Giving old world New hope

Marylyn New, owner of the Fremantle Wool Store, has been ordered by the Fremantle council to repair the neglected building. She was hoping to develop the property into a joint apartment and office complex.

When property developer Marylyn New invested in the historic Fremantle Wool Store more than 10 years ago, she had no idea it would cause so much controversy and pain.

Fremantle, once a port township, is now a well-established, busy metropolitan suburb. Brimming with history, the building is a landmark of the State's wool industry and a reminder of when the area was just an export and storage provision.

"When I bought it, there were still wool bales inside and guard dogs, which were quite friendly," Ms New said.

"It was fun and interesting. The glass windows were already broken so I had them fixed, only to find they were broken again in no time. If I got the graffiti removed, it would be back the next day."

Fremantle council is forcing Ms New to repair the neglected building amid concerns it is a public health hazard and an eyesore.

Ms New said there has been a lot of misunderstanding and ignorance from the public about the development and, over the past 10 years, the Fremantle council had hindered any chance of her developing the building.

When Ms New bought the property, she developed stage one immediately. Five years later, she started designing stage two, which ended up taking three years of negotiation with the council. She loved the design, saying it was "heritage for the future" and that it would have lifted the bar for architecture in Fremantle.

"My greatest wish is to build grand apartments that will not be an eyesore but an asset to Fremantle," Ms New said.

The Heritage Council said the central part of the building, built around the 1950s, had no heritage value.

However, Ms New said she believed the 1920s end of the building was worth retaining. "I am yet to have development approval on any part of the building," she said.

"I wanted it built. I wanted it finished and they could have had something glorious but they stopped me."

Ms New's syndicate bought the property in 1998 and sold 32 apartments and eight offices in the first-stage development, known as the Victoria Quay complex.

But issues with design and Fremantle council's insistence to preserve the building's historic facades have stalled further work.

Acting planning committee chairman Cr Jon Strachan said the Wool Store had become "a cancer in the middle of Fremantle" and Ms New had a responsibility to develop the building.

"We've now come to the point where we believe that they are crumbling and are in a dangerous situation," he said.

Ms New, who also owns the Esplanade Hotel in Fremantle, said the window of opportunity had passed and she was no longer in a position to develop.

She said she wanted to sell again but that was now at least two years away.

"The building is still structurally sound and the asbestos is being removed soon," Ms New added.

The Fremantle Wool Store demonstrates the development of the WA wool industry post WWI. Ms New said she wanted to develop the building in a way that would bring out its historic beauty.

My greatest wish is to build grand apartments that will not be an eyesore but an asset to Fremantle

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