FORMER WESLEY MANSE 8 CANTONEMENT STREET

Statement of Significance

Fremantle Gas & Coke is a two storey commercial building dating from the 1950s, and the adjacent former Wesley Manse dates from the 1890s. The place has aesthetic value for its contribution to the streetscape and the surrounding area. The Manse represents the place's former history and associations with the Wesleyan community. Fremantle Gas & Coke is historically significant as a representation of commercial buildings in the Fremantle area. The use of limestone is part of the Fremantle landscape and gives the City coherence and character. Limestone walls were built around properties in Fremantle to prevent sand drift in response to an early building regulation dating from the 1830s. Limestone walls are one commonly encountered example of use of this stone as a building material, most of them dating from the 19th century and early years of the 20th century. Most of the limestone in small walls came from local quarries.

Physical Description

The Wesley Manse is a single story brick and asbestos house built in the Victorian Georgian style of architecture. The walls are rendered masonry. The roof is hipped and clad with corrugated asbestos.There is a skillion roof addition to the western end. The other end abuts the 1953 commercial building adjacent. The only facade visible is the northeastern side, which has a central doorway (now a full height window) flanked by windows. The window opening on the left has replacement aluminium framed windows. The right hand side window is a sash window. Both openings are covered by steel security bars. The building is well above ground level, possibly having a basement or cellar.There are pipes and service conduits across this facade. Fremantle Gas & Coke is a two storey painted brick and iron commercial building dating from the 1950s. The ground floor facade has a glass entrance and shopfront windows, and a modern roller shutter garage door. The second floor has four opaque and four glass windows spaced alternately and evenly across the width of the building. There is no balcony. There is a suspended awning that juts out across the pavement. The northeastern facade of the building that faces a car park is a brightly painted mural.

History

Cantonment Street appears on Surveyor-General Roe’s earliest maps, and used to continue as Cantonment Road to Cantonment Hill, until this section was renamed as Queen Victoria Street in 1892 to avoid confusion. On the site, the Wesley Manse was built in 1893. It was later owned by Fremantle Gas & Coke Co Ltd, whose workshop was located adjacent. The company sold the building in 1941 to Citizens' Reception Council, who allowed it as use by visiting soldiers. The present showroom in front of the Wesley Manse was erected in 1953 as a modern showroom for Fremantle Gas & Coke Co Ltd. Late 1976, Fremantle Gas & Coke applied to Council to put a carpark on their land between Cantonment Street and Elder Place. Approved was subject to the stone and shingle cottage being retained. Fremantle Gas & Coke offered to rent the cottage to the Council, along with a $2000 donation towards its restoration. The cottage was believed to be the last of a row of stone cottage formerly known as ‘The Cantonments’, possibly dating from as early as 1830. After much debate and numerous proposals for reuse, funding to retain the cottage was not found and it was demolished in early 1979. The Fremantle Gas & Coke Company closed in 1985. This place was identified in the "Heritage Report on 19th century limestone walls and steps in Fremantle" prepared by Silvana Grassadonia, for the City of Fremantle, 1986. A 2006 real estate ad for the place notes commercial premises down stairs, a large modern apartment upstairs in what was formerly a restaurant, and a large shed to the rear.

Condition

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

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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