Church of the Immaculate Conception

Child Places

• 00791 Church of the Immaculate Conception

Values

The place is a landmark on Canning Highway between Melville and Fremantle and positively contributes to the streetscape of the East Fremantle section of Canning Highway.

The place has aesthetic value as an excellent example of the Inter War Art Deco architectural style.

The place is rare as one of only a small number of churches in the State built in the Inter War Art Deco style.

The place has served the East Fremantle catholic community since its construction in c1940.

Physical Description

A two-storey brick building with parapeted walls, stepped corbelling, and projecting front wall with stepped skyline. Its step sculptured massing includes two simple square side chapels abutting the front. Window openings and piers have a strong vertical emphasis, and the entrance is a deeply recessed simple rectangular opening with broad rendered surround.

History

The discovery of gold in the Kimberley and Murchison regions in the 1880s and the Eastern Goldfields in the 1890s had a significant impact on the development of Western Australia. Like other areas throughout the State, Fremantle was transformed because of the gold boom and the huge increase in population due to the goldrushes.

Since 1892, the areas of Plympton and Richmond in East Fremantle had formed the Fremantle Municipality’s east ward. This was administered by the Fremantle Road Board. After several attempts to include Plympton and Richmond in the Fremantle Municipality, residents of the area decided to follow North Fremantle’s 1894 example and form their own municipality.

On 19 February 1897, 200 residents attended a public meeting to discuss the issue of making East Fremantle a separate municipality. As a result of this meeting, a letter and petition were sent by lawyer Mathew Lewis Moss to State Premier John Forrest requesting that East Fremantle be proclaimed a municipality. On 2 April 1897, State Governor Sir Gerard Smith announced the gazettal of the new municipality of East Fremantle. On 23 July 1897, the first council elections were held, resulting in Moss being elected as East Fremantle’s first Mayor.

As stated above, by the 1890s, East Fremantle had developed into two different areas. One was Richmond, an area of large landholdings belonging to Fremantle’s merchant elite, including the Pearse, Moore and Easton families. The other area, Plympton, comprised primarily of the homes of workers and their families, with a high concentration of small blocks of land and timber and stone cottages.

Integrity/Authenticity

High

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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Last Update

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.