Port/dshed.html
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D Shed
David Hutchison, from Fremantle Walks:
This shed was erected in 1928-29, at the same time as E Shed. These two sheds replaced three earlier sheds, E, D and F. The simple form of construction of this and other sheds is complemented by a high standard of detailing for wharf architecture. Placed along the front of the quay the sheds have some aesthetic value and are visually significant in defining the interface between the river and the city. This is the oldest existing goods shed on the quay, having been built in 1903-04. It was extended in a westerly direction in 1912-13 to accommodate the largest interstate liners. The shed was widened in 1926-27, and its western end was reduced in length in 1985. As it is the only original shed (with modifications) to survive, it is a significant building. In 2005 it housed the office of Rottnest Express Ferries. There were plans to refurbish this building as part of the new commercial precinct.
D Shed, apparently unused, @ 22 May 2022, my snap.
Jack Kent describes D Shed in the 1991 report:
HISTORY
'D' Shed, in its present form, dates back to 1928/29 when both 'D' and 'E' Sheds were re-modelled as longer and wider sheds in place of three sheds, 'D' , 'E' and 'F' that occupied similar sites. It is likely that parts of these two 'new' sheds, or at least some of their building materials or elements were originally part of the previous sheds and were incorporated into the re-modelling. These alterations were to allow for the better storage of cargo being discharged by larger vessels. It is interesting to note that 'D' Shed has detailing and metal work that matches both 'C and 'E' Sheds or that conscious design efforts were made to sustain architectural continuity among the goods sheds.
CONSTRUCTION
'D' Shed is simple in form and construction, consisting of three main longitudinal compartments parallel with quayside. The timber roof trusses are supported on timber columns, the roof cover being corrugated asbestos sheeting, and the walls clad in a combination of weatherboards and corrugated pressed metal sheeting. (It is probable that the original materials were weatherboard and corrugated cast iron). An experimental timber roofing was tried out on D Shed in 1920 following the poor performance of corrugated iron roofs on the goods sheds. However, in 1924 the roof was proving unsuccessful due to the shrinkage of the timber boards. An elastic paint was applied to the roof in an attempt to rectify the problem. The original timber joinery is largely intact and in a fair state of repair. A canopy runs the whole length of the building on the land side, which is supported by large, decorative iron brackets.
ASSESSMENT OF CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE
The simple form and construction of D Shed is complemented by an unusually high standard of detailing for wharf architecture. The building, in essence, is industrial in character but is also attractive in its own right. It forms part of a group of similar wharf sheds that are constructed along the quayside and as such, are visually significant, both in terms of their aesthetic value and in defining the city centre and its interface with the Swan River.
Historically, the wharf goods sheds have been the most adaptable, and thereby successful survivors of the many buildings that have been constructed on the quay, and are consequently rich in physical evidence of past and present wharf activities. ' D' Shed (together with E Shed), best demonstrates this ongoing adaptability and wharf use, and remains as a very significant building on Victoria Quay.
D Shed @ 22 May 2022, my snap.
References and Links
Hutchison, David 1999, 'Shedding light on sheds in transit', Fremantle Studies, 1: 66-76.
Hutchison, David, 'Walk 1: Victoria Quay', Fremantle Walks.
Hutchison, David, Jack Kent, Agnieshka Kiera, Russell Kingdom, Larraine Stevens, Tanya Suba, 1991, Victoria Quay and its Architecture its History and Assessment of Cultural Significance, City of Fremantle; Part II: Jack Kent: 'Architectural evaluation of existing buldings and assessment of their cultural significance', 54 pp. These are pp. 28-29.
Sam Wilson's photo (cropped), from Wikipedia (top).
Garry Gillard | New: 20 May, 2022 | Now: 25 April, 2024
This page incorporates material from Garry Gillard's Freotopia website, that he started in 2014 and the contents of which he donated to Wikimedia Australia in 2024. The content was originally hosted at freotopia.org/port/dshed.html. The donated data is also preserved in the Internet Archive's collection.