High Street, 20, Fremantle WA 6160
DESCRIPTION
Heritage TitleCommercial Bank (fmr)Address20 High Street FREMANTLE WA 6160Geo tag[1] Heritage Place No907Location Description Street Number20Construction Commenced1901Construction MaterialWall – BRICK: Rendered BrickFormer W.A. Heritage ThemesOCCUPATIONS: Commercial & service industriesStatement Of SignificanceThe place is of historic significance as an example of a commercial building in the Old Port City of Fremantle dating from the gold boom period in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. The place is significant because, when viewed from the street, it is a substantially intact example of a federation period commercial building which contributes to the very significant Old Port City of Fremantle. Significant for associations with Fremantle businessman H.J. Higham. The place is of social significance as evidenced by its classification by the National Trust.ArchaeologyConditionFairHistoryHigh Street was named by Surveyor General Roe - as was customary in English towns, the main street of the town was named High Street. Eastward from William Street the roadway was completed by convict labour after the Town Hall was built in 1887. High Street around the Town Hall closed to traffic in 1966. The High Street Mall was trialled in November 1973 and made a permanent pedestrian mall in 1975. Rates records show that the property was originally held by the Habgoods. The lot was subdivided in 1883; one of the lots having a 5 roomed cottage, the other undeveloped. In 1884 the National Bank purchased the property from Mrs Habgood. But although from 1885 the site of this building was designated for a bank, it was not until 1902/03 that Harry James Higham was listed in the rate books as occupier of the Commercial Bank with four other offices listed in addition. In 2002 the building was vacant, and has since been taken over for Notre Dame University. Physical DescriptionTwo storey rendered building with a truncated corner adjoining 18 High Street, with a zero setback from the pavement. The ground floor has ashlar effect rendering and the first floor features quoining. The decorative parapet has engaged low piers above a bracketed cornice. The entrance across the truncated corner has a pair of glazed doors that are probably not original and the double hung sash windows are arched with stucco architraves on the first floor.AssociationHarry James HighamNational Bank of AustraliaWilliam Edward RobertsonPlace UseOriginal Use – COMMERCIAL: BankPresent Use – COMMERCIAL: Office or Administration BldgArchitectural StylesIntegrity/AuthenticityPlace TypeIndividual Building or GroupState Registered1
Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations
Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations CustodianHeritage CouncilHeritage Council Decisions and Deliberations TypeRHP - To be assessedHeritage Council Decisions and Deliberations Date1/07/1997
Statutory Heritage Areas
Statutory Heritage Area CustodianHeritage Council of WAStatutory Heritage Area West End Heritage AreaHeritage Area StatusState RegisteredHeritage Area InHerit Number25225Statutory Heritage Area Date18/07/2017
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 1B
Non-Statutory Listings and Surveys
Non-statutory Listings CustodianDCCEEWNon-statutory Listings TypeRegister of the National EstateNon-statutory Listings GradingRegisteredNon-statutory Listings Date21/10/1980
Non-Statutory Listings and Surveys
Non-statutory Listings CustodianHeritage Council of WANon-statutory Listings TypeStatewide Bank Survey Non-statutory Listings GradingIncludedNon-statutory Listings Date01/11/1997
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 Date27/05/1974
RELATED
High Street, 20, Fremantle WA 6160. City of Fremantle Local History Centre, accessed 27/04/2026, https://history.fremantle.wa.gov.au/nodes/view/28307