Finnerty Street, Fremantle Arts Centre, 1-21, Fremantle WA 6160
DESCRIPTION
Heritage TitleMuseum and Arts Centre, FremantleAddressFremantle Arts Centre 1-21 Finnerty Street FREMANTLE WA 6160Geo tag[1] Heritage Place No875Other NamesAsylum for the Criminally Insane,Lunatic Asylum & Old Women's HomeLunatic Asylum & Old Women's HomeConstruction Commenced1861Construction MaterialRoof – TILE: Terracotta TileRoof – TIMBER: ShingleWall – RENDER: SmoothWall – STONE: LimestoneFormer W.A. Heritage ThemesDEMOGRAPHIC SETTLEMENT & MOBILITY: SettlementsDEMOGRAPHIC SETTLEMENT & MOBILITY: Workers (incl. Aboriginal & convict)OUTSIDE INFLUENCES: World Wars & other warsSOCIAL & CIVIC ACTIVITIES: InstitutionsStatement Of SignificanceRefer to HCWA's Assessment Documentation of Places for Entry in the Register of Heritage Places.ArchaeologyConditionHistoryRefer to Heritage Council of Western Australia's Register of Heritage Places - Register and Assessment Documentation. Designed by Jewell and built by convict labour the Lunatic Asylum was originally one result of the Convict System, although free patients were kept there also. The Convict surgeon was responsible for their health and the nursing was done mainly by ex-warders and by some inmates. The building was later extended. These additions were designed by George Temple Poole and built by Robert and Arthur Bunning. This addition accommodated mainly elderly indigent women. During the Second World War it became a headquarters of the US forces stationed in Fremantle and later again was used as an annex to the Technical College. In the 1970s the building was carefully restored and now houses the Fremantle Arts Centre and a branch of the WA Museum. Some sources suggest that the building was originally designed by Col Henderson. This place was included on the list of heritage places in the City of Fremantle identified by the Fremantle Society in 1979/80. This place received a Fremantle Award in 1980. Physical DescriptionRefer to Heritage Council of Western Australia's Register of Heritage Places - Register and Assessment Documentation.AssociationGeorge Temple PooleJewellRobert & Arthur BunningPlace UseOriginal Use – HEALTH: AsylumOriginal Use – RESIDENTIAL: Institutional HousingOriginal Use – RESIDENTIAL: Single storey residenceOther Use – MILITARY: Office or Administration BldgIntegrity/AuthenticityPlace TypeIndividual Building or GroupState Registered1
State Statutory Heritage Listing
State Statutory Listing CustodianHeritage Council of WAState Statutory Listing TypeState Register of Heritage PlacesState Statutory Listing GradingRegisteredState Statutory Listing Date16/11/1993
Local Government Statutory Heritage Listings
Local Government Statutory Listing CustodianCity of FremantleLocal Government Statutory Listing TypeHeritage ListLocal Government Statutory Listing StatusYesLocal Government Statutory Listing Date8/03/2007
Local Government Non-Statutory Local Heritage Survey
Local Government Non-Statutory Local Heritage Survey CustodianCity of FremantleLocal Government Non-Statutory Local Heritage Survey Date18/09/2000Local Government Non-Statutory Listing Local Heritage Survey Management CategoryLevel 1A
Non-Statutory Listings and Surveys
Non-statutory Listings CustodianDCCEEWNon-statutory Listings TypeRegister of the National EstateNon-statutory Listings GradingRegisteredNon-statutory Listings Date21/03/1978
Non-Statutory Listings and Surveys
Non-statutory Listings CustodianNational Trust of Australia (WA)Non-statutory Listings TypeList of Classified PlacesNon-statutory Listings GradingClassifiedNon-statutory Listings Date11/06/1973
RELATED
INTERNAL
Heritage EntryYes
Finnerty Street, Fremantle Arts Centre, 1-21, Fremantle WA 6160. City of Fremantle Local History Centre, accessed 18/03/2026, https://history.fremantle.wa.gov.au/nodes/view/27607