Fremantle’s National Hotel Raises the Bar on Rooftop Hospitality and Luxury Accommodation
The Western Australian port city of Fremantle’s iconic National Hotel, originally built in 1903, has made history once again with the launch of its much-anticipated rooftop bar and 12 luxurious hotel rooms.
Purchased under the guidance of Karl Bullers, part-owner and CEO of The Carnegies Group in 2012 as a shell of a building; the result of a devastating major fire in 2007, the opening of the rooftop bar and accommodation complete the last stage of the $7 million refurbishment of the National.
Having built the first rooftop bar in the Perth CBD at Carnegies back in 2011, Karl says the 360-degree view from the National is unparalleled in Fremantle and will astound both locals and international visitors alike. It has a panoramic view over the port city and right out to Rottenest and Garden Islands.
The rooftop was originally known as the Widow’s Walk and from here mariners’ wives waited for their loves ones to return to port, looking for the lights of ships on the horizon beyond Victoria Quay. The bar service area is located inside the rooftop turret on the corner of High and Market Streets, and patrons can enjoy the view from the 200sqm decked rooftop area. It is available for weddings, corporate bookings and private parties, and open to the public on Sundays from 12-8pm.
The upper floor development includes building 12 luxury, individually styled heritage ensuite rooms spread over two floors. Six feature 3.5 metre ceilings and a private veranda and six are in the eaves of the building with Parisian style views over the rooftops of Fremantle – no two rooms are the same. All rooms are accessible by the new lift and meet all the current stringent building codes.The rooms are very much about being boutique, original and local. The bathroom vanities and wardrobes are made from Marri by local furniture maker Port Jarrah Furniture in High Street. Hand-made beds feature in some rooms by the same furniture maker and one room nods to the history of the building with a beautiful Marri four-poster.
All rooms feature Bergamotto soaps made from natural ingredients here in Fremantle and those with free-standing baths feature their bath bombs Karl, who has overseen the room fit-outs says that “Heritage styling merges with modern convenience to bring Fremantle new hotel accommodation without compare.” Room prices range from $220 to $380 per night.
Other features of the luxuriously appointed rooms include:
- Mini fridge
- Room safe
- Filter coffee and tea making facilities
- Internet-connected digital smart TV
- Complimentary WIFI
- Desk / Dresser
- Hair dryer
- Individually controlled air-conditioning
- Double-glazing
- Access to the spectacular rooftop garden (subject to function bookings)
- Room service 12 hours a day minimum
- Sealy Posturepedic beds.
The four-storey staircase leading to the accommodation features an art gallery displaying rotating exhibitions by local artists, the first being appropriately titled “Local” that runs until January. Focusing on our WA spaces, how we live in them and how we relate to them the exhibition features the work of Jennifer Sulaj, Lizzie Marinko and Annette Orr. You can visit the Staircase Gallery when attending a rooftop event or it is open to the public on Saturdays from 11am to 4pm and on Sundays from 12pm to 8pm. Private viewing can be made by prior arrangement.
“Art will change every three months to ensure as many local artists as possible are given the opportunity to exhibit. Artists will be not charged a fee or commission to exhibit as the gallery is seen as another opportunity to showcase local talent to our patrons and guests,” Karl says.
Karl, who runs history tours of the hotel says its exciting new future is built on the foundations of a long and chequered past. The National first opened in 1887 and was demolished and rebuilt in 1903 in its current grand and opulent form.
The First landlord William Conroy shot and murdered a town councillor outside the brand-new Fremantle Town Hall during the opening night event. He was the last man hanged in Perth Gaol and stories abound around this including a botched attempt at his execution.
The National featured heavily in the history of the War Years – and there are stories of the deaths of brawling servicemen and other accidental deaths. Of the four fires over the years, the worst in 2007 almost wiped out half of the West End and a very bad one in 1975 destroyed the top floor.
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