Fremantle Hotel Plan Gets Green Light

Plans backed by mining billionaire Andrew Forrest to deliver a new 150-key hotel and public laneway in Fremantle have been approved, with the WA Metro Inner Development Assessment Panel describing the proposal as transformational for the precinct.

Filed by Forrest’s development company Fiveight, the scheme centres on a six-storey hotel at 10 Henderson Street, approximately 22 kilometres south-west of the Perth CBD.

GALLERY  

Designed by Woods Bagot, the project also introduces Spicers Lane, a new pedestrian connection intended to activate the ground plane and enhance permeability through the site.

The development references the historic Spicers building, which occupied the site from 1899 before its demolition more than five decades ago. This contextual link informs the architectural language, with the updated proposal refining both the scale and street presence compared to an earlier 2022 scheme. Fiveight acquired the 2,834 square metre site for $7.6 million and initially secured approval for a smaller 117-room hotel with an alternative façade design.

Under the revised plans, the WA Development Assessment Panel has granted a four-year approval window for construction. While the building exceeds prescribed height limits, the panel deemed the variation appropriate given the strategic importance of the site and the overall design quality.

In its determination, the panel noted the proposal represents a significant uplift for a key inner-city location identified for renewal. It highlighted improvements to the building’s presentation along both William and Henderson streets, alongside a more considered integration into the surrounding urban fabric.

The inclusion of Spicers Lane is expected to play a critical role in shaping the project’s public interface, offering a fine-grain pedestrian experience that complements Fremantle’s established character. Ground-level amenities are designed to support activation throughout the day and evening, reinforcing the site’s role as a destination within the port city.

With approval now secured, the project is positioned to contribute to Fremantle’s ongoing evolution, balancing heritage reference with contemporary development to deliver a new hospitality and public realm offering.

Images via The Urban Developer

Plans backed by mining billionaire Andrew Forrest to deliver a new 150-key hotel and public laneway in Fremantle ...

Japanese design firm Studio Aluc has transformed a century-old machiya townhouse into a refined short-stay hotel in central ...

The Queensland Performing Arts Centre has expanded its cultural footprint with the opening of the Glasshouse Theatre, a ...

Crosby Studios has completed the restoration of a 17th-century farmhouse in Roccalbegna, Tuscany, transforming a once-neglected rural structure ...