Fremantle inner harbour redevelopment approved after decade of planning

The Fremantle inner harbour redevelopment has cleared its final planning hurdle after the WA Planning Commission approved the Victoria Quay Development Framework, unlocking more than a decade of planning work and paving the way for the transformation of Fremantle's historic port waterfront into a new mixed-use precinct.

The approved framework provides for 1,800 new dwellings across a mix of apartments and townhouses, a 220-room hotel at the southern end of Victoria Quay, a relocated and expanded WA Maritime Museum with direct sea access, and 12,000 square metres of retail and hospitality at ground level along a continuous waterfront promenade.

Fremantle mayor Hannah Fitzhardinge said the approval was a historic moment for the city, but warned that implementation would require careful governance to ensure the development enhanced rather than overwhelmed the port's distinctive heritage character. "Fremantle's soul is in the limestone buildings, the working port atmosphere, the grit and the character. This development has to honour that," she said.

The Fremantle Port Authority, which controls the majority of the development land, confirmed it had engaged Lendlease and Mirvac to negotiate a joint venture development structure, with a preferred developer announcement expected in the next quarter. A design competition for the hotel and museum precinct will be held separately, with international firms invited to participate.

Works on the public domain and infrastructure — the foreshore promenade, new road connections, and utility upgrades — are expected to begin before the private development phases, with the council and state government contributing a combined $85 million to the public works.

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