Council offloading Fremantle's heritage-listed Victoria Hall
A rare slice of WA history is up for grabs with Fremantle’s historic Victoria Hall hitting the market for an undisclosed price.
The Heritage Council-registered building at 179 High Street, which was built in 1897, is being sold by the City of Fremantle via tender, which closes on November 27.
Located in the heart of Fremantle’s CBD, the iconic building was designed by J. Talbot Hobbs and began its life as St John’s parish hall.
It was used as a dance hall and theatre before the church sold it in the 1950s. Through the late 1980s and early 1990s it was used by the Salvation Army.
The hall during an awards ceremony this year. Photo: Supplied
The City of Fremantle bought Victoria Hall in 2001 with a vision of restoring the building to its former glory.
In recent years it was home to The Fly by Night Musicians Club until its tenancy ended in August, after the council decided not to renew the lease.
Conservation, restoration and compliance works to the value of $2.2 million have been spent on Victoria Hall in the 18 years the City of Fremantle has owned it.
“As the city has achieved this goal there is an opportunity now for the building to be used for a new and brighter purpose,” the council’s economic development manager Matt Hammond said.
The interior of the main hall. Photo: Supplied
Mr Hammond said in conjunction with the Heritage Council, the approved purchaser would have to enter into a heritage agreement as a condition of tender.
This was to ensure Victoria Hall continued to be maintained in line with the Burra Charter (Australia’s nationally accepted standard for heritage conversation practice) and the conservation plan, he said.
“Victoria Hall is a unique opportunity so it has received strong interest since the tender was launched,” he said.
However, the council’s policy was not to disclose an asking price as they were “seeking to maximise the return for our ratepayers and disclosing an asking price would prejudice our ability to do that”, Mr Hammond said.
Victoria Hall comprises about 587 square metres of internal space, which includes a spacious 215-square-metre main hall with a stage and mezzanine. According to the State Heritage Office, much of the internal detailing and decorative finishes remain intact.
There is also another 84-square-metre hall, many smaller rooms, as well as offices and storage.
Other features include a courtyard, a full bar with its own entrance and toilets.
Victoria Hall occupies 845 square metres of land and is situated 50 metres from the $270 million Kings Square project, where the commercial precinct will be transformed with new retail and dining precincts, new commercial spaces and a revamped city square.
