Victoria Hall (Fremantle)

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]

Photograph of the front of Victoria Hall.
The front of Victoria Hall
General information
Address179 High Street
Town or cityFremantle
CountryAustralia
Coordinates32°3′12.83″S 115°44′59.56″E
Opened28 September 1897
TypeState Registered Place
Designated7 April 1998
Reference no.935

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]

It housed the Deckchair Theatre for many years prior to its closure in 2012. The building sat vacant from 2012 to 2015, then was the second and final home for the Fly by Night Club from 2015 to 2018 after their eviction from the Artillery Drill Hall.[6][7] It is now a multi-use arts venue housing organisations Fremantle Theatre Company, Spacemarket and the Fremantle Biennale as well as a regular events' venue with a separate events bar.[8]

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Victoria Hall (Fremantle).
  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. Archived from the original on 18 March 2014. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  3. Palassis Architects (November 2002). Victoria Hall Conservation Plan (Report).
  4. Quekett, Malcolm (17 November 2012). "Battle to save Freo's heritage celebrated". Archived from the original on 18 March 2014. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  5. "Victoria Hall, 179 High St, Fremantle, WA, Australia". Australian Heritage Database. Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
  6. "Perth's Fly By Night gets new home". The Music Network. 27 October 2015. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  7. "Fly by Night Musicians Club's lease at Victoria Hall to end in August". The West Australian. 6 June 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  8. "Victoria Hall". Retrieved 21 May 2022.
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