Fremantle Grammar School

Fremantle Grammar School is a defunct school and heritage-listed building in Fremantle, Western Australia.

Fremantle Grammar School
Former Fremantle Grammar School viewed from Monument Hill. The bell and wooden tower seen here have been removed
Map
General information
TypeHeritage-listed building
LocationFremantle, Western Australia
Coordinates32°03′04″S 115°45′22″E / 32.0512°S 115.7561°E / -32.0512; 115.7561 (Fremantle Grammar School)
TypeState Registered Place
Designated23 November 2001
Reference no.894

Architecture

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The building stands at 200 High Street, opposite Monument Hill. It was built by Melbourne architect Charles Inksep in the Gothic Revival style, from limestone and corrugated asbestos.

History

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The school was established as a public school by the Anglican church in 1885. Henry Briggs was sent from England to help establish it, and was its head-master until 1897. The grammar school closed in 1905 and that was put down to the headmaster (later Sir Henry Briggs) interest in politics.[1]

In the 1920s, the building became a short-lived girls' school named Girton College, and in 1945 was bought by The Reorganised Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (now known as Community of Christ) for use as a place of worship until 1988.[2]

It is currently in private ownership, and the condition of the building has been allowed to decline. There are large cracks in some of the walls and in January 2011, the owner was fined $2574 for removing the bell tower.[3]

References

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  1. ^ Neal, Walter Douglas (1979). Education in Western Australia. University of Western Australia. p. 60. ISBN 0855641479. OL 4243419M.
  2. ^ Heritage Council of Western Australia (2006). "Fremantle Grammar School". Places Database. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 14 June 2006.
  3. ^ Jenny D'Anger (15 January 2011). "College owner fined". Fremantle Herald. Archived from the original on 19 January 2011. Retrieved 17 January 2011. Note: The Fremantle Society link used because the Herald's site doesn't provide deep links.

Further reading

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  • Fremantle School.(1895) Aims, objects, curriculum, rules and nominal rolls of scholars of Fremantle Grammar School 1882-1888 and Fremantle School 1888-1895 Perth [W.A.] : Sands & McDougall print. Held in Battye Library