Notre Dame University ND6 - Student Recreation Hall - (Former) Strelitz Brothers Warehouse
26 Mouat St (was 38 pre 1938)
Architecture: 26 Mouat Street, was a brick and iron warehouse, built c.1900. The façade is tuck pointed, the north side is rendered and the southern side is face brick. The roof is gabled with a ridge vent (has been re-clad). The façade features three arches with the central arch being the glassed entrance door, and arches either side, windows. There is a circular window in the gable, and a rendered ribbon decoration above the central arch.
History- Lot 47 was originally owned by Adam Armstrong (1829-1837) then transferred to Walter Pace (1855), then Mrs Ann Pace (1856-1859). In 1876 it was purchased by Scott and Hagan, who ran the Victoria Hotel, which became the P&O Hotel next door. Patrick Hagan lived in a house on the site in 1880.
The property was purchased in 1900 by the Richard and Paul Strelitz brothers (see bio), whose main company buildings were located next door at 30 Mouat St (built 1897). The house was demolished and replaced with a warehouse.
Richard Strelitz followed his brother, Paul Strelitz, who came to Australia from Germany in 1886 and in 1894 moved to Western Australia. Richard Strelitz had worked for a shipping firm in Germany before moving to Victoria in 1892 and settled in WA six months later.
In 1894, the brothers established the firm Strelitz Brothers, Merchants and Shipping Agents of Fremantle and Kalgoorlie. One of the key agencies possessed by the firm was the German-Australian Steamship Company, which pioneered direct trade between Europe and WA. They were also agents for Alfred Nobel's Hamburg Explosive Company, Ltd and sold dynamite to the mining industry. They also imported mining machinery and railway material.
Strelitz Bros. took advantage of Fremantle's growth as the major trading port for Western Australia's gold boom and their business expanded.
1906 PERTH AND FREMANTLE, DECLARED PLAGUE-INFECTED BY THE DUTCH INDIES GOVERNMENT. The Central Board of Health has received the following communication from Mr. Paul Strelitz, the Western Australian Consul for the Netherlands Government, Fremantle, 20 Feb., 1906: The Honorable The Colonial Secretary, Perth. Sir, I have the honor to inform you that I have just received cable advice from my Government that the Netherland Indian Government has declared Perth and Fremantle as being infected by bubonic plague. The usual quarantine measures will be applied to all vessels. My Government has further prohibited the importation of carpets, used embroideries, unless they are transported as luggage, or in consequence of a change of domicile. Importation is further prohibited of used bags, rugs, untanned hides, including those salted or treated with arsenic, fresh animal residue, claws, hoofs, raw wool, manes, brushes, hair, originating from the district which has been declared infected, or has been transhipped there. I shall be glad if you will kindly make the above known in the usual way. I have the honor, etc., PAUL STRELITZ, Consul. (reference)
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 and, in NSW, they flourished. The Strelitz brothers sold the building in Mouat St, in 1920 to George Evans, the first paint manufacturer in Western Australia.
1930’s Duncan, Preston & Co
During 1998 the building was extensively restored and the facade reconstructed, including matching patination of the new brickwork to old, by Marcus Collins Architects (MCA).
Notre Dame University (NDU), became the owners in 2011.
OCCUPANTS
Lot 47 owners:
1829 - 1837 Armstrong, Adam
1855 - 1859 Pace, Ann
1876 Scott & Hagan
1877 - 1878 Hagan, P
No. 26
1901 - 1903 Strelitz Bros. (bulk store)
1904 - 1932 Preston Ltd. Duncan, merchants(1926< Preston & Co, Duncan)
1912 - 1932 Gregory, George C, manager
1933 - 1934 vacant
1934 - 1949 Nicholls & Co Ltd, stevedores & labour contractors
