Lance Holt School

Statement of Significance

Lance Holt School, together with Orient Hotel (1896) D & J Fowler Warehouse (fmr) (c.1900), House and Warehouse at 42-46 Henry Street (c. 1860;1895) and J & W Bateman Building (c.1888), makes a positive contribution to the visual character of Henry Street that collectively form a streetscape of gold boom architecture. Lance Holt School forms an integral part of the commercial precinct that forms one of the many gold boom streetscapes in the West End of Fremantle

Physical Description

Lance Holt School comprises a two-storey building, and a playground that extends along the south side of the site. The building abuts the building on the north side. Timber picket gates to playground enable vehicular access to the south side of the site. The building is rectangular in plan and built of brick walls with stucco treatment to the facade. The building facade features a parapet with geometric detailing and plain pilasters which have been designed so as to appear to continue from the walls below. The building is built to the pavement line on the East side of Henry Street. The walls are attenuated to resemble stone blocks, and rendered at lower sections to emphasise the base. The south wall is the only other exterior wall visible from the front of the building. Lance Holt School appears as a subdued example of the Federation Free Classical style with brick walls and stucco treatment to the facade. The building is within a commercial precinct that forms one of the many gold boom streetscapes in the West End of Fremantle. Henry Street is a surviving Victorian streetscape that was largely developed from the late 1800's to the first decade of the 20111 century. The street is predominantly two-storey , with two­ storey hotels anchoring street comers. The overall character and detailing of the building is largely intact.

History

Assessment 2000 Construction: 1892 Alterations/additions: 1959 (mezzanine), 1994 The existing structure on Lot 78, Henry Street, initially known as the Federal Coffee Palace, was built in 1892 by Philip Webster, an investor and nurseryman. A key figure within the Fremantle community, Webster also owned the Esplanade Hotel in Marine Terrace. Webster died in 1893. After his death, the building was owned by restaurateur Martin Davey, and between 1894-95 was run as a boarding house. The building has had multifarious owners and occupiers since 1896, including a descendant of Philip Webster, a Philip Cranworth Webster in 1914. In l 972 the building was taken over by the City of Fremantle. In 1974 the Lance Holt School occupied the building as Lessees, becoming owners in 1985. After the gold boom of the late l 880's and I890's, the town of Fremantle, like the capital, flourished as it reaped the considerable benefits of the increased population that had been attracted to the colony. The Federal Coffee Palace, now known as Lance Holt School, is one example of the construction boom of this period. In 1897 the completion of the harbour works ensured Fremantle's development as an international port. Development of the port town proceeded steadily during the l 950's, l 960's and l 970's. This development was tempered by the Stephenson and Hepburn Regional Plan (1955) and the Boas Town Planning Scheme No. 1 (1956-58). As a result of the measures put in place by these plans, areas such as the West End were protected from radical redevelopment. rn 1980, the West End Conservation Area was entered on the Australian Heritage Commission's Register of the National Estate. Lance Holt School was established to provide an alternative to mainstream education at primary school level, and is based on the principles of educationalist Lance Holt. The Lance Holt School is Western Australia's oldest community school. It was first established at North Fremantle in 1970. Shortly after in 1974, the Lance Holt School became popular enough to warrant securing its existing base in Fremantle's West End, and in its inaugural year of operation taught a total of 24 students.

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