THE discovery of a substantial stretch of century-old wooden road paving at the entrance to Fremantle Ports could become a major heritage attraction says the Fremantle Society.
Society president John Dowson has described the discovery as a “million dollar gift to Fremantle”, arguing the historic paving should be revealed to the greatest extent possible rather than removed to make way for parking.
The blocks, believed to date from 1911, were uncovered near the Fremantle Ports building at 1 Cliff Street, offering a rare glimpse of the timber-paved streets that once carried heavy traffic through the port city.
Mr Dowson said the discovery presented an opportunity for a substantial archaeological project in a prominent location where the history of Fremantle could be showcased to both visitors and locals.
• Fremantle Society members Mary-Anne Goodlich, Mark Woodcock and John Dowson get a tour of the blocks with Fremantle Ports’ heritage and collections senior officer Stephen King. Photo by Steve Grant
“The exciting reveal of wooden blocks from 1911 at the entrance to Fremantle Ports is reason for much celebration,” he said.
He warned against suggestions the blocks could be relocated elsewhere for display, allowing the port to resume using the site for parking or other purposes.
“No, heritage is no longer heritage when you move it,” Mr Dowson said.
“The blocks must stay where they are and be revealed in situ to the greatest extent possible.”
Mr Dowson said the Fremantle Waterfront Masterplan had only permitted the extensive parking area, stretching from the port towards the WA Shipwrecks Museum, on a temporary basis.
Wooden paving was once an important feature of Fremantle’s roads, with jarrah and karri used extensively because of their durability.
Fremantle was the first municipality in WA to use wooden street paving on a substantial scale, with High Street paved in jarrah blocks in 1898.
The blocks were laid on a concrete base and sealed with tar. The technique was subsequently extended to streets including Mouat and Cliff streets, where paving was completed in 1903.
The port itself also adopted the technology, with a major repaving of its wharf using wooden blocks on concrete recorded in 1910-11.
In 1912, the wooden paving on Cliff Street was extended from Phillimore Street to the Fremantle Harbour Trust boundary.
Much of this historic infrastructure has since disappeared beneath bitumen, making the latest discovery particularly significant.
Fremantle Ports heritage and collections senior officer Stephen King said the blocks were a fabulous discovery, although their condition was not as good as it might initially appear.
Mr King said there were numerous holes in the timber, some of which had been filled with small debris during sweeping.
There were also signs of termite damage and the possibility marine worms had penetrated the wood.
A Fremantle Ports spokesperson said the prospect of establishing a permanent display was being considered.
The discovery had been reported to the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage, which would undertake the process of assessing the site.
by STEVE GRANT