Fremantle's Orient Hotel to be given interim heritage listing

3/7/97

One of Fremantle's oldest and best-known pubs will be protected by the State's heritage laws, Heritage Minister Graham Kierath said.

The Orient Hotel, on the corner of High and Henry Streets, is to be listed on the Heritage Council of Western Australia's interim register of Heritage Places.

Mr Kierath said although the current building had been constructed at the turn of the century, there had been a hotel on the site since 1848.

"The Orient has been an essential part of Fremantle's historic West End for many years and has strong links with the earliest days of the area as a focal point of community life," he said.

"The building makes an important aesthetic impact on the streetscape of High Street and deserves protection of our heritage laws."

The Orient, a three-storey building in the Federation Academic Classical Style, was typical of the grand hotels built about the turn of the century when Fremantle was booming as a result of the State's gold rush.

Mr Kierath said development of the eastern Goldfields in the 1890s had boosted Fremantle's population from 5,600 to nearly 15,000.

There was an increase in investment and the West End lost its country town atmosphere, with most of its white-washed limestone walls transformed into a modern Victorian city.

"During this period there was also an increased number of hotels in the West End, particularly in High Street," Mr Kierath said.

"Irish immigrant Patrick Marmion established an inn on the current site of The Orient in 1849.

"Originally called The Commercial and then The Emerald Isle Hotel, it later became the Club Hotel."

Patrick Marmion's son William was the Minister for Lands and Mines in the Forrest Administration.

In 1899, three years after William Marmion's death, the hotel was sold to Thomas O'Beirne.

When the Fremantle Licensing Club refused to renew the hotel's licence, it was demolished and replaced by the three-storey Orient Hotel.

"The Orient was designed by prominent architect Michael Cavanagh, who also designed the Great Western Hotel, the P and O Hotel and the Perth and Fremantle Fire Stations," Mr Kierath said.

"It was described as one of the 'poshest' hotels in Fremantle and over the years has hosted guests like Prince Philip of Greece, war heroes Hughie Edwards and Tom Starcevich and for 21 years was home to Mayoress Lady and Sir Frank Gibson."

In 1976 the hotel was one of many Fremantle buildings to be renovated when the city was featured in the ABC television program 'Peach's Australia'.

In 1993 a Perth syndicate, headed by Laurie and Valerie Sullivan, bought The Orient and spent an estimated $900,000 on renovations and restoration including woodwork, furniture and paintwork.

Media contact: Steve Manchee 9481 2133