Cantonment Hill, Fremantle
Encyclopedia
Cantonment Hill is a small rise overlooking the port city of Fremantle, Western Australia
. Since the early 1900s the hill and the surrounding 4 hectares (9.9 acre) precinct has been mainly used for military purposes with extensive buildings now present. It has been under the control of the Department of Defence
.
The area was originally known as Dwerda Weeardinup, or 'place of the Dingo Spirit' to local indigenous Noongar
inhabitants.
The site includes the last remaining stand of pre-European settlement Rottnest Island Pine (Callitris preissii
) on the mainland.
to the City of Fremantle
in perpetuity "for the purposes of a public garden".
The Artllery Barracks in Burt Street were built on the site between 1910 and 1913 for Royal Australian Garrison Artillery, who manned the coastal defence batteries at Fort Arthur Head and Fort Forrest (North Fremantle). During World War I
the site was used as a rehabilitation hospital
for injured soldiers returning from the Western Front
and later as an internment camp and as a quarantine station.
During World War II
further development at the site was undertaken, including construction of a tunnel network to an underground control room, and a large warehouse on the north-eastern side. This latter bears Navy insignia and the motto non sibi sed patriæ.
By the early 1950s, the property ceased to be used as military barracks but remained under Defence control. The artillery barracks buildings were used from 1948 onwards as a training venue for the Army Reserve and in 1995 the Army Museum of Western Australia moved to the site, where they currently remain. The barracks are the oldest continuously occupied defence site in Western Australia.
The Port of Fremantle constructed the existing signal station (pictured) in 1956.
by way of a Centenary of Federation of Australia
gift from the Federal Government
. Progress in negotiations was stalled however, as the parties have requested the Commonwealth to provide funding to reinstate the site to a usable condition—then Premier
Geoff Gallop
announced in September 2003 that the Government had formally declined the offer.
Since 1997, a community based Cantonment Hill Residents Action Group has lobbied for its return to the City according to the original gift and its restoration and retention as public property with full public access.
On the 21st of January, 2010, the Prime Minister announced that Cantonment Hill, including Tuckfield Oval, would be sold back to the people of Fremantle. The Council will reportedly pay $76,000 for the land, and has plans to rehabilitate the vegetation and build walking paths and picnic facilities. The signal station will also be turned into a café and "Aboriginal interpretive centre". The handover is to be completed by March.
Fremantle, Western Australia
Fremantle is a city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle was the first area settled by the Swan River colonists in 1829...
. Since the early 1900s the hill and the surrounding 4 hectares (9.9 acre) precinct has been mainly used for military purposes with extensive buildings now present. It has been under the control of the Department of Defence
Department of Defence (Australia)
The Australian Department of Defence is a Federal Government Department. It forms part of the Australian Defence Organisation along with the Australian Defence Force . The Defence mission is to defend Australia and its national interests...
.
The area was originally known as Dwerda Weeardinup, or 'place of the Dingo Spirit' to local indigenous Noongar
Noongar
The Noongar are an indigenous Australian people who live in the south-west corner of Western Australia from Geraldton on the west coast to Esperance on the south coast...
inhabitants.
The site includes the last remaining stand of pre-European settlement Rottnest Island Pine (Callitris preissii
Callitris preissii
Callitris preissii is a species of conifer in the Cupressaceae family, found only in Australia.Common Names: Rottnest Island pine , Murray pine, maroong, Southern Cypress pine, or Slender Cypress pine -External Links:...
) on the mainland.
History
In 1892 it was gifted by the CrownCrown land
In Commonwealth realms, Crown land is an area belonging to the monarch , the equivalent of an entailed estate that passed with the monarchy and could not be alienated from it....
to the City of Fremantle
City of Fremantle
The City of Fremantle is a Local Government Area in South Metropolitan Perth. The City covers an area of , and lies about southwest of the Perth central business district.-History:...
in perpetuity "for the purposes of a public garden".
The Artllery Barracks in Burt Street were built on the site between 1910 and 1913 for Royal Australian Garrison Artillery, who manned the coastal defence batteries at Fort Arthur Head and Fort Forrest (North Fremantle). During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
the site was used as a rehabilitation hospital
Rehabilitation hospital
A rehabilitation hospital, also referred to as Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospitals, are devoted to the rehabilitation of patients with various neurological, musculo-skeletal, orthopedic and other medical conditions following stabilization of their acute medical issues. The industry is largely made...
for injured soldiers returning from the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
and later as an internment camp and as a quarantine station.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
further development at the site was undertaken, including construction of a tunnel network to an underground control room, and a large warehouse on the north-eastern side. This latter bears Navy insignia and the motto non sibi sed patriæ.
By the early 1950s, the property ceased to be used as military barracks but remained under Defence control. The artillery barracks buildings were used from 1948 onwards as a training venue for the Army Reserve and in 1995 the Army Museum of Western Australia moved to the site, where they currently remain. The barracks are the oldest continuously occupied defence site in Western Australia.
The Port of Fremantle constructed the existing signal station (pictured) in 1956.
Return to public ownership
In 1989 the Department of Defence mooted plans to dispose of the property. Options considered have been the sale of the property to Notre Dame University and a transfer to the Government of Western AustraliaGovernment of Western Australia
The formation of the Government of Western Australia is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1890, although it has been amended many times since then...
by way of a Centenary of Federation of Australia
Federation of Australia
The Federation of Australia was the process by which the six separate British self-governing colonies of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia formed one nation...
gift from the Federal Government
Government of Australia
The Commonwealth of Australia is a federal constitutional monarchy under a parliamentary democracy. The Commonwealth of Australia was formed in 1901 as a result of an agreement among six self-governing British colonies, which became the six states...
. Progress in negotiations was stalled however, as the parties have requested the Commonwealth to provide funding to reinstate the site to a usable condition—then Premier
Premier of Western Australia
The Premier of Western Australia is the head of the executive government in the Australian State of Western Australia. The Premier has similar functions in Western Australia to those performed by the Prime Minister of Australia at the national level, subject to the different Constitutions...
Geoff Gallop
Geoff Gallop
Geoffrey Ian Gallop, AC is an Australian academic and former politician. He was the Premier of Western Australia from 2001 to 2006. He currently resides in Sydney.-Early life and education:...
announced in September 2003 that the Government had formally declined the offer.
Since 1997, a community based Cantonment Hill Residents Action Group has lobbied for its return to the City according to the original gift and its restoration and retention as public property with full public access.
On the 21st of January, 2010, the Prime Minister announced that Cantonment Hill, including Tuckfield Oval, would be sold back to the people of Fremantle. The Council will reportedly pay $76,000 for the land, and has plans to rehabilitate the vegetation and build walking paths and picnic facilities. The signal station will also be turned into a café and "Aboriginal interpretive centre". The handover is to be completed by March.