BA2493/2895: Fremantle Biscuit Factory Apartments, corner of South Terrace and Jenkin Street, South Fremantle

Summary

Fremantle Biscuit Factory Apartments (Former Arnotts Mills and Wares Biscuit factory) corner of South Terrace and Jenkin St, South Fremantle. Imposingly situated on the corner of South Terrace and Jenkin St, as it is now known was built in 1898, and the Industrial Art Deco frontage was built in the 1930’s. It was built by William Mills and Henry Ware as the Mill’s and Ware’s Biscuit factory and later Arnott’s was an integral part of the history of Fremantle for over a hundred years. It was renovated into freehold apartments in the early 1990s. From State Heritage WA: The West Australian reported in May 1993 that the Mills & Wares site will be named the Biscuit Factory Village under a $12 million redevelopment plan, converting the factory site to a 40-home complex as well as warehouse style apartments and a commercial wing. It reports that the 24 000m2 site closed the previous year (1992). The development will include a 40 lot residential subdivision (on the factory’s car park), 5 studio apartments, 5 townhouses, a cafe/restaurant, a medical sports centre and retail shops. The original flour lofts (at 21 Jenkin Street) would be converted featuring some of the original architecture. A 6 metre jarrah water tower on the site was contentious.