Historic Presbytery Needs Urgent Restoration

by Mitchell Sutton

The historic St Patrick’s Presbytery in Fremantle is in dire need of restoration and the parish will need to raise at least one million dollars worth of donations if the work is to be completed.

The restoration, estimated at  $1.5 million, is a major cost for the parish, which recently carried out a $2 million refurbishment on the main Basilica building.

“If it wasn’t on the heritage list, then the restoration would only cost $500,000 ," Trevor Gorey, Chairman of the Parish Finance Committee, said, “but because of heritage restrictions about what kind of materials we can use, roughly a million dollars will be added to the cost.”

Mr Gorey described the damage to the building as “extensive”, likening the conditions of the concrete to a cancer.

According to State Heritage Council Executive Director, Graeme Gammie, the St Patrick’s site is “held in high regard by the Roman Catholic migrant communities in Fremantle” and heritage grants and incentives are available to the parish.

“St Patrick’s Basilica has previously received a grant from the State Government for $600,000, which went towards the cost of restoring the 109-year-old State heritage-listed church,”  Mr Gammie added.

The Presbytery, built in 1916 to house the Oblate priests who minister to the area, has been inhabited by the priests continuously since then.

Rare for a building of its age, the presbytery has remained virtually unmodified by its owners, remaining mostly in original condition, a factor which gives it significant heritage value.

Both the basilica and the presbytery are permanent entries on the state register of historic places, with the presbytery described as a “landmark” making a “strong visual statement”.

Heritage has recently become a priority for the state government, with the recent passing of the Heritage and Planning Legislation Amendment 2010.

This legislation increased the penalties for neglecting or illegally developing heritage buildings to a maximum fine of $50,000 dollars a day and  $1 million  in the case of illegal stop work orders.

“Current penalties for illegal works on heritage-listed places are extremely low and offer little deterrence to deliberate destruction," according to Heritage Minister John Castrilli.

“With this legislation, properties which have been recognised for their heritage value through entry on the State Register of Heritage Places will be assured meaningful protection for current and future generations.”