The Streets of Fremantle, D-F, From Dale To Fullston

This is the second instalment of our popular feature The Streets of Fremantle bringing together the derivation of our street names.

In our first instalment we covered The Streets of Fremantle, A-C, From Ada To Cypress.

In this second instalment we cover streets D-F, from Dale to Fullston.

As we explained in the first instalment, our aim is to produce a survey of all the current streets of the City of Fremantle with the derivations of their names.

Our survey is based on Miss Kate Caldwell’s epic 1931 work and more recent work by the Fremantle History Centre and research by Garry Gillard who compiles the invaluable resource, Fremantle Stuff.

In the entries below, we use FHC to refer to the Fremantle History Centre’s entries, KC to refer to Ms Caldwell’s, and FS to refer to Dr Gillard’s work.

In some cases we will list older street names that are no longer in use.

We encourage you, our readers, to email us additions and corrections and to provide information where we have ‘No information’.

And now we turn to the streets of Freo, D-F.

Dale Street, South Fremantle
KC – after Joseph Dale, Councillor 1910-1912.
FS – after Joseph Dale, Councillor 1906-09. Originally named Hampton Avenue, changed in 1910/11.

Dalgety Street, East Fremantle
FHC – after William Dalgety Moore (1835 – 1910) a prominent businessman in Fremantle. He founded W.D. Moore & Co, joined WA’s first legislative council, and was the first president of the Fremantle Chamber of Commerce. He owned the Woodside Estate.
FS – gets its name from William Dalgety Moore who had his Woodside estate there. (Jack Lee writes that it comes from the maiden name of Dora Dalgety (1808-1877), the wife of Samuel Moore (1803-1849). W.D. Moore’s middle name was obviously from the same origin.)

Dalgety Street, Fremantle
(See also Croke Lane)
FS – used also to be the name of Croke Lane, named for Dalgety & Co., which had premises there, and was renamed to avoid confusion with the street in East Fremantle. Dalgety & Co. got its name from founder Frederick Dalgety, a Scot who started the business in Melbourne.

Daly Street, South Fremantle
FHC – after Bartholomew Timothy Daly ( – 1932) a Town Councillor between 1909- 1922, and 1924-1929. Changed from Hewitt Street to Daly Street in 1909-10. Frederick Street and Gallipoli Street were included in 1951-2
KC – after Bart. T. Daley, Councillor 1915-1925. [This Person has the same name as the person in the FHC and FS entries, but appears to have incorrectly stated the last name and the period of service as a councillor. We believe the other entities are correct.]
FS – Bartholomew Timothy Daly (-1932), Councillor 1909-1922, 1924-29. Changed from Hewitt Street to Daly Street in 1909-10. Frederick Street and Gallipoli Street were included in 1951-2.

Darling Street, White Gum Valley
[No information]

Darroch Street, Beaconsfield
FHC – after John Darroch, a pharmacist in South Fremantle.

Davies Street, Beaconsfield
FHC – after the Davies family. George Davies and family acquired the land from the Curedale family by foreclosure.
KC – See Curedale-street.
FS – after (Alfred) George Davies (1776-1853) was the founder of the family for which the street is named, but it is probably named for George Alfred Davies, who owned a farm there, and built a house on the corner of South and Field Streets (which still exists).

Davies Street, North Fremantle
FS – the street existed 1896-1906.

De Lisle Street, North Fremantle
[No Information.]
Editor – but possibly connected with Governor Weld whose English wife’s father had added the name De Lisle to his family name.

Dedman [reserved road name]
FHC – after Gordon Dedman a founding member of Leighton Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) in 1934. He was a local businessman, with a butcher shop.

Deering Street, Beaconsfield
FHC – Deering was a pioneer resident of White Gum Valley.

Delamere Lane, Beaconsfield
FHC – after the SS Delamere, one of the ships used by the State Shipping Service of Western Australia between 1946 and 1971.

Del Rosso or Delrosso Place, O’Connor
FHC – after Frank Del Rosso who migrated to Fremantle from Italy in 1920. He was involved in the establishment of the Fremantle Fishermen’s Cooperative. Del Rosso worked extensively with Italians wanting to settle in Western Australia after World War II. He was awarded the Insignia Della Solidarieta Italiana for Services to Western Australia’s Italian community in 1964 and the Italian Friendship Award in 1985. Del Rosso was a Town Councillor for 1973–1985 and 1987– 1992 and was Deputy Mayor, 1978–1980.

Dermer Road, Beaconsfield
[No information.]
* Our regular reader, Robyn Colledge, reasonably suggests the street may well be named after the well-known Fremantle dentist Dr Dermer who conducted his practice upstairs in Atwell Arcade, central Freo, when she and her siblings were kids.

Direction Way, North Fremantle
FHC – Leads to Point Direction on the Swan River/Derbarl Yerrigan

Dixon Street, Beaconsfield
FHC – Dixon was an early pioneer

Doepel Street, North Fremantle
FHC – after Glen Doepel (1895 – 1992), a pharmacist in North Fremantle. This street is essentially an overlay of the former street. The original road was probably created in the 1960s following the placement of dredge soil to reclaim the river.

Doig Place, Beaconsfield
FHC – after The Doig Family, residents of Fremantle; several of whom played for East Fremantle Football Club.

Doolya Road, Hilton
FHC – after ‘Doolya’, a Nyoongar word meaning a ‘fog’ or ‘mist’. Previously part of Holmes Place.

Doonan Street, Fremantle
(See also Holdsworth Street)
FHC – after Joseph Doonan, the Fremantle Prison Comptroller and a shopkeeper. He owned and operated J. Doonan & Sons in Adelaide Street. Street named in 1897. Upper part of Queen Street, from Parry Street to Stirling Street, included later.

Dorothy Street, Fremantle
[No information.]

Dorre Lane, South Fremantle
FHC – after Dorre Island, due west of Carnarvon

Douglas Street, Fremantle
[No information]

Douro Road, South Fremantle
FHC – after Field Marshall Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington and Marquess Douro (1769 – 1852. Wellesley was given the titles of Duke of Wellington and Marquis Douro after he returned victorious from the Napoleonic Wars in 1814.
KC – This road joined the termination of Wellington Terrace (now Marine Terrace). The Duke of Wellington was also Marquis of Douro after the battle of the passage of the Douro River in the Peninsular War.
FS – Runs between Hampton Road and Marine Tce, which used to be Wellington Terrace at that point. The Duke of Wellington had Marquis of Douro added to his titles after the passage of the Douro River in Portugal in the Peninsular War (1807-1814).

Doust Street, Hilton
FHC – after the Doust Family, early Fremantle residents, one of whom was the first volunteer fireman in 1887 and W.K. Doust was a Town Councillor, 1946-1968.

Duffield Avenue, Hilton
FHC – after JH Duffield, a Town Councillor, 1879–1880.

East Street, Fremantle
FHC – Original eastern boundary of the town site.
KC – East-street was the original eastern boundary of the town-site.
FS – Eastern boundary of Fremantle with East Fremantle.

Eastern Bypass –
FS – Eastern Bypass. Name for a road which was intended to continue Stirling Highway southwards from the Stirling Bridge. It was not built. See the article about it in Fremantle, the newsletter of the Fremantle Society: October 1996, pp. 3-4. See also chapter 12 of Ron & Dianne Davidson, Fighting for Fremantle: 113-114.

Edgar Court, Beaconsfield
[No information]

Edmondson Street, Beaconsfield
[No information]

Edmund Street, Beaconsfield and White Gum Valley –
(See also Chalmers Street)
KC – Sir Edmund R. Fremantle, a nephew of Sir Chas. Fremantle, the founder of the town, with whom he served as Flag Lieutenant from 1858 till 1861. Edmund-street follows Swanbourne-street, which is the name of the family seat of the Fremantles. Sir Edmund died in 1929 in his 93rd year. The portion of Edmund-street southward from South-street used to be called Marmion-street, but this name was discontinued when another street of the same name was made off East-street about the time of Responsible Government.
FS – Sir Charles Fremantle’s nephew was Sir Edmund Robert Fremantle (1836-1929). Previously known as Marmion Road. The next street is Swanbourne Street which is named for the Fremantle family estate. There used to be Edmund Street South and Edmund Street North: the latter is now Chalmers Street.

Edward Street, Fremantle –
(See also Parry Street)
FHC – after Sir William Edward Parry (1790 – 1855), a naval officer and explorer. Known as Parry Street from 1986
KC – Edward-street joins Parry-street. Sir Wm. Edward Parry. See Parry-street. [Now part of Parry Street.]
FS – was that part of the current Parry Street between Adelaide Street and the river beach. The Australia Hotel is on the corner of Beach Street and what was Edward Street. It was named for Sir William Edward Parry (1790-1855), naval officer and explorer. Known as Parry Street, qv, from 1986 – which is also named for the admiral.

Edward Street, South Fremantle
(See also Silas Street and McLaren Street)
FHC – Changed to Silas Street in 1901-02. Changed to McLaren Street in 1922/23

Elder Place, Fremantle –
FHC – Elder, Smith & Co.’s offices were located on this street. Originally named Bay Street.
KC – Elder Place was altered from Bay-street, the warehouse of Elder, Smith & Co. being in the street. Bay was derived from the fact that the street encircled Shoal Bay on the north of Willis’s or Ferry Point.
FS – was named for the warehouse of Elder, Smith & Co. which was in that part of the street, and has now been converted to apartments. It was originally called Bay Street because it was next to Shoal Bay to the north of Ferry Point, aka Willis Point. As the Elder company is no longer there, and as it is not a ‘place’, just a street, it might as well be called either Phillimore or Beach Street, for the sake of simplicity.

Elizabeth Street, North Fremantle
(See also Corkhill Street)
[No information on Elizabeth Street.]

Elizabeth Street, White Gum Valley
(See also Ferres Street)
[No information]

Ellen Street, Fremantle –
FHC – after Ellen Mangles (1807 – 1874, the wife of Governor Sir James Stirling.
KC – Ellen Mangles, of Woodbridge, Surrey, England, wife of Sir Jas. Stirling, the Governor.
FS – Named for Ellen, nee Mangles, from Woodbridge, Surrey, wife of Admiral Stirling, the first Governor of Western Australia. Her name was also given by Stirling to Ellen Brook, which flows into the Swan River. Ellenbrook is now a newish Perth suburb.

Emma Place, North Fremantle
FHC – There were two significant ships named Emma; it is uncertain which one the Place is named for. In the 1840s, a 25-ton cutter owned by Captain John Thomas; built locally, it was used to trade with Singapore. In the 1850s, a schooner owned by Walter Padbury – this vessel could complete the journey from Fremantle to Port Walcott in nineteen days, whereas other vessels took thirty days.

Essex Street and Essex Lane, Fremantle –
FHC – after Essex, England
KC – With Norfolk and Suffolk-streets, this may perhaps have been named after the English county.
FS – Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk Streets are the ‘county streets’ (my term), being named for English counties.

Ethelwyn Street, Hilton
[No information]

Eucla Court, North Fremantle –
FHC – The SS Eucla ran a fortnightly service between Fremantle and Esperance, calling at Albany, 1913-1926.

Euphrasie Court, Fremantle, off Tuckfield Street.
FHC – after French-born Adele Euphrasie Barbier (1829-1893), the founder of the Roman Catholic Congregation of Our Lady of the Missions (they established a school on this site). Her religious name was Mother Mary of the Heart of Jesus.

Fairbairn Street, Fremantle
FHC – after Robert Fairbairn (1841 – 1922), who was Resident Magistrate at Fremantle from 1886 to 1908. Also called ‘the Tramway’ as a line ran via Henderson Street to Marine Terrace and the Commissariat.
KC – Robt. Fairbairn entered the Government service in 1859 and was made R.M. at Fremantle in 1886. The street was also called the Tramway, as a line used to run via Henderson-street to Marine Terrace and the Commissariat.
FS – Formerly William Street. Robert Fairbairn (1841-1922) was Resident Magistrate in 1886. The Street was also known as the Tramway, as a line ran along it from the Prison to Henderson Street, then to Marine Terrace and the Commissariat. It is now mostly a walkway leading tourists up from the town to the Prison, or vice versa. There is a tiny bit of what used to be Fairbairn Street on the NW side of Parry Street, in the form of a carpark there.

Fairfield Park, Beaconsfield
FHC – Mr. Dwelly had a store there known as the ‘Fairfield Cash Store’; it was a small, fragile, wooden structure. Area off South Street.

Fardon Drive, Fremantle Cemetery
FHC – Ralph Fardon, OAM was appointed to the Fremantle Cemetery Board in March 1994 and was Chairman of the Board in June that year until 1997. He was Town Clerk for the City of Melville and a qualified accountant.

Farrell Street, Hilton
FHC – James M. Farrell was a Town Councillor for the periods 1920-23 and 1927-1947. Previously known as Churchill Avenue, changed in 1948.

Farrier Lane, Fremantle/White Gum Valley
(See also Hope Street and Watkins Street)
FHC – The name was considered appropriate because of the number of stables, and a farrier, that have been historically located there.

Fay Street, North Fremantle
[No information.]
FS – Origin unknown. Makes a ‘pair’ with Letitia Road, also named for an unknown woman.

Feeney Street, North Fremantle
FHC – J. Feeney was a North Fremantle Councillor and a Fremantle Councillor 1961-1968.

Ferres Street, White Gum Valley
FHC – John M. Ferres was a butcher and had a shop at the corner of High Street and Market Street. Originally known as Elizabeth Street.

Ferry Point, North Fremantle at Emma Place
FHC – Colloquially known as Willis Point.

Field Street, Beaconsfield
FS – Matron Field was in charge of the Grosvenor Hospital, the entrance of which was on the street.

Fifth Avenue, Beaconsfield
FHC – Simpson named the property ‘Duke of York Estate’ to honour the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York’s visit to Western Australia in 1901. It was later sold under that name. The streets which were cut through were called York, Central Avenue and Fifth Avenue. It is not a Fifth of any avenues or streets.
KC – This name is to some extent a misnomer, as it is not the fifth of any avenues or streets. At the time of the visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York to the State in 1901, the owner of this land, one Simpson, decided to call it the Duke of York Estate, and it was later put on the market as such. The streets which were cut through were called York, Central Avenue and Fifth Avenue. The Duke of York became afterwards Geo. V.
FS – Simpson named the property Duke of York Estate (later Simpson Estate) to honour the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York’s visit to Western Australia in 1901. It was later so marketed, and the three streets were York Street, Central Avenue, and this one. The Duke later became George V. It’s a joke.

Finnerty Street, Fremantle
FHC – after Colonel Charles Finnerty (1815 – 1881) who was Colonel of the 47th Regiment. In 1861 he became Staff Officer of the Pensioner Guards Fremantle. In 1862, Finnerty was made Commanding Officer of Volunteer Fremantle. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1871-1872 and then Colonel in 1874.
KC – Major (later Colonel) Finnerty of the West Australian Pensioner Forces. He was in charge in 1876 when the Georgette endeavoured to obtain from the captain of the American vessel Catalpa the return of the escaped Fenian convicts.
FS – Charles Finnerty was Colonel of the 47th Regiment. In 1861 he became Staff Officer of the Pensioner Guards Fremantle, after John Bruce and before E.D. Harvest. In 1862, Finnerty was made Commanding Officer of Volunteer Fremantle. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1871-1872 and then Colonel in 1874. Finnerty was in command of the Georgette when it failed to stop the Catalpa taking the Fenians away in 1876.

Fisher Street, White Gum Valley
[No information]

Fitzgerald Terrace
(See also Marine Terrace, Fremantle)
FS – Former name of most of what is now Marine Terrace (the southern portion was called Wellington Terrace). Capt Charles Fitzgerald was Governor 1848-1855.

Fleay Lane, South Fremantle.
FHC – William Arnold Fleay (1928-1996) was a Perth educated engineer. He worked on the Comprehensive Water Scheme 1954-1961, Harbours and Rivers, Fremantle 1961-1979 and was Resident Engineer, Fremantle Harbour Works from 1970.

Fleet Street, Fremantle
FS – This leads from the port entrance at Cliff Street to the South Mole and out to the end of it. I don’t know if it refers to a fleet of ships or to someone of that name.
Editor – or was it ironically named after the famous Fleet Street in London?

Flindell Street, O’Connor
FHC – after Flindell, a pioneer resident of White Gum Valley

Florence Street, South Fremantle
(See also King William Street)
FS – named for Florence JONES, daughter of shipbuilder Frederick Jones (cf. Louisa, q.v.), is now called King William Street. It was the one block between the Mandurah Road (now South Terrace) and Wellington (now Marine) Terrace, continuous with King William Street in 1900: so the name KWS was simply extended to cover the whole street from Marine Terrace to Attfield Street. However, the park on the corner with Marine Terrace retains the name: Florence Park. Florence Jones married Alex Reid, after whom the Reid Library at UWA is named, and became Lady Florence.

Forrest Street, Fremantle
FHC – after Sir John Forrest (1847 – 1918) explorer and the first Premier of Western Australia, 1890 to 1901.
KC – Sir John Forrest, first Premier under Responsible Government.
FS – Sir John Forrest, first Premier (1890-1901)

Forsyth Street, O’Connor
FHC – after William Candlish Forsyth a Fremantle Municipal Councillor 1896-98, 1900-02. He owned a timberyard on South Terrace, 1898–1901, and occupied a five roomed cottage there, 1893–1897.

Fothergill Street, Fremantle
FHC – after E.H. Fothergill ( – 1896) a seaman turned hotelier who became Mayor of Fremantle, 1909-1910. Originally known as John Street, changed 1922/23.
KC – Originally John-street. E. H. Fothergill was Mayor of Fremantle in 1910.
FS – is named for Capt E.H. Fothergill who named the Cleopatra Hotel (which he owned) after his ship of that name. He was Mayor of Fremantle 1909-10. Fothergill Street was originally John Street (not known for whom); the name was changed in 1922, possibly to end confusion with John Street, North Fremantle. The latter is named for John Bruce; not known for which John the former was named – possibly John Hampton, Governor 1862-68? It was to continue to the east as Broome Street but is now Stack Street.

Foundry Court, North Fremantle
FHC – Engineering works

Francisco Street, South Fremantle
FHC – after Alexander Francisco ( – 1879) a merchant, postmaster and Fremantle Town Trust member 1848, 1857-63, 1865-66.
KC – Alex. Francisco was associated with Lionel Samson and Son. He later conducted a spirit merchant’s business on his own account, and held the position of postmaster.
FS – Alexander Francisco was a spirit merchant (having previously worked for Lionel Samson) and postmaster, and also member of the first Town Trust.

Frank Gibson Park, South Fremantle
FHC – Sir Frank Ernest Gibson (1878 – 1965) a pharmacist and Mayor of Fremantle 1920-23, 1927-29, 1929-1951. Originally Cornwall Street, it was changed in 1922-23. Formerly Gibson Park

Freeman [reserved road name]
FHC – William “Bill” Frederick Freeman ( – 1992) was a life member of the Leighton Surf Life Saving Club. In 1965 he pioneered the introduction of inflatable rubber boats (IRB) to life saving in Western Australia.

Frederick Street, North Fremantle
(See also Hevron)
FS – Originally named Frederick Street in 1892, changed to Hevron Street 19 January 1923 – named after North Fremantle mayor 1905-06 Patrick Hevron.

Frederick Street, South Fremantle
FHC – Became Daly Street in 1951-1952.

Friend Street, Fremantle
FHC – after Mary Ann (or Anne) Friend (1794 – 1838) an author, sketch artist and lithographer who captured early impressions of Australia. She made a drawing of the camp at Fremantle on the banks of the Swan River where she, her husband, and husband’s brothers, were living. Early drawings and sketches provide an important record of the landscape and dwellings of the early settlements.

Fullston Way, Beaconsfield
FHC – after Samuel Graves Fullston (1878-1963), a fruiterer in the early 1900s with a shop on Douro Road. He was a wharfie from 1915 to the 1950s. His fruit shop was requisitioned as a storehouse during WW2.