{{Short description|Former synagogue in Fremantle, Western Australia}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}} {{Use Australian English|date=December 2016}} {{Infobox religious building | name = Fremantle Synagogue | native_name = | native_name_lang = | image = Fremantle Synagogue South Tce Parry St.jpg | image_upright = 1.4 | alt = | caption = The former synagogue | map_type = Australia Perth | map_size = 250 | map_alt = | map_relief = 1 | map_caption = Location in {{WAcity|Perth}}, Western Australia | coordinates = {{coord|32|03|24.7|S|115|44|59.3|E|region:AU-WA_type:landmark|display=title,inline}} | coordinates_footnotes = | religious_affiliation = Judaism {{small|(former)}} | locale = | location = {{WAcity|Fremantle}}, Western Australia | rite = | tradition = | country = Australia | administration = | consecration_year = {{start date|1902}} | organisational_status = {{ubl|Synagogue {{small|(1902–1908)}}|{{nowrap|Retail stores {{small|(since 1924)}}}}}}<!-- or | organizational_status = --> | functional_status = {{ubl|'''Closed''' {{small|(as a synagogue)}};|Repurposed}} | heritage_designation = | ownership = | governing_body = | leadership = | bhattaraka = | patron = | religious_features_label = | religious_features = | architect = Oldham and Eales | architecture_type = {{nowrap|Synagogue architecture}} | architecture_style = Romanesque Revival | founded_by = | creator = | funded_by = | general_contractor = J. McCracken | established = 1887 {{small|(as a congregation)}} | groundbreaking = {{start date|1902|01|08|df=y}} | year_completed = {{start date and age|1902}} | construction_cost = | date_demolished = <!-- or | date_destroyed = --> | facade_direction = | capacity = | length = | width = | width_nave = | interior_area = | height_max = | site_area = | temple_quantity = | monument_quantity = | shrine_quantity = | inscriptions = | materials = | elevation_m = <!-- or | elevation_ft = --> | elevation_footnotes = | nrhp = | designated = | added = | refnum = | footnotes = | website = {{Infobox designation list | embed = yes | designation1 = State Register of Heritage Places | designation1_offname = | designation1_type = State Registered Place | designation1_criteria = | designation1_date = 16 November 1993 | delisted1_date = | designation1_partof = | designation1_number = {{SRHP|1010}} }} }}
The '''Fremantle Synagogue''' is a heritage listed building located on South Terrace on the corner of Parry Street in Fremantle, Western Australia. It is the oldest extant synagogue building in Western Australia and was associated with Jewish community leaders and merchants in Fremantle at the end of the 19th century.<ref name=her>{{cite web|url=http://inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au/Public/Inventory/Details/98409d1f-d1ee-4252-a143-ae7342730394|title=Fremantle Synagogue (fmr)|accessdate=21 December 2016|date=24 June 2016|publisher=Heritage Council of Western Australia|work=InHerit}}</ref><ref name=ga>{{cite web|url=http://galusaustralis.com/2014/10/8437/heritage-to-be-found/|title=Heritage to be found|first1=Alex |last1=Kats|date=8 October 2014|publisher=Galus Australia|accessdate=21 December 2016}}</ref> The building is also known as '''Beers building'''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMH1TP_1924_Beers_Building_Fremantle|title=1924 Beers Building Fremantle|accessdate=23 December 2016|publisher=waymarking.com}}</ref><ref name=fs/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mingor.net/localities/fremantle-central.html|title=Fremantle – Central City|accessdate=23 December 2016|publisher=Mingor.net}}</ref>
==Use as a synagogue == Laurence Alexander, the manager of Falk and Company, was elected president of the first Jewish congregation established in Fremantle in August 1887. Henry Seeligson acted as lay reader, from September 1888 when weekly meetings were commenced<ref name=her/> in the barracks on South Terrace.<ref name=fs>{{cite web|url=http://fremantlestuff.info/buildings/synagogue.html|title=Synagogue|accessdate=21 December 2016|publisher=Fremantle Stuff}}</ref> Land was set aside for the purpose of building a synagogue in Fremantle in 1891.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3023162 |title=Government Gazette|newspaper=The West Australian |volume=7 |issue=1,722 |location=Western Australia |date=7 August 1891 |accessdate=21 December 2016 |page=6 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> The current site was vested with Elias Solomon and W.F. Samson as trustees for the Jewish congregation in April 1896.<ref name=her/> A service with the Jewish Minister of Perth, Rabbi B. Freedman, was held at the synagogue site in 1897.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3110510 |title=News and notes |newspaper=The West Australian |volume=13 |issue=3,473 |location=Western Australia |date=12 April 1897 |accessdate=21 December 2016 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Fundraising for the synagogue was being held with a building committee formed in 1900, with plans being approved and put out for tender. In 1901 the synagogue president was Charles Nathan and the honorary minister was Elias Cohen.<ref name=R2>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article132391741 |title=Freemantle (W.A.) |newspaper=The Hebrew Standard Of Australasia |volume=6 |issue=7 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=30 August 1901 |accessdate=21 December 2016 |page=7 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
The building was designed by the architects, Oldham and Eales,<ref name=her/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article24761747 |title=Advertising |newspaper=The West Australian |volume=17 |issue=4,877 |location=Western Australia |date=23 October 1901 |accessdate=21 December 2016 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> and built by J McCracken. The foundation stone was laid on 8 January 1902 by Solomon, by then the Federal Member for Fremantle, a former mayor of Fremantle and a trustee of the congregation.<ref name=her/> The inscription on the stone reads:<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article37798220 |title=Hebrew |newspaper=Western Mail |volume=XVII |issue=838 |location=Western Australia |date=18 January 1902 |accessdate=21 December 2016 |page=43 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> {{blockquote |text=Fremantle Hebrew Congregation. This stone was laid by E. Solomon, Esq., J.P., M.P.. on January 8, 1902. Teves 29th, 5662. C. S. Nathan, President. Oldham and Eales, architects.}} The building was completed a few months later and a consecration service was held on 31 August 1902 led by the reader S. Miller who spoke {{blockquote |text=Open unto the one the gates of the righteousness; I will enter them and bless the Lord.}} He then entered the synagogue followed by the wardens and proceeded to the ark reciting a prayer. They then circuited around the room three times chanting psalms, after which the Sefer Torah was placed in the ark and the perpetual lamp was lit. The remainder of the service was then held. The treasurer of the building fund, L. Alexander, then reported that the land had cost £1750, the building cost £850, making a total of £2600, on which there was a liability remaining of £500.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article132392118 |title=Western Australia |newspaper=The Hebrew Standard Of Australasia |volume=7 |issue=10 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=19 September 1902 |accessdate=21 December 2016 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article149616778 |title=Western Australia. The Fremantle Synagogue – Consecration service.|newspaper=Jewish Herald |volume=XXIII |issue=589 |location=Victoria, Australia |date=26 September 1902 |accessdate=21 December 2016 |page=8 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
By 1908 services were no longer held in the building and in 1910 the majority of the state's Jewish population had moved to Perth, joining the Perth Hebrew Congregation, and the synagogue was closed permanently.<ref name=fs/><ref name=ga/> Meetings among the community had been held in 1909 discussing the disposal of the property.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article120606956 |title=West Australian Topics |newspaper=The Hebrew Standard Of Australasia |volume=14 |issue=14 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=8 October 1909 |accessdate=21 December 2016 |page=13 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
== Subsequent use == The building was sold in 1916<ref name=ga/> to the federal government for £A{{nbsp}}850 as an annexe to the general hospital where it was converted into a ward.<ref name=R1>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article76438042 |title=Once it was a Synagogue |newspaper=The Mirror |issue=184 |location=Western Australia |date=28 February 1925 |accessdate=21 December 2016 |page=10 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article147340612 |title=Perth Hebrew Congregation |newspaper=Jewish Herald |volume=XXXVII |issue=951 |location=Victoria, Australia |date=11 August 1916 |accessdate=21 December 2016 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> It was later acquired by William Beer in 1922 and by 1924 he was operating an auction mart from the site.<ref name=fs/>
The Fremantle City Council acquired the building in 1969 and leased it for various commercial purposes including Barri's Rugs, a gallery, a clothing outlet named Skid Rose and various cafes. The Council sold the building in 2004.<ref name=fs/>
==See also== * List of synagogues in Australia * List of heritage places in Fremantle
==References== {{Reflist |30em}}
{{Subject bar |auto=y |portal1=Western Australia |portal2=Judaism }} {{Synagogues in Australia}}
Category:Former synagogues in Australia Category:South Terrace, Fremantle Category:Parry Street, Fremantle Category:Heritage places in Fremantle Category:1902 establishments in Australia Category:1908 disestablishments in Australia Category:Synagogues completed in 1902 Category:State Register of Heritage Places in the City of Fremantle Category:1910 disestablishments in Australia Category:20th-century synagogues in Australia Category:Retail buildings in Western Australia