COMMERCIAL BUILDING, 231-233 SOUTH TERRACE
DESCRIPTION
Heritage TitleCOMMERCIAL BUILDING, 231-233 SOUTH TERRACEAddressSouth Terrace, 1-6/231, SOUTH FREMANTLE WA 6162Summary1-6/231 South Terrace SOUTH FREMANTLE WA 6162Geo tag[1] Heritage Place No21995Street Number231 and 233
1-6/231Former Address231 South Terrace
231-233 SOUTH TERRACEConstruction Commenced1930cConstruction MaterialWall – BRICK: Rendered BrickWall – RENDER: SmoothFormer W.A. Heritage ThemesDEMOGRAPHIC SETTLEMENT & MOBILITY: Land allocation & subdivisionOCCUPATIONS: Commercial & service industriesStatement Of SignificanceCommercial Building, 231-233 South Terrace, is a typical rendered masonry, double storey group of commercial shops dating from c 1930. The place has aesthetic value for its contribution to the streetscape and the surrounding area. It is representative of a commercial building in the Fremantle area.ArchaeologyConditionCondition assessed as good (assessed from streetscape survey only).HistorySouth Terrace was previously called Mandurah Road.
Commercial Building, 231-233 South Terrace was built circa 1930. It was built on the site of earlier shop and rooms built on the site circa 1896 for Samson Henville. From circa 1900 to circa 1910, the weatherboard buildings were occupied by Frank Nichols, a dealer, Samson Henville, a contractor, and Mr Hoyle, a storekeeper.
Circa 1910, Stanley Smith purchased the property and circa 1930, had the older shops replaced with a new building. The new building is shown on a 1954 diagram as a large brick structure built to the corner of Sydney Street. There were two recessed entries and a “shade overhang” over the footpath. At the rear, there was an attached galvanised iron building which was joined to a large galvanised iron ‘fruit mart’ at the back of the lot by a large verandah
At some stage, the property was converted for use by the Fremantle Full Gospel Fellowship (known as the Christian City Church). The Fellowship had a large area on the ground floor (church), offices, kitchen and store on the ground floor with a church hall above. By 1993 (while in the church ownership), the façade of the building had been altered considerably, including the removal of all verandahs and awnings and replacement of all window and door openings with aluminium.
Circa 1996, new owners restored the building. Exterior work included the reinstatement of a timber and iron verandah, the shop fronts and all window and door openings were returned to timber. The work was completed under the direction of architect Ian Scott, and was nominated for a City of Fremantle heritage conservation award.
In August 2025 the place was changed from a LHS Level 3 to Level 2, retained on the Heritage List and Identified as a Contributory Place in the South Fremantle Heritage Area.Physical Description231-233 South Terrace is a double storey rendered masonry group of attached terraced shops constructed in c1930. The walls are rendered masonry. The roof is located behind a simple rendered masonry parapet. There are recessed entries and rendered masonry upstands to the shop fronts. The upper section of the building has original double hung sash windows. A corrugated iron verandah runs across the front of the shops supported by timber posts. The building is located on the front boundary line with a footpath in front.AssociationPlace UseOriginal Use – RESIDENTIAL: Single storey residencePresent Use – COMMERCIAL: OtherIntegrity/AuthenticityHigh degree of integrity (original intent clear, current use compatible, high long term sustainability). High degree of authenticity with much original fabric remaining. (These statements based on street survey only).Place TypeIndividual Building or Group
1-6/231Former Address231 South Terrace
231-233 SOUTH TERRACEConstruction Commenced1930cConstruction MaterialWall – BRICK: Rendered BrickWall – RENDER: SmoothFormer W.A. Heritage ThemesDEMOGRAPHIC SETTLEMENT & MOBILITY: Land allocation & subdivisionOCCUPATIONS: Commercial & service industriesStatement Of SignificanceCommercial Building, 231-233 South Terrace, is a typical rendered masonry, double storey group of commercial shops dating from c 1930. The place has aesthetic value for its contribution to the streetscape and the surrounding area. It is representative of a commercial building in the Fremantle area.ArchaeologyConditionCondition assessed as good (assessed from streetscape survey only).HistorySouth Terrace was previously called Mandurah Road.
Commercial Building, 231-233 South Terrace was built circa 1930. It was built on the site of earlier shop and rooms built on the site circa 1896 for Samson Henville. From circa 1900 to circa 1910, the weatherboard buildings were occupied by Frank Nichols, a dealer, Samson Henville, a contractor, and Mr Hoyle, a storekeeper.
Circa 1910, Stanley Smith purchased the property and circa 1930, had the older shops replaced with a new building. The new building is shown on a 1954 diagram as a large brick structure built to the corner of Sydney Street. There were two recessed entries and a “shade overhang” over the footpath. At the rear, there was an attached galvanised iron building which was joined to a large galvanised iron ‘fruit mart’ at the back of the lot by a large verandah
At some stage, the property was converted for use by the Fremantle Full Gospel Fellowship (known as the Christian City Church). The Fellowship had a large area on the ground floor (church), offices, kitchen and store on the ground floor with a church hall above. By 1993 (while in the church ownership), the façade of the building had been altered considerably, including the removal of all verandahs and awnings and replacement of all window and door openings with aluminium.
Circa 1996, new owners restored the building. Exterior work included the reinstatement of a timber and iron verandah, the shop fronts and all window and door openings were returned to timber. The work was completed under the direction of architect Ian Scott, and was nominated for a City of Fremantle heritage conservation award.
In August 2025 the place was changed from a LHS Level 3 to Level 2, retained on the Heritage List and Identified as a Contributory Place in the South Fremantle Heritage Area.Physical Description231-233 South Terrace is a double storey rendered masonry group of attached terraced shops constructed in c1930. The walls are rendered masonry. The roof is located behind a simple rendered masonry parapet. There are recessed entries and rendered masonry upstands to the shop fronts. The upper section of the building has original double hung sash windows. A corrugated iron verandah runs across the front of the shops supported by timber posts. The building is located on the front boundary line with a footpath in front.AssociationPlace UseOriginal Use – RESIDENTIAL: Single storey residencePresent Use – COMMERCIAL: OtherIntegrity/AuthenticityHigh degree of integrity (original intent clear, current use compatible, high long term sustainability). High degree of authenticity with much original fabric remaining. (These statements based on street survey only).Place TypeIndividual Building or Group
Statutory Heritage Areas
Statutory Heritage Area CustodianCity of FremantleStatutory Heritage Area South Fremantle Heritage AreaHeritage Area StatusContributoryHeritage Area InHerit Number22386Statutory Heritage Area Date14/10/2000
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 2
PARENT PLACE
Parent Place No22386Parent place nameSouth Fremantle Heritage Area
RELATED
COMMERCIAL BUILDING, 231-233 SOUTH TERRACE. City of Fremantle Local History Centre, accessed 10/04/2026, https://history.fremantle.wa.gov.au/nodes/view/37881