Fremantle Prison's Main Cell Block and Anglican Chapel were built by convicts between 1852 and 1859 from limestone quarried on the site.
The limestone was a cheap and readily available building material, however it lacked durability due to its soft and porous nature. Over the next 150 years the effects of sun, wind and rain impacted significantly on the buildings.
In the 1960s the western facade of the Chapel was rendered with cement, obscuring the limestone. Hiding the original stonework further diminished the building's historical significance.
In 2006-07 major conservation works were carried out on the north and south wings of the Main Cell Block, including cleaning and repairing the stonework, lime washing, repairs to windowsills and the removal of render from the Anglican Chapel.
The project was completed by Palassis Architects, Multitech Engineering and Antonio Graneri, with funding provided by the State Government and the Australian Government through the National Heritage Investment Initiative.
In addition to conservation benefits, the project has helped to maintain Fremantle Prison's heritage values by allowing visitors to view the buildings as they were during the convict era.
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View of the Main Cell Block with vegetable
gardens in the foreground c1909 |
Scaffolding covered the south wall of the
Main Cell Block during restoration |
View of the Main Cell Block after restoration
works in 2007 |
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Anglican Chapel facade before restoration
works 2006 |
Anglican Chapel covered with scaffolding
during restoration works 2007 |
Anglican Chapel upon completion of
restoration works 2007 |