a victory for the heritage of fremantle By 1959 the old asylum had seen out three very different eras of history and the toll on the building was beginning to show. Its structure was crumbling and vandalised, its gardens littered and overgrown and its haggard exterior inspired ghost stories. Developers began to propose demolition. Further architectural degeneration was kept at bay through the 1960s by the presence of the Fremantle Technical College where young men and women from Fremantle, particularly exservicemen, came to learn trades. Reports that the building was beyond repair were met with despair by locals and authorities who saw the old asylum as an important part of Fremantle’s history. Fremantle Mayor Sir Frederick Samson called a meeting to discuss the possibility of saving the building, which began a year-long marathon of negotiations throughout which the building’s future dangled in the balance. The Chairman of the National Trust of Great Britain in 1963 weighed in, writing “Don’t you let them demolish this building! It is the most marvellous example of colonial gothic architecture in Australia”. Finally in 1967 state funding was secured to establish a museum and community arts centre in the building. Fremantle architect Robin McKellar Campbell conducted the renovations. As a result of this struggle, the building has become a symbol of the Fremantle community standing up for the protection of its heritage. FAC now serves as a key community hub and the preservation of the building remains a great victory for the people of Fremantle.
7 TOP JOHN
DUNDULAS, MASTER MASON, BORN IN MACEDONIA; SAWING STONE DURING THE BUILDING’S RESTORATION. 1970 MIDDLE & BOTTOM VIEW OF COURTYARD BEFORE RESTORATION, 1970 PICTURE COURTESY CITY OF FREMANTLE LIBRARY