Fisherman's Memorial

Artist: Greg James and Jon Tarry

Year of Work: 2003

Location: Fishermans Harbour, near Cicerellos Shed

Asset Type: Memorial/ Permanent

Provenance: Department of Planning and Infrastructure

Description: Much of Fremantle’s charm is drawn from its aquacultural and maritime heritage. Projecting from Fishermans Harbour, twelve timber columns on the jetty carry the names of the 608 fishermen who pioneered the fishing industry in Fremantle. At either end of the jetty two hard-laboured fishermen are captured in bronze.

Image Source: Eugene Scrivener (Museum of Perth)

Tom Edwards Memorial (d. Martyrs Memorial)

Artist: Pietro Giacomo Porcelli

Year of Work: 1919

Location: Originally located in front of Trades Hall, Collie Street. Relocated in 1982 to Kings Square, adjacent the Fremantle Town Hall.

Asset Type: Memorial/ Permanent

Provenance: City of Fremantle

Description:

In 1917 Fremantle Lumpers Union stopped work on ships believed to be destined for Germany in the midst of the First World War. The dispute outlasted the war, with Waterside Workers’ Federation members blockading the S.S. Dimboola in May of 1919. National Warterside Workers Union members attempting to continue work approached the Dimboola on boats, a quarrel broke out and WWF member, Tom Edwards was struck to the head by a police baton. He died of his injuries in Fremantle Hospital three days later.
A fountain by prominent Italo-Australian sculptor Pietro Porcelli was built the year of his death, it is now located in King Square.

Image Source Google

Statue of John Curtin

Artist: Charles Smith and Joan Walsh-Smith

Year of Work: 2003

Location: John Curtin Place, Kings Square. Town Hall end of High Street Mall

Asset Type: Memorial/ Permanent

Provenance: City of Fremantle

Description: Perhaps the most iconic of Australia’s prime ministers, John Curtin is bound to ordinary Australians by his working class roots and trade union advocacy, but most importantly as Australia’s war-time voice. Although Victorian by birth, Curtin made Western Australia his home in 1917 where he became an editor for a union press.
He joined federal parliament in 1928 as the elected Member of Fremantle. He became leader of the Labor Party in 1935 and prime minister in 1941 in the midst of war with Germany and Italy, with troops deployed in fronts in the middle-east and Europe. Weeks after his succession Australia was pulled into a war in the Pacific.
Curtin’s decisions strengthened relations with the United States, as their interests were directly threatened by Japan who had attacked ports in Australian and allied ports around the pacific.
Curtin died in office only weeks before the formal ending of the war in the Pacific. As Western Australia’s first and only prime minister, John Curtin is commemorated at King’s Square in Fremantle.

Image Source: Eugene Scrivener (Museum of Perth)

Pietro Porcelli Sculpture

Artist: Greg James

Year of Work: 1993

Location: King’s Square, Fremantle

Asset Type: Memorial/ Permanent

Provenance: Fremantle Italian Club

Description: Pietro Porcelli was an Italian-born sculptor responsible for a number of commemorative statues and monuments in Perth and Fremantle, including the bronze likenesses of Alexander Forrest in Stirling Gardens and C.Y. O’Connor at Fremantle Port.
Greg James was sought by friends of the deceased sculptor to help commemorate his contributions to Fremantle and the Italian community. His memorial is located in the northern corner of King Square.

Image Source: Eugene Scrivener (Museum of Perth)

Chimera

Artist: Susan Flavell

Year of Work: created in 2016, installed 2018

Location: Pioneer Park, Market Street

Asset Type: Public Art

Provenance: Kerry Harmanis

Description: In Greek mythology, the chimera was a beast formed from parts of a lion, a goat and a dragon. The name lends itself to a variety of genetic mutations including patches of unique skin pigmentation, hair and odd eye colours in humans.
Although a loose interpretation of the chimera, Susan Flavell’s friendlier bronze chimera stands in clear view of Fremantle train station, welcoming travellers to Western Australia’s cappuccino strip.

Image Source: Eugene Scrivener (Museum of Perth)

Bon Scott Statue

Artist: Greg James

Year of Work: 2008

Location: Fishermans Harbour

Asset Type: Memorial/ Permanent

Provenance: Department of Planning and Infrastructure

Description: Born in Scotland in 1946, Ronald Belford Scott emigrated to Australia with his family in 1952. As a child he grew up in the Perth suburb of Spearwood, later moving to London in the 1970’s where his band AC/DC battled for world recognition.
His ashes are scattered at the cemetery’s Garden of Remembrance where fans leave whisky on his death and birthday anniversaries. The statue commemorates the Scott, who succumbed to alcohol poisoning in 1980.

Image Source: Eugene Scrivener (Museum of Perth)

C Y O'Connor Memorial

Artist: Pietro Giacomo Porcelli

Year of Work: 1911

Location: 1 Cliff St, Fremantle WA 6160

Asset Type: Memorial/ Permanent

Provenance: City of Fremantle

Description:

The memorial committee sought designs for a memorial to Charles Yelverton O’Connor, the engineer of Fremantle Harbour, throughout the Commonwealth. Seventeen designs were submitted and were judged by Messrs. Bernard H. Woodward (Director of the WA Museum and Art Gallery), J.W.R. Linton and Joseph Allen (Mayor of East Fremantle and honorary architect on the Memorial Committee). Pietro Porcelli was given the commission, depicting O’Connor bare-headed, standing with one foot forward and arms folded; his left hand holds scrolled plans for the Harbour, and the right hand rests under his chin as he gazes across the Harbour. The panels depict the Mundaring Weir, the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme, the Fremantle Harbour and the Parkville (Swan View) tunnel in the hills. Embedded in the front of the monument is a memorial wreath to O’Connor who took his life in 1902.

Image Source: Eugene Scrivener (Museum of Perth)

Hector Macdonald Memorial Fountain

Artist: Stead Bros.

Year of Work: 1907

Location: Marine Terrace, Fremantle WA 6160
Esplanade Park

Asset Type: Memorial/ Permanent

Provenance: City of Fremantle

Description:

This memorial was erected in 1907 to commemorate Major General Sir Hector Archibald McDonald by Fremantle’s Scottish community, despite being unconnected with Fremantle.
A bronze panel with inscriptions replaces the original panel which was made of bronze.
MacDonald joined the British Army at 17 and climbed the ranks rapidly through his own merit. He was a veteran of the Afghan war and both Boer wars and earned distinction at the Battle of Omdurman.
MacDonald took his life following charges of sodomy with Sinhalese teenage boys.

Image Source: Eugene Scrivener (Museum of Perth)

Taylor Memorial Fountain

Artist: Doulton London

Year of Work: 1905

Location: 7 Market St, Fremantle WA 6160

Asset Type: Memorial/ Permanent

Provenance: City of Fremantle

Description:
A drinking fountain and horse trough was built in Fremantle in 1905, dedicated to memories of Ernest and Peter Taylor, the sons of John Taylor who it was believed died on a expedition in the Western Australia desert. It was made in London and shipped to Fremantle where it was assembled.
It was moved and restored in 1983. Joan Campbell, a Western Australian ceramic artist helped the restoration with replacement tiles and and bricks.

Image Source: Eugene Scrivener (Museum of Perth)

Marmion Memorial (and Proclamation Tree)

Artist: Pietro Giacomo Porcelli

Year of Work: 1902

Location: 61 Adelaide St

Fremantle, Western Australia

Asset Type: Memorial/ Permanent

Provenance: City of Fremantle

Description:

One of the first public memorials dedicated to persons who had contributed to the State. Marmion was a member of the first council of the Town of Fremantle, foundation member of the Fremantle Chamber of Commerce, member of the Legislative Council and member for Fremantle in the Legislative Assembly and was allotted minister for lands. He was a joint member on the panel to report on the best place for a Fremantle Harbour in 1982. Marmion died in 1896. The Celtic cross is of late Victorian design. Heritage Council & listed MHI. Located near to Proclamation Tree 1890 and cast plaque installed in 1930.

Image Source: Eugene Scrivener (Museum of Perth)