Winner
Warders' Cottages (Warders Block W2 Hotel)
Fremantle Warders' Cottages Block W2, built in 1853, has been refurbished and adapted to create 12 high-quality boutique hotel rooms. Block W2 is at 31-41 Henderson Street, Fremantle, over the road from Warders Block 1. It is part of the World Heritage-listed Fremantle Prison buffer zone and included in the National Heritage List and Register of State Heritage Places.
The approach has been to preserve the streetscape and values of the cottages and to ensure the adaptation work had as little impact as possible on the original and significant heritage fabric.
The completed works allow for the next generation to use and appreciate the Warders' Cottages and maintain their presence in the greater Fremantle urban and social environment.
Commendation
His Majesty’s Theatre (Balcony reconstruction project)
The $15 million balcony reconstruction project at His Majesty’s Theatre saw the reinstatement of the building’s wrap-around balconies, which were a prominent feature of the original façade more than 70 years ago.
The original balconies were removed in 1953. The project not only saw them reconstructed to a similar level of historical detail but also created improved shelter for patrons, increased amenity and circulation for the venue’s operations, and a significant improvement in the streetscape.
The project included the construction of a new upper circle bar and function area, a repainted façade, and installation of upgraded lighting and LED screens. It was a complex project considering the heritage nature of the work, its CBD location and maintaining theatre operations during construction.
Finalists
Como Theatre (Cygnet Cinema)
The Como Theatre (Cygnet) Conservation Works program represents the first stage in a collective vision to revitalise the historic cinema site and the broader Preston Street neighbourhood centre. The community identified the start of heritage conservation works and the collation of important cultural and historical data as an essential catalyst for the ongoing investment needed to reinstate the Como Theatre as the heart of a vibrant and economically viable arts and entertainment precinct.
The conservation program covered a comprehensive scope of priority works, including structural stabilisation, removal of hazardous materials, re-roofing, awning repairs, crack stitching, mechanical upgrades, removal of intrusive additions, compliance and access improvements, and repair of original design features and finishes such as investigation and reinstatement of original paint schemes. Together with this, significant work has been undertaken with local stakeholders to collect stories and data relating to the cultural history of the area and to inform future redevelopment.
The Old Synagogue
The Old Synagogue is a must-visit venue in the heart of Fremantle. The site contains two State Heritage-listed buildings, the Fremantle Synagogue and the adjoining Beers Buildings. The site was vacant for almost two decades with a failed hotel development halted at basement level.
The intention behind this adaptive reuse project was to champion the historical architecture and build at low height at the rear to protect views of the synagogue. The project was innovative in the way it worked with the existing buildings to produce a series of different spaces, using site-specific challenges to its advantage.
Since opening in 2019 and now home to four hospitality venues, the Old Synagogue has won a host of awards and has made a significant contribution to Fremantle.
Victoria House
Located at the heart of the Montario Quarter Precinct in Shenton Park, State Heritage-listed Victoria House has been meticulously refurbished and repurposed into a dynamic mixed-use development.
The retention of the original Victoria House building lets the public engage and celebrate its rich heritage while modern adaptations provide new hospitality and health uses. With a redefined approach to contemporary apartment living, 81 new residences are set on the original radial planned footprint, featuring a unique interpretation of the integration of old and new.
Victoria House has been designed with the ideals of people, purpose and place at its heart, realising the developer Hesperia’s vision to unlock potential in place. It features inviting, purposeful and high amenity areas to foster community and inclusive outcomes. It has also been successful in delivering positive heritage benefits, high-end conservation and adaptive reuse outcomes.
