Former Police Station — Houses of East Freo

ARCHITECTURE

Federation Rustic with Georgian Influences

The Old Police Station is located at 133 Canning Highway and is part of a group of public buildings around the East Fremantle Town Hall. The former East Fremantle Post Office (next door to the police station) is located in a prominent position at the corner of Canning Highway and Stirling Highway (formerly King Street). This group of public buildings was constructed in the Federation Free Classical and Federation Bungalow styles between 1899 and 1902. The former Police Station retains much of its original external detail. The place is a single storey building constructed in limestone and brick with a hipped corrugated iron roof. The place features a police station and quarters, charge room, cell yard, two brick cells and a timber laundry. The group of Public Buildings, East Fremantle represent the historic civic heart of East Fremantle.

HISTORY

1909 A Woman’s Suffering. Complaint Against Fremantle Fire Brigade. Referred To The Fremantle Council. At the last meeting of the Fremantle Lumpers' Union, held on Wednesday evening, the following letter was received from Constable O'Shea, the officer in charge of the Plympton Police Station, in reference to the attendance of the Fremantle ambulance van on the occasion of last Monday's fatal accident at Point Walter-road:—"I have been requested to bring under your notice the fact that on the night of February 1 a serious accident occurred at Point Walter-road, whereby a woman named Mrs. Eva Muriel Selwood, aged 22 years, was thrown out of a sulky. Dr. Anderson was telephoned for, and attended the patient. He sent for the Fremantle ambulance, and it was refused. The unfortunate woman was then placed in a carrier's cart, with the intention of conveying her to the Fremantle Hospital. When near the Plympton Police Station the jolting of the cart was apparently causing the woman such agony that her husband decided to take her out. She was then placed on the side of the street, in Canning-road. Dr. Stewart, who had arrived on the scene, asked that the ambulance be rung up. Constable McKay rang up the Fremantle Fire Station at 10.45 p.m. for the ambulance, but he was refused point-blank, being informed that the ambulance would not come out to East Fremantle for this woman. At 11,5 p.m. Constable O'Shea rang up the Fire Brigade for the ambulance, and was informed that it would not come out, as it was out of their district. I replied that it was the most scandalous, callous, and most dastardly thing I had ever heard of, for any man to refuse to come out to relieve an unfortunate woman who was dying on the King's highway. I then asked who had control of the ambulance, and was informed by Foreman Elliott that Mr. Lapsley had control of the ambulance, I asked him to switch me on to him, and in a few seconds I was informed by Elliott that the ambulance was being despatched for the removal of the poor unfortunate woman. The ambulance arrived at 11.30 p.m., and the woman died at 3.30 p.m. on the following day. The agony which this woman went through while lying on the side of the Canning-road was unbearable for any white man to witness." (reference)

Daily News, Friday 6 June 1913, page 6

WHAT'S IN A NAME? PLYMPTON OR EAST FREMANTLE? In past years, and right up to the present time, the police station in the East Fremantle municipality has been known under the name of "Plympton." …In future, anyone having business to do with the local police station is re-quested to refer to that establishment as the "East Fremantle station." (reference)
1925 One of the most popular members of the police force in the Fremantle district Mr. Dan Thompson, intends retiring at the end of this week after a service running into 28 years, many of them being spent at East Fremantle. It is Mr. and Mrs. Thompson's intention to settle eventually in the Eastern States. (reference)
1925 The Friends of the late Constable William Robert O'Shea, of Pemberton, beloved husband of Mrs. Frances O'Shea, of 67 Palmer-street, Richmond, Victoria, are respectfully invited to follow his remains to the place of interment, the Roman Catholic Cemetery, Karrakatta. (reference)
1937 Birth on March 13, at St. Helen's, Moss street, East Fremantle, to Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Trotman, of Government School, Shackleton— a son (Keith Eugene). Both well. (reference)
1943 Death on July 28, at her late residence, Canning-road, East Fremantle, Ellen, dearly beloved wife of Frederick Mark Shaddick loved mother of Edna and Ernest. (reference)
1946 Killed By Derrick. Finding of Accidental Death. ...Robert John Newton, of High-street, Fremantle, gave evidence that Cattanach was employed as a rigger. At 10.30 am. Cattanach was supervising the lowering of a derrick pole from the top of the grandstand. When it was about 9ft. or 10ft. from the top floor it began to veer sideways. Cattanach instructed witness to pull on a guy rope to straighten the derrick. The rope was pulled out of the hands of another workman and the derrick got out of control and fell on to the deceased. Sgt. S. Anderson assisted the Acting-Coroner. (reference)
1947 Farewell To Port Police Officers. Five Fremantle C.I.B. and police officers, who are being transferred, will be guests of honour at a Police Social Club farewell at Fremantle Trades Hall tonight. Inspector G. H. Findlay has been transferred to Perth C.I.B. Detective-Sergeant Cresswell will be transferred from Fremantle to Perth. Other transfers are Sergeant B. J. Rule (Fremantle to Harvey), Sergeant S. Anderson (East Fremantle to Wyndham) and Constable L. Griffiths (Fremantle to Ravensthorpe). (reference)
1947 New Inspector Of Police. Sgt. F. M. Shaddick Promoted. First-class Sergeant F. M. Shaddick has been promoted to the rank of Third-class Inspector of police. ...Inspector Shaddick joined the force in 1915 and since then he has seen service in most parts of the State. His first posting was to Kellerberrin as a mounted trooper, and from there he went to Derby, Merredin, the Eastern Goldfields (for nearly ten years), Mundaring and Dalwallinu. While at Dalwallinu he received his first promotion in 1935 and was sent back to Kalgoorlie. He later served a period as officer in charge at Wyndham. His next move was to East Fremantle, where he received promotion to first-class sergeant and transfer to Perth, where he has remained since. (reference)