Victoria Hall in Fremantle

Victoria Hall is one of those classic Victorian era halls that are dotted around Australia. The short history (as I understand it) is that Deckchair Theatre took up residency and did some great stuff. The City of Fremantle (good one them) backed them and spent several million dollars on renovations and installing lighting grid, FOH bar etc. Deckchair Theatre unfortunately lost their state gov funding and closed last year. Since then, the theatre has been barely used. The venue can be hired via what's left of Deckchair Theatre (see their web-site for details) but I suspect that it is effectively managed by Fremantle Council. There are some specs on this web-site. The venue is available for hire. There is no such thing as a perfect theatre, this venue wont suit everyone. Deckchair and Fremantle Council need to come up with a more realistic cost structure. (They seem to have modelled it on A.E.G. Odgens pricing policy) However, it seems that every 6 or so months there is someone on this web-site imploring us to get behind the creation of a new theatre. Admittedly I did this with Montgomery Hall in Mount Claremont a few years ago. But Victoria Hall is a functioning, working theatre sitting pretty much empty. The bit that I find galling is that Harbour Theatre is making do in a venue that is highly problematic to put it mildly. Everyone: the venue is there. Use it or lose it.

Fremantle Council is allegedly in negotiation with Harbour Theatre about Victoria Hall: http://heraldonlinejournal.com/2013/03/02/harbour-in-limbo/ Fremantle Mayor Brad Pettitt also says on his blog (http://cofremantle.wordpress.com/2013/03/09/2038/): Greg says: March 10, 2013 at 11:05 am What are you going to do save Harbour Theatre and prevent them becoming another Deckchair? Freo council has already forced them to move in 1995 and 2009 and now they’re being forced to move again. The theatre celebrates 50 years in Fremantle this year and yet there is almost no support for this part of the city’s cultural heritage. Mayor of Fremantle Brad Pettitt's blog says: March 10, 2013 at 1:33 pm While the loss of deckchair was tragic the only silver lining is that Vic Hall has been freed up for use by arts organizations including Harbour Theatre. This would be a great 50th year outcome. Also for the record I don’t believe it was Freo Council who were behind the other moves. The 1990s were before my time on council but late 2000s was council helping out with port cinema when they were forced to move from the other end of Princess May. Cheers. Brad Greg says: March 10, 2013 at 11:48 pm Whether or not the 1995 forced move was before your time on council, the fact remains Harbour Theatre remains being shoved from pillar to post and a Sunday Times article from the times shows it was because the council jacked up the rent and the theatre, a volunteer organisation, could no longer afford the rent. The 2009 move was an indirect result of heritage zealots John Dowson and Les Lauder getting the National Trust involved in the Princess May Precinct and the possibility of the National Trust being responsible for it – the Fremantle Education Centre then realised what a nice little earner it had on its hands, jacked up the rent and Harbour Theatre could no longer afford to stay. Victoria Hall could be a great outcome – but what guarantee can you give they won’t have to move again in another few years? Harbour Theatre needs a permanent, not transient home, like the Old Mill Theatre in South Perth. Mayor of Fremantle Brad Pettitt's blog says: March 13, 2013 at 3:24 pm I met today with Harbour to discuss how we might find a permanent home for them. I’ll keep you all in the loop Greg says: March 24, 2013 at 7:23 am So does Harbour Theatre now have a permanent home? Mayor of Fremantle Brad Pettitt's blog says: March 24, 2013 at 7:26 am We are on the right track to make that happen. Greg says: March 25, 2013 at 2:38 am That’s a very nebulous answer. What does that track involve, exactly? Mayor of Fremantle Brad Pettitt's blog says: March 25, 2013 at 11:02 am We have just had a commissioned expert report on uses for Victoria Hall completed so we can now look at what we need to do to get Harbour Theatre and others into that space and having it activated for the arts in Freo. We will lock in leases and uses in the next few months I hope that helps Brad No more info since then. If they want people to use Victoria Hall, then they have to make it more cost-effective to hire. Currently the price structure is way beyond what any arts organisation can afford. All Fremantle councillors, including the mayor, can be contact via members@fremantle.wa.gov.au. The CEO can be contacted at ceo@fremantle.wa.gov.au As Labor didn't win, there goes Simone McGurk's $50,000. Be interested to hear her thoughts now, along with new shadow arts minister Michelle Roberts. Their email addresses are Simone.McGurk@mp.wa.gov.au and Michelle.Roberts@mp.wa.gov.au. The journo who wrote the original story can be contacted at brendan.foster@fremantleherald.com. Perhaps you should share your thoughts.

I was Chair of the Victoria Hall Association in the late 1990s. We saved the Hall from being sold by Bob Wrightson to a developer (and certain demolition) and eventually handed it over to Fremantle Council who in turn leased it to Deckchair. I suspect the Council now wants it used by multiple groups (like Memorial Hall at Hamilton Hill) but Harbour Theatre is accustomed to having exclusive occupancy. Call me a cynic, but I doubt that this will be resolved in the short term. Ssstinger>>>