The Fremantle Society — Newsletters – Committees – Minutes
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The Fremantle Society was established in 1972 and has since then sought to improve the quality of life in Fremantle and to protect the existing unique built and cultural heritage.
The Society can be contacted via email at info@fremantlesociety.org.au.
Aims & objectives
- To give responsible voice on matters affecting the overall character and development of the Fremantle area.
- To encourage the improvement of the Fremantle area as a desirable residential and commercial district whilst retaining its unique character.
- To encourage the retention and restoration of buildings and settings of historic and aesthetic value.
- To encourage the preservation of the natural heritage of the Fremantle area.
- To ensure that the new development complements established patterns, is of high architectural and aesthetic standards, and serves the long-term interests of the area.
- To foster the development of the area as a major cultural, educational and entertainment centre.
History
See the Wikipedia article (and add to it!).
Archives
The Society has an extensive archive of documentary material stretching back over its whole history, much of which is of general interest to Fremantle residents. This archive currently resides in a number of physical and virtual locations, and a number of Society members are in the process of sorting everything out.
| Digital | Analogue | |
|---|---|---|
| Newsletters | FreoWiki: Fremantle Society newsletters | 11 Captains Lane and the Fremantle History Centre |
| Minutes | FreoWiki (see below) and a shared folder on Dropbox | 11 Captains Lane |
| Photographs | FreoWiki | 11 Captains Lane and the Fremantle History Centre |
Meetings
Minutes of AGMs, list of past meetings, etc., to be added.
Submissions to Council
- 4 Bannister Street—Submission re mixed-use development in 2008
- Fremantle Society submission re Small Secondary Dwellings, June 2011
about | emails | campaigns | docs | newsletter | committees
The Fremantle Society was established 6 December 1972, with [[../people/lauder.html|Les Lauder]] as foundation president, 'to improve the quality of life in Fremantle while seeking to protect the existing unique built and cultural heritage'.
[[../davidson/index.html|fighting]]
The president, [[../authors/dowson.html|John Dowson]], sends emails about campaigns to subscribers, and there is a Facebook page. The organisation has had no active website since May 2021.
I have scanned all of the printed newsletters, 1973-2016, and written a rudimentary index.
At the 2015 AGM John Dowson was re-elected President, having previously held that office 1999-2004. At the 2016-2023 AGMs, he continued unopposed as President. He is by far the longest serving president, followed by the founder, Les Lauder.
The 2022 AGM was also part of the 50th anniversary of the Society. The founder was not present at the semicentennial. Unlike the MLA for Cottesloe. Couple of snaps here.
Here are some of the buildings saved partly through the work of the Fremantle Society.
In 2022, the Society's archives were housed in the building utilised by The Museum of Perth at 16 High Street, where it was engaged in the the Streets of Freo project. That building has been resumed for use by Notre Dame U for staff offices. The streetsoffreo project seems to have been wound up or at least halted. The current location of the archives is unknown. Documents were being digitised and made available online. Some are already available on this site.
References and Links
Fremantle Society's constitution, Facebook page, and Wikipedia page.
The Fremantle Society Photographic Survey, 1978-early 1980s, was a success. The Freopedia project was not.
Internet Archive capture, 2021, of the website the Society ceased to support.
Buchanan, Riley 2019, 'Hard hats, heritage and hope', in Charlie Fox et al. eds, Radical Perth Militant Fremantle, Interventions, Melbourne: 263-273.
Davidson, Ron & Dianne 2010, [[../davidson/index.html|Fighting for Fremantle]]: The Fremantle Society Story, Fremantle Society.
Videos available in Facebook/youtube:
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (2016)
Quality Matters (2017)
Parking Freo (2021)
Tall Timber (2022)
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 2 December, 2014 and hosted at freotopia.org/society/index.html (it was last updated on 12 January, 2024), and has been edited since it was imported here (see page history). The donated data is also preserved in the Internet Archive's collection.