Marich Buildings

Author

City of Fremantle

Place Number

00885

Location

20-28 Henry St Fremantle

Location Details

36-44 High St

Local Government

Fremantle

Region

Metropolitan

Construction Date

Constructed from 1897

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type Status Date Documents
Heritage List YES 08 Mar 2007

Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations

Type Status Date Documents
RHP - Does not warrant assessment Current 27 Oct 2017

Other Heritage Listings and Surveys

Type Status Date Grading/Management
Category
Municipal Inventory Adopted 18 Sep 2000 Level 1B
Register of the National Estate Permanent 21 Mar 1978
Classified by the National Trust Classified 01 May 1974

Statement of Significance

The place is of historic significance as an example of a commercial building in the Old Port City of Fremantle dating from the gold boom period in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. The place is significant because, when viewed from the street, it is a substantially intact example of a commercial building which contributes to the very significant Old Port City of Fremantle. The place is of social significance as evidenced by its classification by the National Trust.

Physical Description

Two storey truncated corner and rendered building.(Henry St: single storey rendered façade.) The façade features a simple parapet and remnants of lettering appearing in the pediment. There is a central entrance with French doors and timber double hung sash windows. The decorative parapet has engaged small arched piers and 'Marich Bldgs' is imprinted in stucco across the corner. The engaged pilasters on the ground floor aside timber windows, the first floor has decorative engaged pilasters with stucco arched hopper windows between. There is pressed metal lining under the ceiling of the veranda awning (probably not original).

History

High Street was named by Surveyor General Roe - as was customary in English towns, the main street of the town was named High Street. Eastward from William Street the roadway was completed by convict labour after the Town Hall was built in 1887. High Street around the Town Hall closed to traffic in 1966. The High Street Mall was trialled in November 1973 and made a permanent pedestrian mall in 1975. The earliest building recorded on this site is the Royal Hotel in 1844 (Chauncey-Snell survey). No evidence remains that any of this original building was retained in later development of this site. Site investigations and documentary evidence reveal a single storey stone shop/ residence on High street prior to 1884. A stone building of similar vintage was constructed fronting onto Henry Street. A PWD plan of 1897 show a group of buildings on lots 80 and 801 in an arrangement similar to what exists today. The building was owned from 1880 to c1948 by the Brockman family. Nicholas Marich was the owner from 1948 to 1991. In late 1970s, No. 22 was a lodging house. In 1994, alterations were carried out by Ralph Hoare Architect. Currently (2002), commercial use, under renovation.

Condition

Fair.

Other Keywords

The Fremantle MHI management category for this place was amended and adopted by the decision of Council on 28/09/2011.

State Heritage Office library entries

Library Id Title Medium Year Of Publication
5238 Building inspection and report : Marich Buildings (corner of High and Henry Streets, Fremantle) / Julie Packer & Carolyn Wadley. Report 1992
5237 Report on the physical and documentary evidence on the existing building on Fremantle Town Lot 600 P, Certificate of Title volume 301, folio 58, The Marich buildings, 38-50 High Street, Fremantle. Heritage Study {Other} 1995

Place Type

Individual Building or Group

Uses

Epoch General Specific
Original Use COMMERCIAL Shopping Complex
Present Use COMMERCIAL Office or Administration Bldg
Other Use COMMERCIAL Shopping Complex

Architectural Styles

Style
Federation Free Classical

Construction Materials

Type General Specific
Wall BRICK Other Brick

Historic Themes

General Specific
SOCIAL & CIVIC ACTIVITIES Community services & utilities

Creation Date

30 May 1989

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

03 Jun 2021

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.