Old Courthouse Fremantle

The Old Courthouse in Fremantle has opened its doors to the public, after being given a new lease of life as a sleek, chic bar with casual dining.

Located on Henderson Street in the new centre of Fremantle, the venue is the focal point of a hub that includes the Fremantle Markets, Fremantle Oval and Henderson Street car park.

It’s the latest venture for Karl and Janine Bullers, the husband-and-wife team behind the award-winning success of the National Hotel and its careful restoration after a 2007 fire.

The Old Courthouse was originally built in 1899 and served justice until its closure in 2001 before it was officially registered as a permanent heritage building in 2003 – but it became derelict in the years that followed.

North Fremantle’s Slavin Architects is responsible for the building’s re-design, building on a heritage report from the University of Notre Dame that influenced many aspects of the development.

Mr Bullers said The Old Courthouse redevelopment had taken three years, from idea to reality, with COVID providing a few challenges along the way.

“The building is integral to the fabric of Fremantle and a vital part of the port city’s history, so we wanted to do our very best to restore and re-purpose this amazing location to bring it back to life,” he said.