Grants bring Fremantle Press closer to activating heritage building
Fremantle Press took a further step towards celebrating its 50th anniversary in its new building with the announcement of additional funding.
The organisation has secured a Lotterywest grant worth $722,226 for the fit-out of the historic SEC Substation at 10 Parry Street, Fremantle, which takes the press to within $500,000 of its total fundraising goal. In June, the press announced the WA state government had contributed $500,000 for the move, as previously reported by Books+Publishing.
Fremantle Press chair Clair Medhurst said she was “elated” to have secured Lotterywest support and excited to see the iconic heritage building occupied and activated by the publisher’s 50th Anniversary.
Medhurst said, “After almost a decade of working towards a permanent home, which at times felt like a pipedream, we’re excited to be breaking ground and getting started. Nothing has given me more pleasure than seeing the signage go up, letting everyone know we’re on the move.”
The newly released fit-out plans include a dedicated podcast room, a place to house 50 years’ worth of published books, space for partner organisations and interns, and room to grow the business sustainably and accessibly.
CEO Alex Allan said the Fremantle Press Building Fund had received another significant boost in the form of $50,000 in matched funding through Creative Australia’s Plus1 program, with every dollar pledged before May 2026 effectively doubled. Allan said, “We had this vision of an open and accessible space connecting storytellers with readers – and now we’re so close to reaching our goal, I can smell the fresh paint! We’re inviting every WA reader to be a part of the stories that move us by donating to the campaign.”
Creative Australia state manager for development and partnerships (WA) James Boyd said, “Over the past five decades Fremantle Press has become an independent publishing house of national significance. Now the Press will have space to grow, space to increase its impact and space to foster greater connections between storytellers and their audience. We’re proud to play a role in securing the Press’s first permanent home.“
Lotterywest joins Adrian and Michela Fini, the State Government, Wright Burt Foundation and a list of generous financial and pro bono supporters helping make the building project possible, according to Fremantle Press.
Fremantle Press was set up as a not-for-profit organisation in 1976 and originally known as Fremantle Arts Centre Press. The publisher intends to celebrate its 50th anniversary with an Open Day and an evening event at 10 Parry Street on Friday 24 April 2026.
More information is available on the Fremantle Press website.
Category: Local news
