FAQs

The Council is the State Government’s advisory body on heritage matters, with functions and powers under the Heritage Act 2018. It is charged with compiling the State Register of Heritage Places.

The Council’s role is to determine the State significance of a place and make a recommendation to the Minister for Heritage, who makes the final decision on whether a place is entered in the State Register.

The Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage supports the Council and the Minister for Heritage.

The State Register of Heritage Places is a statutory list of places that represent the story of Western Australia’s history and development. Entry in the Register is reserved for places that have been assessed as being of State cultural heritage significance. The Register is focused on places dating from, and after, European contact and Colonial settlement and includes places to which Western Australians retain a connection. The Register acknowledges the value and importance of a place and helps promote its conservation into the future. At present, there are 1,393 places in the State Register.

Fishing Boat Harbour, Fremantle is notable for the rich story associated with the place, rather than any historic built fabric, of which little remains. Registration aims to recognise this story and its importance to Western Australians.    

The assessment has identified the following values that make this place important to the story of Western Australia’s development.

• Fishing Boat Harbour, Fremantle is strongly associated with the history of post-WWII migration to Western Australia, with many migrants from Southern Europe, particularly those from Italy, engaged in the commercial fishing industry historically and today.
• The continuous use of the place as a working harbour from 1924 to the present and its association with the evolution of the fishing industry in Fremantle, reflects the successful story of Fremantle’s migrant communities, to which, a strong connection remains to migrant families, their descendants and the wider Western Australian community.
• Fishing Boat Harbour, Fremantle is culturally important to the local Italian and other migrant communities associated with the fishing industry as the end point of the annual Blessing of the Fleet procession, a well-established religious and civic tradition, that has been an integral part of Fremantle’s cultural heritage for more than 75 years.
• The place has historic value as the site of South Jetty, one of the first landing sites erected in 1829, in the newly founded Swan River Colony.
• Fishing Boat Harbour, Fremantle’s panoramic water views coupled with the iconic blue fishing vessels of a working fishing fleet, add to the distinctive character of the place as a working harbour, and as a popular recreational area for locals and tourists alike.
• The place is associated with the 26th challenge for the America's Cup in 1987, when Fremantle became the subject of worldwide focus with Kookaburra III’s defence of the Royal Perth Yacht Clubs title.
• Fishing Boat Harbour, Fremantle is highly valued by past and current day fishermen and their families as demonstrated by their contribution and involvement in a project to recognise the 608 fishermen who pioneered the fishing industry at Fremantle, by way of ‘The Jetty’ memorial.
• As an iconic landmark, Fishing Boat Harbour is a popular destination for tourists and the local and wider community and contributes to the identity of Fremantle, in particular the city’s West End.

The place tells an important story about the State and its development, regardless of its lack of historical structures. In particular, this story relates to the history of post-WWII migration to Western Australia, and the contribution of migrants from Southern Europe, that were and continue to be, associated with the evolution of the fishing industry in Fremantle.   This intrinsic story can be demonstrated in its form, use, location and future interpretation without the need for historic physical elements.

Registration would recognise the place and its significance to the story of Western Australia, ensuring the story will continue to be acknowledged into the future. Inclusion in the State Register could further enhance the harbour’s profile as a local and tourist destination.

No. It will be business as usual for all leaseholders. The proposed registration will not impact on business and harbour functions, operations or any existing agreements and approvals. 

No. Registration does not affect ownership, nor require owners/leaseholders to give public access to their property.

Yes. The Council recognises that changes to heritage places are required to ensure a place is used and conserved. Inclusion on the State Register of Heritage Places does not prevent changes being made at the place. It enables the Heritage Council to advise on certain proposals (through the planning process) to ensure that the cultural heritage significance of the place can be understood and appreciated.   Many general maintenance and repair works can be carried out without heritage advice. Current arrangements between leaseholders/business owners and the Department of Transport will also not be affected by registration.

Given the lack of significant fabric at this place, there are unlikely to be any heritage issues associated with changes to fabric. Of interest will be anything that visually detracts from the form and use of the place. Interpretation of the significance and history of the place would be encouraged.

The area being considered for registration broadly follows the form of the original harbour, including historic stages of land reclamation. The boundary is consistent with the City of Fremantle’s Heritage List for the place, which can be viewed on the InHerit database.

Comments on the proposed registration can be made online through the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage’s Have Your Say, WA! website or by email to HCWAregistration@dplh.wa.gov.au.

Once the period for comments has closed, the Council will consider all submissions and decide whether to recommend registration to the Minister for Heritage, who will make the final decision on whether a place is entered in the State Register.