Queen Victoria Street, Fremantle

Queen Victoria Street is the main road entering the city centre of Fremantle, Western Australia from the direction of Perth. The road was originally named Cantonment Road, but was subsequently renamed Victoria Road, and a few years later Queen Victoria Street, after Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, to avoid confusion with similarly named roads in the area.[1]

Queen Victoria Street

Western Australia
General information
TypeRoad
Length2.0 km (1.2 mi)
Route number(s) State Route 12
Major junctions
North end Stirling Highway (State Route 5), North Fremantle
 
  • Tydeman Road
  • Canning Highway (State Route 6)
  • James Street (State Route 12)
South endParry Street, Fremantle

Due to its proximity to Fremantle Harbour it has at times had very heavy traffic.[2]

Route description

The road's northern terminus, as well as that of State Route 12, is at a traffic light controlled Y Junction with Stirling Highway in North Fremantle. The next major intersection, 350 metres (1,150 ft) south, is with Tydeman Road, which leads to Fremantle Port to the west, and to the residential area of North Fremantle to the east. After another 400 metres (1,300 ft), the road reaches the Fremantle Traffic Bridge which crosses the Swan River. On the south side of the river, the road meets Canning Highway, and turns south-west towards the centre of Fremantle. After travelling 500 metres (1,600 ft) south-west, State Route 12 leaves Queen Victoria Street, heading down James Street towards Naval Base. The remaining 400 metres (1,300 ft) of Queen Victoria Street does not have a route allocation, and the road ends at its intersection with Parry Street. Adelaide Street continues south-west from that intersection, to High Street.

Crossing the Swan River

In the 1830s ferries operated on the Swan River, including from North Fremantle[3] and from Preston Point,[4][5] further up the river. The North Fremantle ferry only transported people and luggage,[3] whilst the Preston Point ferry also transported livestock.[3][4]

There also existed a capstan, but only the base remains, which is known as the Ferry Capstan Base.[6] There is no clear evidence of the construction date or usage,[6] however there are accounts of it pulling a dredger and barges up the river, via a rope connected to a winch in the capstan.[6][7] The accounts vary as to how it was powered, either by convicts[7] or animals pushing an iron bar to rotate the capstan, which was centred on a vertical axle.[6]

There have been four different bridges at this location since the 1860s,[8] the first of which was a timber bridge was constructed between 1863 and 1867, using convict labour.[8][9][10] The second bridge was constructed between 1896 and 1898 downstream of the existing bridge.[8] Whilst wider and stronger, it was only intended to be a temporary structure while the old bridge was removed and replaced.[8] However, no construction or demolition works occurred until 10 years later, with the old bridge left for pedestrians.[8] The third bridge was a renovation of the original bridge, which had its deck replaced, new support piles added, and existing piles modified.[8] The previous bridge was demolished after this bridge, which also catered for trams, was opened in 1909.[8] The current structure, which opened on 15 December 1939, was also only intended to be used for a few years, but has remained in service since then, with major strengthening and repair works carried out in 1978 and 1982.[8]

Street features
Victoria Avenue, North Fremantle, later renamed Queen Victoria Street. North Fremantle Town Hall is on the left.

The street was the main street of the former Town of North Fremantle (1895–1961). The North Fremantle war memorial[11] and the former North Fremantle Town Hall are located on the street.[12]

Two bars are also located on the north side of the river along Queen Victoria Street: Mojo's Bar and the Swan Hotel, which has been on the street for over 100 years.[13]

In 2011, Queen Victoria Street underwent road works to improve traffic accommodation and the amenity of the area.[14]

Major intersections

References
  1. Ewers, John K. (1971). The Western Gateway: A History of Fremantle (2nd ed.). Nedlands, Western Australia: University of Western Australia Press for the Fremantle City Council. pp. 227–229. ISBN 085564 050 2.
  2. "FREMANTLE'S MAIN HIGHWAY". The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 17 October 1923. p. 10. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
  3. "PROCLAMATION". The Perth Gazette and Western Australian Journal. WA: National Library of Australia. 27 June 1835. p. 517. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
  4. "FERRY CHARGES". The Perth Gazette and Western Australian Journal. WA: National Library of Australia. 3 August 1833. p. 121. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
  5. "Fremantle Railway Bridge to Point Walter Reserve and Childley Point" (PDF). Swan River Trust. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 May 2013. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
  6. "Register of Heritage Places – Assessment Documentation" (PDF). Register of Heritage Places – Permanent Entry – Fremantle Traffic Bridge & Ferry Capstan Base. Heritage Council of Western Australia. 30 March 2007. p. 5. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
  7. "Untitled". Western Mail. Perth: National Library of Australia. 14 April 1927. p. 20 Supplement: Western Mail. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
  8. "Swan & Canning Rivers Bridges" (PDF). Engineers Australia Western Australia Division. 2009. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
  9. "Fremantle Traffic Bridge Should Go". The Sunday Times. Perth: National Library of Australia. 8 September 1935. p. 1 Section: First Section. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
  10. "OLD TRAFFIC BRIDGE". The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 31 August 1933. p. 18. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
  11. Orloff, Izzy; HRRC (1924), North Fremantle soldiers memorial, retrieved 7 November 2012
  12. Orloff, Izzy; HRRC (1925), Governor at North Fremantle Town Hall, retrieved 7 November 2012
  13. A sailing club meeting at the hotel in 1901"Fremantle Sailing Club". Western Mail. Perth: National Library of Australia. 12 January 1901. p. 54. Retrieved 8 November 2012..
  14. "Queen Victoria Street roadworks". City of Fremantle. 2011. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
Route description

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