The new Clubhouse became a social hub, but access to the water was limited. A steep slipway provided by the Council proved difficult to use, and after a few winters, it disappeared. Members instead used a nearby Council slipway opposite Mews Boatyard. Racing still continued, with Club Member Phil White famously carrying the flagpole to the jetty every Saturday drawing plenty of comments along the way.

Membership grew steadily, aided by a rule requiring each competing boat to carry three financial Members. However, the Great Depression caused a temporary decline as some were forced to leave the ocean in search of work.

Life Member Noel Sweetman, who was 10 years old in 1938, fondly recalls:

“As a child, all the kids around the beach used to become what they call ‘bailer boys’… you’d be bailing all the time when they were sailing up against the wind because there’s just water coming in all the time. They were semi-open boats… If you could get a bailer boy’s job you were made! You were somebody!”

To raise funds, the Club ran weekly dances first with the South Fremantle Swimming Club and later independently at the RSL Hall, known as the Palais de Dance, with Gran Hickling as Master of Ceremonies.

The Scott Street Clubhouse had its quirks. Built on a former rubbish tip, it was said to smell of old fish, with cans popping on hot days. Warped timbers and a stubborn sliding door added to the charm—sometimes needing a strong southerly buster to straighten things out. And as legend has it, the local Highland Pipe Band may have “blown it to pieces

In 1939, two blocks of land on Louisa and Railway Streets were purchased for £105 by Commodore Joseph Banks Cooper and Robert Samuel Cook, who held them in trust for Fremantle Sailing Club. By 1947, full ownership was transferred to the Club.

During WWII, the original Clubhouse was demolished due to security concerns, and many Members served in the war some never returning. Membership dropped to just seven paying Members at one point, though servicemen were granted honorary status.

After the war, Members rallied together. The Louisa Street land was levelled by volunteers, and with help from Fremantle Council, the Club secured an ex-Army building from North Quay. Contractors moved it, and Members transformed it into a new Clubhouse complete with relined walls, rewiring, and even a piano before the floor was laid.

In 1946, the land was officially transferred to the Club as freehold, enabling Fremantle Sailing Club to become an incorporated body in 1947.

Despite some initial resistance, a Ladies Auxiliary was formed and played a vital role in the new Clubhouse, which featured a dance hall, kitchen, toilet facilities, committee room, and office. Officially opened in November 1947, the Clubhouse became a lively hub, with weekly dances attracting large crowds and generating much-needed income to help cover building and relocation costs.

Access to the water was essential for the Club’s growth. After navigating considerable red tape, permission was granted to construct a slipway, with the fleet mostly moored at the foot of Louisa Street. To support boat storage needs, the Club purchased the former Castlemaine Bottling Works in East Fremantle, which Members dismantled, transported, and rebuilt next to the Clubhouse through dedicated busy bees.

The construction of Fishing Boat Harbour in 1962, which took three years, created difficulties for Club boats in accessing the ocean and as a result fleet numbers dropped. Worse still, when the slipway was bulldozed, the Club had no waterfront facilities whatsoever, regular racing was suspended and sailing virtually ceased at the Club. Membership took a dramatic down-turn again as sailors transferred to river clubs or stopped sailing completely.

Assisted by a boom in powerboating, the Club eventually gained permission to use the launching ramp recently constructed within the new Fishing Boat Harbour. There was a rapid increase in Membership, mostly powerboat owners keen to take advantage of the easy access to the ocean. Several Club sections started in the years that followed.

The Western Australian 150th Anniversary Celebrations and an international yacht race provided the impetus for Success Harbour and a new Clubhouse to be built. The Parmelia Yacht Race from Plymouth, England to Fremantle was named after Parmelia which brought the first free settlers to the Swan River Colony in 1829. It was a highlight of the 150th celebrations but it needed a marina to host the visiting yachts. The fastest Parmelia Race yacht, Independent Endeavour, arrived at the finish line in the Fremantle Port Harbour in November 1979.

In 1977, the site for the Club covered 18 hectares of water and 6 hectares of reclaimed land. Work commenced in 1978 and when completed, the dream of Fremantle Sailing Club having its own harbour came true. The Clubhouse opened for business in 1979 with Premier Sir Charles Court, unveiling a plaque in December of that year. It was a rather premature opening, because the fitting out of the Clubhouse and landscaping continuing into the late 1980s.

The WA 150th Celebrations and an international yacht race provided the impetus for Success Harbour and a new Club House. The Parmelia Yacht Race, which ended in Fremantle, was named after the Parmelia which brought the first free settlers to the Swan River Colony in 1829. It was a highlight of the 150th celebrations but it needed a marina to host the visiting yachts. The fastest Parmelia Race yacht, Independent Endeavour arrived at the finish line in the Fremantle Port Harbour in November 1979.

The site for the Club decided in 1977 covered 18 hectares of water and 6 hectares of reclaimed land. In 1978 work commenced and when completed the dream of Fremantle Sailing Club having its own harbour came true. The Clubhouse opened for business late 1979 with Premier Sir Charles Court, unveiling a plaque in December of that year. It was a rather premature opening with fitting out of the Clubhouse and landscaping continuing into the late 1980s.

Milestones & Memories is a comprehensive tribute to the people, stories and legacy of Fremantle Sailing Club. Compiled by long-standing Club Member and Archives Chair Carolyn Jupp, this beautifully researched publication brings together more than 150 years of history, from the Club’s earliest sailing days through to modern milestones, drawing on archival records, photographs, newspaper clippings and first-hand accounts.

This eBook is the result of many years of dedicated work by the Archives and History Committee and is proudly shared as part of our commitment to preserving Fremantle Sailing Club’s rich maritime heritage.

The Evolution of Fremantle Sailing Club Bosuns documents the early history of the Bosuns and the establishment of the Bosuns Section. However, it is more than the history of a club section — it is a testament to the quiet power of all the volunteers who maintain the machinery, culture and soul of the Fremantle Sailing Club. This account, written by long-standing member Tony Henderson, drew on archival records, the lived experiences of members and his many years’ experience as a Bosun.

Fremantle Sailing Club’s history has been carefully and lovingly curated by dedicated Members committed to preserving the Club’s legacy and the stories of those with long-standing involvement. Their work ensures our rich maritime heritage continues to inspire future generations.

Fremantle Sailing Club gratefully acknowledges the generosity of Members past and present, as well as the invaluable support of the Fremantle City Library Archives. We also extend our deepest appreciation to the former Archives and History Committee, whose dedication and vision were instrumental in curating and safeguarding the Cub’s historical record. Their efforts have laid the foundation for preserving our heritage for years to come.

If you have photographs, documents, stories or information that may contribute to the Club’s historical record, we would love to hear from you. Please contact us at ea@fsc.com.au or leave your details at Reception, marked for the Archives.