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Anglican Rectory
There was an Anglican rectory in Cantonment Street roughly halfway between Point and Parry (then Edward) Streets on the river street of the street on the site of the Goldsborough Mort woolstores (which have been converted into apartments c. 2015-20). According to the article below, the rectory was sold for demolition in favour of the woolstore in 1926.
According to the 1925 article below (which is, by the way, one of the very few places where I've seen Fremantle Park also called Victoria Park), there were three grass tennis courts on the rectory land. When they became inadequate by 1921, the members of the St John's Club became members of the Fremantle Lawn Tennis Club which had a building and courts provided in the 1920s in Parry Street, where the present tennis club is.
[Fremantle] Weekly Herald, Friday 7 May 1926, p. 1:
ST. JOHN'S CHURCH GROUNDS
A REGRETTABLE POSITION.
It has been rumored that the Anglican Church authorities of St. John's, Fremantle, since the sale of the present rectory in Cantonment-street to Goldsborough, Mort people, have been considering the matter of building a new rectory in the grounds adjacent to St. John's Church. Since the arrangement was made with the Fremantle Council for giving the public the use of the spacious grounds around the church it has been recognised as one of the greatest boons conferred on the public, and with the attention given to the grounds by the Council improving their appearance so much, visitors have been emphatic in their admiration of such a splendid breathing space in the heart of our town.
The grounds, of course, are the property of the Church, and they have a perfect right to utilise them in any way they think proper, but we respectfully suggest that a great deal of rural beauty of St. John's Church, which at the present time stands out as one of the prettiest pictures in Fremantle, would be destroyed by the erection of buildings in close proximity, and buildings especially which from their nature as a private residence would require to be enclosed by the usual wall or fence.
At the present time St. John's Church, situated in its present spacious grounds on land as valuable for commercial purposes as any in the port, stands out as a magnificent protest against the sordid commercial spirit which has so often permeated similar institutions and caused them to desecrate the precincts of their sacred buildings with any sort of structure which would bring in a few shekels to the treasury. As it stands, the whole ensemble of the Church and grounds presents a monument to the philanthropic and public spirit of church government, and we feel certain that the public would deeply regret to see any change such as suggested brought about.
The present rector, Canon Collick, brought with him from the goldfields a splendid reputation for public spirited work, and we do not think he has lost any of that fine attribute since he came to Fremantle, and while, as we say, we fully admit the right of the church powers that be to do as they think proper with their own property, we hope that the Canon and others will use their influence to preserve the church grounds as they are, if not from an artistic spirit, then for the sake of the boon they confer on hundreds of tired mothers and weary little ones in the summer time.
[Fremantle] Weekly Herald, Friday 2 October 1925, p. 4:
FREMANTLE LAWN TENNIS CLUB (Incorporated).
The club, started in October, 1921, was really re-formed from the old St. John's Club. Three grass courts on the Rectory grounds, Cantonment-street, Fremantle, proved with the lapse of time, insufficient for the needs of a swelling membership, and as extra accommodation at this site was unavailable, the committee decided to institute enquiries with the object of obtaining a lease of portion of the Fremantle or Victoria Park.
The Fremantle Council granted a portion of land immediately adjoining the Fremantle bowling greens, sufficient for the provision of six courts. A meeting of players was called and the club was launched, and countenanced under the name of the Fremantle Lawn Tennis Club. Promises of support were given by prominent tennis players in the district interested in the project, in addition to practically all of the members of the St. John's Club.
At the first meeting held on October 10, 1921, it was decided to proceed immediately to issue debentures, to raise sufficient funds for fencing the ground, and for laying down of six courts. All present at the meeting submitted their names as foundation members and promises were received to take up debentures amounting to £110. The first office bearers were the Rev. H. E. Hyde, president; Mr. C. H. Hudson, secretary; and the committee comprised Messrs. J. W. Green, L. L. Herring, H. D. Beard, T. J. Carrick, and J. McCubbing.
The generosity of a number of ladies and gentlemen enabled sufficient money being raised on the issue of debentures to meet the initial expenditure.
With a grant of money from the Fremantle Council for the purpose of erecting a club house, the club was therefore fully equipped when the time came for the opening of the courts. The official opening by F. E. Gibson, Esq., occurred on January 26th, 1924. before a large attendance of members and friends of the club.
The situation of the courts is ideal. The close proximity to the town offers recognisable advantages to its members. A spacious pavilion is replete with conveniences—ladies and gents dressing rooms fitted with showers, and a large room for meetings. The club is extremely fortunate in possessing a piano, and with a spacious room with a special dancing floor for dancing, the social functionings of the club, as can readily be imagined, are enhanced.
An invaluable asset to the club is its own well and water service, ensuring an adequate supply of water during the summer periods.
The club enjoys a large membership but there are still vacancies for both ladies and gents in the new year starting on October 1 next.
The present secretary is Mr. C. A. Hudson, who was formerly secretary of the old St. John's Club. Eight continuous years in the capacity of secretary has been eight years of profit to the club in the possession of an officer who has given unstintedly in its interests. Mr. Hudson, apart from his club, has been an active worker for the Association, which constitutes the advancement of tennis in Fremantle.
This page incorporates material from Garry Gillard's Freotopia website, that he started in 2014 and the contents of which he donated to Wikimedia Australia in 2024. The content was originally created on 17 March, 2021 and hosted at freotopia.org/churches/rectoryanglican.html (it was last updated on 7 December, 2023), and has been edited since it was imported here (see page history). The donated data is also preserved in the Internet Archive's collection.