COMMERCIAL BUILDING, 231-233 SOUTH TERRACE
DESCRIPTION
Heritage TitleCOMMERCIAL BUILDING, 231-233 SOUTH TERRACEAddressSouth Terrace, 4/231, SOUTH FREMANTLE WA 6162Summary4/231 South Terrace SOUTH FREMANTLE WA 6162Geo tag[1] Heritage Place No23001Street Number231 - 4Former 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).HistoryCommercial Building, 231-233 South Terrace was built c. 1896 for Samson Henville, who also owned the shops at 227-229 South Terrace. In 1897, the rate book recorded a shop and three rooms, a cottage of three rooms and another cottage of three rooms with a shop on the lot. They were occupied by Frank Nichols, a dealer, Samson Henville, a contractor and Mr Hoyle, a storekeeper. With some changes in tenancy, this remained the situation until c. 1911. The 1912/13 rate book records a ‘shop and room’ and ‘shop and cottage’ (ie two entries) at 231 and 233 South Terrace, owned by Stanley Smith. Mr Smith remained the owner until c. 1950 and by 1931, the rate books were recording the property as two shops only. It is assumed that the current form of the building dates from this time. After the property was bought by the News family (c. 1950), it was listed in the rate book as ‘shop and residence’. A Metropolitan Sewerage plan dated 1955 shows a large brick shop extending the width of the lot. The shop had two small recessed entries and an awning overhanding the footpath. At the rear, there was a galvanised iron extension that was joined to a large galvanised iron ‘fruit mart’ at the back of the lot by a large verandah. At some stage, the property had been 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. This place was included in the list of heritage places in the City of Fremantle identified by the Fremantle Society (1979/80) - BROWN -significant for making a positive contribution to the built environment of Fremantle. By 1993, the façade of the building had been altered considerably, including the removal of all verandahs and awnings. At the ground floor level, the façade was brick. All window and door openings had been changed to aluminium. By 1996, the property had been sold by the church and restored by Sydney and South. 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 Fremantle Award for heritage conservation. Physical Description231-233 South Terrace is a double storey rendered masonry group of attached terraced shops constructed in 1896. 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
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).HistoryCommercial Building, 231-233 South Terrace was built c. 1896 for Samson Henville, who also owned the shops at 227-229 South Terrace. In 1897, the rate book recorded a shop and three rooms, a cottage of three rooms and another cottage of three rooms with a shop on the lot. They were occupied by Frank Nichols, a dealer, Samson Henville, a contractor and Mr Hoyle, a storekeeper. With some changes in tenancy, this remained the situation until c. 1911. The 1912/13 rate book records a ‘shop and room’ and ‘shop and cottage’ (ie two entries) at 231 and 233 South Terrace, owned by Stanley Smith. Mr Smith remained the owner until c. 1950 and by 1931, the rate books were recording the property as two shops only. It is assumed that the current form of the building dates from this time. After the property was bought by the News family (c. 1950), it was listed in the rate book as ‘shop and residence’. A Metropolitan Sewerage plan dated 1955 shows a large brick shop extending the width of the lot. The shop had two small recessed entries and an awning overhanding the footpath. At the rear, there was a galvanised iron extension that was joined to a large galvanised iron ‘fruit mart’ at the back of the lot by a large verandah. At some stage, the property had been 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. This place was included in the list of heritage places in the City of Fremantle identified by the Fremantle Society (1979/80) - BROWN -significant for making a positive contribution to the built environment of Fremantle. By 1993, the façade of the building had been altered considerably, including the removal of all verandahs and awnings. At the ground floor level, the façade was brick. All window and door openings had been changed to aluminium. By 1996, the property had been sold by the church and restored by Sydney and South. 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 Fremantle Award for heritage conservation. Physical Description231-233 South Terrace is a double storey rendered masonry group of attached terraced shops constructed in 1896. 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/37882