A FORMER City of Fremantle heritage architect has slammed any suggestion the council should relinquish responsibility for Arthur Head Reserve, warning it would represent an “abominable” disregard for one of the state’s most important heritage precincts.

The comments from architect and heritage consultant Agnieshka Kiera come in response to Fremantle council’s launch of community consultation for a new “vision” to help guide planning for Arthur Head—also being referred to in the process by its Aboriginal name Manjaree.

Ms Kiera was reacting to a long-held suggestion from mayor Hannah Fitzhardinge that the council should consider handing the vesting of the Arthur Head Reserve back to the state government, citing the mounting costs of upkeep.

Back in 2021, then-councillor Fitzhardinge likened the historic precinct—which includes WA’s oldest public building, the Round House—to “trying to keep a pet elephant on a minimum wage”, saying Fremantle was the only council in the country she knew of that had taken on such a major heritage burden.

But Ms Kiera, who helped lead the original restoration of the precinct in the 1980s, says those claims are inaccurate and unfair.

“Arthur Head was vested in the City at no cost to the then council,” she said. “At no point did councillors assume that it would be a money-making asset.”

She said the decision to take on the precinct had two clear goals: “Firstly, to restore the city’s (and WA’s) most significant heritage asset that would boost the identity and dignity of Fremantle as the city of culture, art and heritage… secondly, to create a public space, including Bathers Beach, as a much-needed public amenity in walking distance to the city centre.”

Ms Kiera also disputed claims Fremantle was uniquely burdened, pointing to other councils like Broome and Broken Hill which also manage nationally listed heritage assets.

“The Fremantle Council didn’t use any of the ratepayers’ money to fund the Arthur Head project,” she added.

“Both the State and Federal governments provided suitable funding as part of the America’s Cup celebrations.”

With the 2029 bicentenary of the Swan River Colony looming, she said the timing was ideal to seek similar external support.

“The necessary capital upgrading works could be funded by external sources,” Ms Kiera said. 

“The only forte needed is the goodwill and sufficient, suitably trained staff resources with responsibility for looking after Arthur Head.”

Ms Kiera urged the City to reaffirm its commitment to Arthur Head as the second major heritage and public asset of Fremantle—“after the Prison”—and not to pass responsibility on to another level of government.