NATIONAL TRUST CEO Julian Donaldson says he’s expecting Sunset Events to start the redevelopment of the old Drill Hall in Fremantle in the near future despite the promoter having difficulties paying contractors from its Southbound Festival.

Sunset boss David Chitty recently told the Herald there’d been a restructure of staff, but acknowledged in the Sunday Times this week that poor ticket sales to Southbound had hit the company hard and he was having to negotiate repayment terms with contractors.

• Archaeologists Sean Winter and B’Geella Romano at work in the drill hall, and (below) a shuttlecock reveals Fremantle’s critical role in badminton’s introduction to Australia. Photos
supplied

Meanwhile an archaeological dig at the hall has been uncovering its role in introducing badminton to Australia, as well as information about its time as a market garden for convicts.

An officer known as Moore who was stationed with the Fremantle No 2 Battery Field Artillery was so impressed when introduced to badminton during a trip to Aldershot in England that he was determined to introduce it to his troops.

Shuttlecocks, a net and eight racquets were imported and in 1900 Fremantle became the first place in Australia where badminton was played.

by STEVE GRANT