Last drinks for Freo’s old Rosie O’Grady’s
A gold rush-era Fremantle pub once owned by WA’s first premier is going back to its roots, with Rosie O’Grady’s to close after 30 years on William Street.
Rosie’s has been sold to an owner who intends to rebrand it under its original name The Federal Hotel.
The heritage-listed pub opened in 1887 but has traded as Rosie’s for three decades.
Sunday will be its last day under the Rosie’s banner.
The West Australian understands owner Chris Brockwell, whose pub interests include Moon & Sixpence and Elephant & Wheelbarrow, has sold the pub to Nikola Jurin, owner of the South Beach Hotel.
Details of the refurbishment and how long the pub will be closed are not known. Neither Mr Brockwell nor Mr Jurin could be contacted yesterday.
The three-storey hotel was designed by architect George Charles Inskip and built of stuccoed brickwork. An extension in 1904 included the verandahs that now sit over the pavement.
At the time it was built, The Federal was described in the press as being “far in advance of anything so far erected in Western Australia and equal to the best in the sister colonies”.
Between 1901 and 1907 it was owned by Alexander Forrest and Sir John Forrest.
The State Heritage Office described it as “very significant historically” and a good example of Victorian Free Classical design, complete with elaborate stucco decoration. It is also considered to be a place of social significant, as evidence by its classification by the National Trust.
It is the second historic Fremantle pub to face restoration in recent years. The nearby National Hotel reopened after a $4.5 million refurbishment two years ago, having been gutted by fire.
Rosie’s assistant manager Blaise Kalalo confirmed the business had been sold and said he was disappointed existing staff would not be kept on.
The sale only relates to the Fremantle site, not Rosie O’Grady’s in Northbridge.
Source: The West Australian, Kate Emery, 4th January 2016
