5 MI N U T E H I S T ORY
Fairhaven
Grace Darling Hotel built by Captain Douglas on the Esperance foreshore
WORDS BY KARLI FORISSON Grace Darling in Albany
FAIRHAV E N I S A B E A U T IF U L H IS T O R IC B U IL D I N G LO CATE D ON D E MP S T E R S T R E E T W IT H A R IC H H IS TORY . ORIGI NA LLY N A ME D B AY VIE W , T H IS D O U B L E S T O RY H O USE MA D E F ROM H A N D - C U T L IM E S T O N E B R IC KS WA S B UILT I N 19 0 3 B Y JOE N O R M A N . Captain Frederick Douglas, the first owner of Bay View, and his brother cut the bricks for the building by hand. The limestone and lime mortar was sourced from Dempster Head as well as a small quarry on Layton Street. The bay windows were bought over from England. Since that time, the building has been an iconic part of Esperance’s history. Captain Frederick Douglas was born in 1850 in Hinxton, England. He came to Fremantle with his parents in 1852. He was educated in Perth, and his first job was at the Fremantle Post Office. In 1869, Fred moved to Albany with his older brother, William. In 1873, William bought the cutter Victory, starting the family’s career as sea captains. In 1879, Fred married Priscilla Keyser, and together they had 4 children. In 1881, Fred purchased the schooner Agnes and took up the mail run from Albany to Esperance.
Along with the mail, Fred also shipped cargo along the coast from Fremantle to Eucla. In 1892, Fred anchored the Agnes at Bremer Bay and loaded up a cargo that included 40 tons of sandalwood. That night, a storm blew in, and the Agnes was wrecked on the beach at Bremer Bay. Fortunately, all of the crew were safe, and the cargo and fittings were salvaged. A local farmer named John Wellstead purchased the wreck and used the timber for buildings on his property. The wreck delayed the delivery of mail to Esperance for two months.
