Billionaire’s ‘Transformational’ Fremantle Hotel Approved

Mining billionaire Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest’s plans to build a 150-key hotel and laneway at Fremantle have been waved ahead.

The plans filed within the City of Fremantle were described by the WA Metro Inner Development Assessment Panel as “transformational” and an improvement on the 2022 proposal.

The scheme by Forrest’s development company Fiveight includes a six-storey hotel with ground-level amenities and Spicers Lane designed by Woods Bagot.

Fremantle is about 22km south-west of the Perth CBD by road.

The hotel scheme is a nod to the 1899 Spicers building originally on the 2834sq m site. It was demolished more than 50 years ago. 

Fiveight paid $7.6 million for the 10 Henderson Street property in 2022 and submitted plans for a six-storey hotel of 117 rooms and different facade, which was also approved.

Under its approval for the new plan, the WA Development Assessment Panel gave Fiveight four years to build the project and said while the height exceeded provisions, it was appropriate for the site. 

“The panel agreed this is a very high-quality proposal for a site that needs development,” it said. 

“This was reflected in its inclusion as one of the 12 strategic sites that formed the basis of Amendment 49 to the City’s planning scheme. 

▲ A rendering of the hotel pool for the project at Fremantle.

“The design is an improvement on the proposal previously approved, both in terms of its scale and its presentation to both William and Henderson streets.

“This development will be transformational for this part of Fremantle.”

The project was one of three large-scale projects approved during the Town of Victoria Park, City of Belmont and City of Fremantle meeting held on November 4.

Also greenlit was SKS Group’s plans to amend a 20-storey building of 119 apartments at Hawthorne Place, Burswood, and a community housing provider’s plans for its Lot 888 scheme of 108 apartments at Hawksburn Road, Rivervale.