Bathers Beach House (formally Fishermans Co-Operative Ltd Building)
Original Architect Unknown
c.1950.
Richard Longley, (McDonalds alterations, 1986) and McDonald Jones Architects, (Bathers Beach House alterations, 2014)
47 Mews Rd, Fremantle
Photo credit above: Dion Robeson & Tony Bower
Constructed c.1950 the building housed the former Fremantle Fisherman’s Co-op and the original Cicerello’s until the 1950s. The Fremantle Fishermen’s Co-Operative Society was formed in 1947 following a fishermen strike and was largely made up of migrant families from Molfetta and Capo d’Orlando in Italy and Funchal in Portugal. The Fishermen’s Co-Op was located behind the Fremantle Fishmarkets. After the Co-Operative moved out of the building it was home many successful ventures including The Sicilian restaurant and Sails Seafood restaurant.
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Image above: The building underwent a refurbishment for the America’s Cup. Photo credit: Brent Sumner.
Architect Richard Longley retained the original façade of the building and was officially opened November 1986, housing on the ground floor a gift shop and fast food restaurants Chicken Treat and McDonalds plus an ice cream parlour. The upper floor was let to the exclusive Ansett Golden Keel Club so that members and guests would have a first class vantage point for viewing the America’s Cup race. Subsequently, these renovations have left the original building without a clear and legible built form, that manifest from the original Art Deco façade.
Image above: Fremantle McDonalds, conversion by Architect Richard Longley. Photo credit: Brent Sumner.
Image above: Restoration of Bathers Beach and the 1900's shoreline. Note partial view of J Shed and Fremantle Fishermen's Co-op. Photo credit: Brent Sumner.
Today, we see yet another renovation. The new Bathers Beach House has removed “the carbuncles of previous additions and trace the perimeter with a unifying colonnade which references the original buildings period.” These recent renovations carried out by Perth-based firm, MJA architects included an extension to the shoreline from its existing alignment. The alteration created “Perth's only absolute beachfront venue.” Hence, for the first time, the legalisation of the great Australian tradition of enjoying a beer on the beach.
This development revitalises and reactivates the historical Bathers Beach while connecting it directly to the Fremantle fishing Boat Harbour, for tourists and locals alike. Director of the new Bathers Beach House development, Nick Unmack explains “This is part of adding life and vitality to the Bathers Beach Art Precinct after the City of Fremantle invested in the area during the 2011 ISAF Sailing World Cup.”
Timber planks from the old boardwalk and jetty from Bathers Beach was reused in the upgrade. A beachcomber mural by local artist Amok Island adorns one of the walls. The buildings top floor offers panoramic views of Carnac Island and Stragglers Rocks.
Links:
https://www.newsmaker.com.au/news/33038/rejuvenation-sensation-at-fremantles-bathers-beach#.WJBIz7Z95E4
http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/fremantles-bathers-beach-to-become-was-first-licensed-stretch-of-beach-20161117-gsr9g4.html
http://cdm16702.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/myfirst/id/6134/rec/1
https://www.mjastudio.net/bathers-beach-house/m4un8xgjcn5gksx92vqcg3bav89vuv
