• The Evan Davies building during renovation. Now the scaffolding’s down the result is underwhelming locals—but experts say it will last longer as the limestone can “breathe” again. Photo by Matthew Dwyer

IT might not be as flashy as before, but the historic Evan Davies building on South Terrace should last a bit longer after recent renovations.

Fremantle council, which owns the building, admits it’s fielded calls from ratepayers complaining the works have made it look shabby, but it says previous paint jobs were damaging it.

“Current works include the gradual removal of acrylic paint from the surface of the building, that was once widely used in building maintenance and is now recognised as damaging to heritage buildings,” asset manager Samuel Bryce told the Herald. Stripping the city’s heritage buildings of renders and impermeable paints has been a passion of council heritage guru Alan Kelsall for years. He says limestone bricks need to breathe, otherwise moisture builds up inside and they gradually start to crumble.

Mr Bryce says the acrylic is being replaced with more traditional limewash.

by MARTA PASCUAL JUANOLA