STORAGE for wool, hides, rabbit skins and potatoes, this Norfolk Street, Fremantle site has been many things over its 100-odd years.

It was even headquarters for the Royal Dutch navy during the second world war.

But the corner lot is best known as the Iceworks, because Richmond Cold Stores operated from here from 1960 to 1990.

In the bad old 70s a number of cute cottages were bulldozed to make way for the firm’s parking area, but the original 1904 corner building was saved thanks to the Fremantle Society.

Balcony views

Today the Iceworks offers the perfect inner-city pad, close to the action.

Number 8 is an upper-level, two-bedroom townhouse, with balcony views across to the Esplanade Reserve’s towering Norfolk Island pines and ferris wheel.

The Fremantle Festival parade and any number of marches wend their way along Norfolk Street, so the balcony offers the perfect bird’s eye view of the colour and excitement of the port city.

Northern sunlight streams into the expansive living/dining area, bouncing off timber floors and crisp white walls.

The compact kitchen has stood the test of time and is perfectly presentable, but is perhaps in need of modernising. It’d be an easy task with these good bones, including a big pantry.

The bedrooms are on the second level, where the main has a street-facing balcony, along with a semi-ensuite and a generous walk-in-robe.

Like peas from different pods, unit 12 is the same but different, mainly in that the bathroom and kitchen have been recently revamped.

Both abodes have a lockup garage and storeroom and parking for a second car undercover.

But with a choice of pubs, cafes and restaurants in walking distance in any direction (one is part of the complex) you can sell the second car – and eat out more.

by JENNY D’ANGER

8 & 12/1 Norfolk Street, Fremantle
$795,000 (8) or $760,000 (12)
Jinny Henshaw
0418 908 858
Mark Brophy Estate Agent
9335 9800