27/07/2025
In 3 years what has improved?
Neglected Fremantle 2022
You are looking at a magnificent photograph that you are unlikely to have seen before (just posted by Sue Fury in her excellent Old Perth in Her Former Glory).
The image was taken around 80 years ago from the Fremantle railway station looking over the Victorian Gardens (which should be reinstated), past the famous ginger beer stall that was Kakulas family's first commercial enterprise after they arrived in Australia 101 years ago in 1921. Some Fremantle residents remember it as Tinny Thomas' ginger beer stall where a scoop of ice cream turned your drink into a Spider.
The pumping station in the middle became a much needed toilet block, but it was closed 20 years ago and council have totally ignored this important heritage building right at the entry to Fremantle as you get off the train.
It should be restored and used as a bike rental shop so tourists can cycle around town, or better still redone as the toilet block it was, something Fremantle needs as every second new development now seems to be another alcohol venue.
It is truly shocking that Fremantle Council continues to allow this building to deteriorate on such a prominent site.
Note the trams delivering people right to the station - No serious effort has been made by Fremantle Council to reinstate light rail in Fremantle.
Note Uglieland in Pioneer Park on the right, now a degraded public space with a derelict heritage building, a crumbling wishing well, and an incongruous large dog statue.
Note the well dressed people, who dressed up to visit Fremantle, instead of the shabby, disrespectful and lazy habit today of dressing down.
Just 100 metres from this site last year a police car was set on fire in the street.
Just 200 metres from this site yesterday, one of the 'well dressed' Fremantle visitors buried an axe in the windscreen of a marked police vehicle in broad daylight.
These astonishing events cannot be swept under the carpet as council continues to ignore anti social behaviour and crime.
The Fremantle Society does not wish to talk Fremantle down, but these problems have not been effectively addressed, and also the attractions of Fremantle, like its heritage, are being ignored.
A senior police officer who has worked in Fremantle told the Fremantle Society yesterday he no longer brings his family to Fremantle as he feels it is not safe.
Get your mayor and councillors to earn their money and do something to address these issues and their lack of pride in our city. Their mediocrity is not enough.
Contact them on: [email protected]
John Dowson
President
The Fremantle Society
0409 223622
