CITY OF FREMANTLE
Kings Square Revitalisation

Two of Fremantle's most important historic landmarks – St John's Anglican Church and the Fremantle Town Hall, both dating from the 1880s – are located in Kings Square, which is also home to the City's central library and administrative services building.  The square is surrounded by retail uses, including Fremantle's only department store, and every Thursday, the Fremantle Village Market fills the square with crafts, food and entertainment.

Despite the variety of attractions, Kings Square is failing as the civic heart of the city. Changing retail patterns are drawing activity away from the square; the landscape treatment of the space is dated and in need of maintenance; and the architecture of the administrative offices and retail frontage on the eastern side of the square is harsh and oppressive.

Recognizing the significant challenges and opportunities of the Kings Square and its surrounding blocks, the City of Fremantle asked the UDC to organise a design charrette to develop revitalization concepts for the area. The products of the charrette helped to stimulate on-going debate of the City’s options for the Square and surrounding blocks, which has expanded into an exploration of more comprehensive alternatives for revitalization of the whole city centre.