old son who was in Westminster Hospital waiting to have his tonsils removed. Mrs. Moore said she had no definite plans on how to spend the £3000 but she would like a trip .Daily News, Friday 14 April 1950, page 4 (reference) (see photo)
The building was restored substantially in 1999 for the America’s Cup Defence.
c. 1994 the University of Notre Dame purchased, through low interest loan from the State Government, several run-down historic hotels in the West End.
2005: NDUA School of Religious Education, School of Teaching and College of Education.
2021 ND36- School of Education
OCCUPANTS
No. 2
1899 - 1905 HIS LORDSHIP‘S LARDER HOTEL
1899 - 1901 Pierce & Murphy
1902 - 1905 Pierce, Charles H
1906 - 1949 HIS MAJESTY’S HOTEL
1906 Murphy, J B
1907 Pierce, Mrs E
1908 - 1911 Pierce, Charles H
1912 - 1914 Thompson, William H
1915 Moylan, James
No. 4
1918
Johnson & Co Ltd, W, shipping agents
Collie Coal Co Ltd
Scottish Collieries Ltd
1919 vacant
1920 Ross & McInerney, customs, shipping & forwarding agents
No. 6
1905 - 1941 Meikle, Alexander, tobacconist
1941 - 1949 Meikle, Sydney W, hairdresser, tobacconist
No. 8
1914 Thomas & Co. M, baggage agents
1916 - 1918 Vann & Co, carriers, baggage, & shipping agents (George H Colebrook, manager)
1919 - 1920 McCorkill Ltd, merchants and shipping agents
1921 - 1922 Brown, Ebenr, baggage & ships' agents
1923 Vacant
1924 - 1925 Bolton, Long & Co, carriers & customs agents
1926 - 1928 Anderson H & F, confectioners
1929 - 1936 Hardeman, Mrs Daisy, confectioner tea rooms
1936 - 1941 Robertson, Miss Margaret, confectioner & tea rooms
1941 - 1943 O'Flaherty, Mrs Alice, refreshment rooms
1944 vacant
1945 Stewart, Mrs Lou, mixed business
1946 vacant
1947 - 1949 The Tucker Box, refreshment rooms
