Govt to retain ownership of North Fremantle Post Office

The State Government is to retain ownership of the North Fremantle Post Office and its attached cottages. 

Housing Minister Jim McGinty said the State Government's housing authority, Homeswest, had purchased the three cottages in Queen Victoria Street for use as family accommodation. 

The post office - a former police station lock-up - would also be retained by the Government and Australia Post would be given the opportunity to continue its leasing arrangement. 

"There has been concern within North Fremantle that the community would lose the post office and that the buildings, including the cottages, would be sold to private developers - making their future uncertain," Mr McGinty said. 

"The buildings have obvious historic value and are a public asset - it was important they be protected." 

Mr McGinty said the purchase of the three cottages, which were built at the turn of the century for use as police quarters, was in line with recent efforts by Homeswest to buy heritage buildings for use as accommodation. 

"Refurbishment and restoration are already underway on the warders' cottages in Henderson Street," Mr McGinty said. 

Homeswest will spend an estimated $12,000 on each of the Queen Victoria Street cottages as part of the refurbishment program. 

"The use of these cottages for long-term family accommodation will support efforts to 'breathe life' back into the North Fremantle town centre," Mr McGinty said.

"The decision not to sell the post office building will hopefully ensure that a service which many people take for granted is retained."