Fremantle Technical College 1901 to ----

In the 1890s evening technical classes were arranged by the Locomotive Department and then by Fremantle Boy's Public School. An article published in the Daily News on 7 February 1899 provides a brief history of Fremantle Technical Classes and mentions personal support by C. Y. O'Connor.

Following the opening of Perth Technical School in 1900, the Infants and Girls School in South Terrace was converted for use as the technical school for the port of Fremantle in circa 1901. The school for Infants and Girls was relocated at this time to larger and improved buildings at the newly constructed Princess May Girls School in Adelaide Terrace.

Plans in the early 1900s show that subjects such as carpentry, metallurgy, chemistry, cooking and laundry were taught at the Fremantle Technical School.

Enrolments in the technical schools and the popularity of technical education resulted in the establishment of a number of schools and centers around the metropolitan area and throughout the State. In 1910, the first purpose built technical school was constructed at St George’s Terrace, Perth. This was followed by the construction of a second technical school at South Terrace Fremantle, adjacent to the former Infants and Girls School, in 1912/1913.

The original buildings on South Terrace between Essex Street and Norfolk Street were adapted for a TAFE Maritime Studies School in 1983. When the Maritime School was relocated to South Mole in 1997, the buildings were again adapted for Fremantle TAFE's information centre and classrooms for overseas students. The single story former Infants and Girls School (1877/1878) and two story Fremantle Technical School (1913) continue to operate as educational facilities.

Sourced from Fremantle Technical College, Register of Heritage Places - Assessment Documentation, Heritage Council of Western Australia.