First thing this morning the long-shared rumour that Nicola Forrest had purchased or was about to buy the derelict-looking Terminus Hotel at the corner of Pakenham and Leake Streets, central Fremantle was confirmed as true.
Business News said long-vacant Fremantle building was purchased for $4.5 million by an entity wholly owned by Nicola Forrest.
The West Australian similarly reported Nicola Forrest has purchased the long-vacant Fremantle Terminus hotel for $4.5 million from the State Government.
The West added that ‘in one of her first solo moves since splitting from husband Andrew Forrest about 18 months ago, Ms Forrest’s newly registered company Coaxial has plans to redevelop and reactivate the historic site.’
The WA Government owned property was put up for sale by the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage five months ago. Interested parties were required to outline their vision for the historic site.
No doubt Ms Forrest’s plans will have regard to the building’s history, which is recorded by the Heritage Council of WA in these terms –
The Terminus Hotel (former) was built in 1894 by Joseph Smith as a home, general store and boarding house. It was of a typical Victorian Georgian style, constructed of hand-made bricks from local clay. Joseph Smith was an ex-convict and pioneer of Bridgetown, and became an active community member. As a builder and carpenter, prior to becoming a shopkeeper, he also constructed numerous other local buildings. In January 1898 Joseph Smith moved to a new home and leased the building out. It was converted into a hotel (1898) to maximise its position close to the new railway station and terminus of the Donnybrook-Bridgetown line, which opened later that year. Joseph Smith’s son Jack Smith owned and operated the hotel from 1912-1922 before entering a political career. The next long term proprietor was Frederick Ellis, from 1923-1947.
There were various alterations and additions over the years, including in 1939 and possibly 1949. The building was bought by the Swan Brewery Co. in 1967 and continued to be used as a hotel until 1975.
The Terminus Hotel was one of the first in Australia to have a ‘Beer Garden’ which was situated where the playground now is, east of the building. The large mature Araucaria tree and London Plane tree, situated in this garden area, are early exotic plantings and therefore significant to the history of the place.
In 1976 the Swan Brewery donated the building to the town for a community centre and the title was transferred to the Terminus Youth and Community Recreation Centre on 16 June 1976. The Terminus Youth and Community Recreation Centre was officially opened by the Hon. G O MacKinnon MLC on 13 November 1976.
For further details see the Conservation Management Plan for Terminus Hotel (former) September 2013.
As to what Ms Forrest’s plans for the Terminus will be will become clear when a development application is lodged in due course. But as her charitable foundation, Coaxial Foundation, is focused on gender equality, early childhood education and development and community wellbeing, her plans may be very interesting, very visionary, and very Fremantle indeed.
Let’s hope so!
By Michael Barker, Editor, Fremantle Shipping News
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