Victoria Hall (Fremantle)

The front of Victoria Hall
General information
Address	179 High Street
Town or city	Fremantle
Country	Australia
Coordinates	32°3′12.83″S 115°44′59.56″E / 32.0535639°S 115.7498778°E
Opening	28 September 1897

Victoria Hall located on High Street, Fremantle designed by Talbot Hobbs was built between 1896 and 1897 as St John's Parish Hall^[1] and renamed for the diamond jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1897.^[2] It was opened by Governor Smith and his wife on 28 September 1897.^[1]

After the Second World War, Bob Wrightson leased the hall for use as a dance studio; some years later he bought it.^[3]

Victoria Hall, one of few goldrush buildings remaining in the east end of High Street, sits in a predominantly 1960s streetscape. In 1974 a plan to widen High Street meant that Victoria Hall would be demolished, but a green ban put in place by the Builders Labourers Federation prevented this from happening.^[4] Wrightson still owned the building at this time.^[3]

The building is listed on the Register of the National Estate.^[5]

References

1. "Victoria Hall, Fremantle". The West Australian. 11 August 1897. Retrieved 27 November 2012. The Parish Hall recently erected by the vestry of St. John's. Church, Fremantle, to be known as the Victoria Hall, will be formally opened by His Excellency the Governor and Lady Smith on September 28. The Hall is built on an excellent site in High-street; it is well proportioned and lofty, while the elevation is particularly striking and effective. We understand that it will be used primarily for Church of England purposes, but that it will also be available as a public hall. A strong committee is now busily engaged in organising a series of inaugural entertainments which will extend over five evenings, commencing the 28th prox.
2. Heritage Council. "Victoria Hall". Heritage Council. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
3. Palassis Architects (November 2002). Victoria Hall Conservation Plan (Report).
4. Quekett, Malcolm (2012-11-17). "Battle to save Freo's heritage celebrated". Archived from the original on 20 November 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-20.
5. "Victoria Hall, 179 High St, Fremantle, WA, Australia". Australian Heritage Database. Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. Retrieved 2012-12-02.