Rose Hotel

Parent Place or Precinct

22385 North Fremantle Precinct

Statement of Significance

Rose Hotel (former), 78 Stirling Highway, is a brick and tile two storey hotel building dating from the 1927. The place has aesthetic value for its contribution to the streetscape and strong landmark qualities. The place is a late example of the Federation Free Style of architecture. The place has historic and social significance as a long standing hotel in the North Fremantle area. The hotel was one of a number built and operated by the Swan Brewery. The place has social significance as it was a popular meeting venue for the local North Fremantle community, including workers from the nearby port and related industries.

Physical Description

Stirling Highway is a main arterial road that extends in a north to south direction from High Street Fremantle through and past the boundary of the City’s area. The Rose Hotel (Former), 78 Stirling Highway is located on the east side of Stirling Highway between White Street and Alfred Road. The Rose Hotel (former) constructed in 1927 is a double storey brick and iron hotel with symmetrical facade designed as an example of the Federation Free style of architecture. Walls are face brick with rendered detailing to the ground floor and rough cast rendered brick with face brick detailing to the upper floor. Roof is hipped and gabled corrugated iron with exposed eaves. There is a large gable central to the front elevation. This gable is finished with roughcast render and has red face brick and timber detailing. The name ROSE HOTEL in red face brick is located on this gable end. There is a colonnaded central porch and balcony above with face brick and rendered brick piers. Windows are generally timber framed double hung sash. During 2008 the development of a three storey brick and rendered brick and Colorbond roof apartment block was completed. Some conservation to the former hotel was undertaken at this time including the reconstruction of a verandah on the northern side of the building. A Heritage Assessment was prepared in July 2010 by the City of Fremantle for a DA submission to Council for external signage.

History

The portion of Stirling Highway to the north of Queen Victoria Street was originally part of Perth Road. The area developed with mixed residential, commercial and industrial uses from the 1860s following the construction of the North Fremantle Traffic Bridge and the upgrading of Perth Road by convicts. The portion of Stirling Highway that runs between the Swan River and the junction with Queen Victoria Street was formerly called Bruce Street. It was named after Colonel Bruce, head of the Pensioner Guards. In the early days of North Fremantle’s development, the favoured residential area for settlement was slightly west of the North Fremantle oval and named ‘Brucetown’. Settlement of North Fremantle began in earnest in the late 1890s and Bruce Street was characterised by a mix of building types. On the southern side of the street between Queen Victoria Street (formerly Perth Road) and Tydeman Road (formerly Pensioner Road and then John Street), the buildings were predominantly residential. Industrial use was more common on the northern side. Stirling Bridge was constructed across the Swan River at the end of Bruce Street in 1974. As Bruce Street was now the major arterial link between the bridge and Stirling Highway, the street was widened and renamed as an extension of Stirling Highway. In recent years, new high-density residential development of the areas adjacent to the river on either side of Stirling Highway has seen a significant change in the mix of buildings in the southern section of Stirling Highway. In 2004, the street continues to have a mix of residential, retail and industrial land use. Rose Hotel was constructed in 1927 for the Swan Brewery. Erncot Cocks was granted the first publican’s lease, which he held until 1964 when the lease was taken over by mother and son team, Chris and Stan Omodei. The Omodeis purchased the hotel freehold in 1978. The Swan Brewery (trading as Swan Breweries) was founded in 1857 by unemployed architect, Frederick Sherwood, who successfully made malt beer from imported English barley. The business was taken over by William Mumme and John Ferguson after Sherwood died in 1874 and in 1887, the business was floated as the Swan Brewery Co. Ltd., with many of its shares purchased by Melbourne investors. The Swan Brewery purchased and built many hotels throughout Western Australia. [This Rose Hotel is sometimes confused with a hotel of the same name on John Street (originally Pensioner Road). That Rose Hotel was built c. 1888 as a cottage of three rooms, owned by Adam Oliver and occupied by a number of tenants. In 1894, Oliver was listed as the keeper of the Rose Hotel on Pensioner Road. The following year, the hotel was listed as comprising 12 rooms. The hotel was still extant in 1929 but it is not known when it was demolished.] A 1939 diagram shows the Rose Hotel as being a brick hotel of a rough ‘H’ shape, with a central front verandah between two projecting bays. A similar verandah was located to the rear. There was also a large paved area at the back of the hotel (beer garden?), and a wide path between the hotel and the car park to the north. The place is identified in the North Fremantle Heritage Study (1994) as being of cultural heritage significance to the development of North Fremantle. A Heritage Assessment was prepared in July 2010 by the City of Fremantle for a DA submission to Council for external signage.

Integrity/Authenticity

Low degree of integrity (original intent unclear, current use compatible, high long term sustainability). Medium degree of authenticity with some original fabric remaining. (These statements based on street survey only).

Condition

Condition assessed as good (assessed from streetscape survey only).

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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