Fremantle Port Authority

Port authority for the port of Fremantle, Western Australia

Fremantle Ports building with harbour control on the top, and statue of C. Y. O'Connor

Fremantle Port Authority, also known by its registered business name Fremantle Ports,[1] is the responsible authority created under the Western Australian Port Authorities Act 1999.[2]

## Harbour administration

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In August 1829 the Fremantle Harbour Master position was created and the first incumbent was Captain Mark John Currie, serving for three years before leaving the colony in 1832. He was succeeded by Daniel Scott, who served for eighteen years as harbourmaster until he resigned in 1850. Captain James Harding was appointed acting harbourmaster of Fremantle, upon the resignation of Scott and the position was confirmed in 1852. Harding drowned in June 1867 attempting to assist a sinking vessel, Strathmore, near Garden Island.[3] Following Harding's death Captain George J. Butcher was acting harbourmaster. The position was filled in 1868 by Lieutenant James Nias Croke, who served until 1874. He was replaced by Captain George Forsyth. In January 1880 as a result of the formation of the Harbour and Light Department, the position of Chief Harbour Master of the Colony of Western Australia was created,[4] with Forsyth, the serving Fremantle harbor master taking on the position, until he was dismissed in 1886. Charles Russell was then appointed as Chief Harbour Master, serving until 1902.[5]

### Fremantle Harbour Trust

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In 1903 Fremantle Harbour Trust was created with five commissioners, three commissioners to be appointed by the Governor with the remaining two positions appointed by the Fremantle Chamber of Commerce and the Perth Chamber of Commerce respectively, chairman of the Trust was then appointed by the Governor.[6] The first formal meeting of the Fremantle Harbour Trust commissioners occurred on 5 January 1903 in the Dalgety Building, the original board of commissioners were R. Laurie (chairman), C. Hudson, William Sandover, A. Leeds, and T. Coombe. At that time resident Engineer of Harbour works was W. Leslie and harbour master was Captain Charles James Irvine, both of whom were present for the meeting.[7] They took over operations of Fremantle pilot services commissioning the Lady Forrest in August 1903.

### Fremantle Port Authority

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The Fremantle Harbour Trust ceased in November 1964, and was replaced by the Fremantle Port Authority.[8]

## Events

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Fremantle Ports in collaboration with the Fremantle City Council and other bodies holds an annual Fremantle maritime day.[9]

## Harbourmasters

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List of Fremantle harbourmasters  Name  | Start date  | End date

|
|

Mark John Currie | 1829  | 1832
Daniel Scott | 1839  | 1851
James Harding[3] | 1851  | 1867
George J. Butcher (acting)  | 1867  | 1868
James Nias Croke | 1868  | 1874
George Forsyth | 1874  | 1886
Charles Russell[5] | 1886  | 1902
Charles James Irvine | 1902  | 1916
John Frances Morrison (acting)  | 1917  | 1921
Harold Stephens Nicholas  | 1921  | 1937
William Raymond Clack  | 1937  | 1940
Willie Kenneth Saunders  | 1940  | 1945
Albert Ernest Trivett  | 1945  | 1953
Forrest H. B. Humble  | 1953  | 1965
Alexander B. Brackenridge  | 1965  | 1968
John Adams  | 1968  | 1972
Robert S. Campbell  | 1972  | 1976
Michael Coleman  | 1976  | 1986
John Barron  | 1986  | 1988
Eric J. Atkinson  | 1988  | 2008
Allan J. M. Gray  | 2008  | present

## References

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1. ^ "Fremantle Ports is the strategic manager of the Port of Fremantle". Fremantle Ports. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
2. ^ "Western Australian Legislation". Port Authorities Act 1999. State Law Publisher. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
3. ^ a b "Loss of the Harbour Master and his Crew". The Perth Gazette and West Australian Times. Vol. 3, no. 40\. Western Australia. 5 July 1867. p. 3. Retrieved 19 June 2019 - via National Library of Australia.
4. ^ "AU WA A757 – Harbour Master – Fremantle". State Records Office of WA. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
5. ^ a b Captain Charles Robert Russell, Harbour Master Fremantle 1886–1902, 1900, retrieved 3 October 2014
6. ^ "PROPOSED FREMANTLE HARBOUR TRUST". The West Australian. Perth. 29 August 1902. p. 6. Retrieved 25 August 2013 - via National Library of Australia.
7. ^ "FREMANTLE HARBOUR TRUST". The West Australian. Perth. 6 January 1903. p. 4. Retrieved 25 August 2013 - via National Library of Australia.
8. ^ "AU WA A72 – Fremantle Port Authority". State Records Office of WA. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
9. ^ Reynolds, Linda (1 November 2019), Navy key draw card at Fremantle Maritime Day, retrieved 28 August 2021