Commercial Building, 93 South Tce

Statement of Significance

Commercial Building, 93 South Terrace is a typical single storey brick and iron row of commercial shops dating from the 1930s. The place has aesthetic value for its contribution to the streetscape and the surrounding area. It represents the expansion of Fremantle in the early twentieth century. It is historically significant as a representation of commercial buildings in the Fremantle area.

Physical Description

Commercial Building, 93 South Terrace is a single storey masonry commercial building constructed in c1930. The walls are painted rendered brick with a simple face brick parapet. There is a suspended awning that extends over the footpath. The building is located on the front boundary line with no setback. There are modern aluminium framed windows. One shop front has a recessed entry. The other has bi-fold glass doors.

Also 1880s duplex/building at the rear.

History

Commercial Building 93 South Tce; also 1880s duplex/building at the rear.
Parts of Lots 609 and 610 became a row of commercial premises that are now 93 and 97 South Terrace.
In 1880, two cottages were built on Lot 610. Robert Howson and William Gresby were listed as the owners in the rate book. Edward Delaney, a warder, lived in one cottage, while a policeman lived in the other. The following year, Robert Howson, a shipwright, moved into one of the cottages and was listed as the owner of both. In 1883, the rate book listed a dwelling house of six rooms and a cottage of three rooms on the lot. In 1884, two cottages (both of three rooms) were listed as being ‘in the yard’ of the six roomed house. This continued to be the case until 1893, when three dwellings (of 7, 4 and 5 rooms) were listed, with the two three-roomed cottages behind. Robert Howson was still the owner and lived in the largest of the houses (then No. 143; later No. 95). A customs office and master mariner lived in the houses facing the street, while a railway employee and a storeman occupied the cottages behind. In 1900, an iron shed occupied by Union Stores was also listed on the lot.
A Metropolitan Sewerage plan dated c. 1910 shows that 91, 93 and 95 South Terrace were built as attached buildings. No. 91 and No. 95 had centrally located bay windows and all had full length front verandahs. No. 95 also had a basement. There were a variety of additions and outbuildings to the rear of each lot. The rate books show that in 1909-10 there were cottages numbered 139, 141 and 143 South Terrace, and also 2 cottages at the rear.
In 1915, 91 South Terrace was occupied by the Fremantle Road Board and the Fremantle Board of Health.
Robert Howson continued to own the five residences until c. 1920, although he did not live there from c. 1900. He rented all of the homes to a succession of tenants. In 1923, the properties were sold to Hyem Hester & Co Ltd.
By 1930, the houses had been demolished and three shops built in their place.
The 1934/35 rate book lists Hercules Curwood, an engineer, as the owner of three shops at 139, 141 and 143 South Terrace (later 91, 93, 95) and two cottages at the rear. In 1950, the property was transferred to Mary Cicerello, who was still the owner of the three shops and two residences at the rear in 2010. All were leased to tenants.
There was a business known as Union Stores at no. 145 South Terrace, which became an office by 1920-1. The rate book for 1930-1 shows shops at 139, 141 and 143 South Terrace, with again an office at no. 145, and 2 residences at the rear.
The lot that is 93 South Terrace is very long, and had commercial premises at the front and a pair of cottages behind. The commercial premises that are 97 South Terrace abut Howard Street and is not such a long block, there being blocks facing Howard Street. Between 1945 and 1949 the P.O. Directories show 2 ladies living separately at the rear of 91, and a range of businesses between 93 and 97.
This place was included in the list of heritage places in the City of Fremantle identified by the Fremantle Society (1979/80) - PURPLE - of architectural and historic significance in its own right.

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