ApartmentsChris ThomsonFri 24 Jul 26
North Fremantle Homes Greenlit Despite Noise of Celebrated Rock Bar
A boutique apartments project slated for a long-vacant site at North Fremantle has been greenlit despite concerns that noise complaints from future residents could harm an internationally significant hub of rock music across the street.
GJJ Property’s plans for a three-storey mixed-use development—for the former site of a service station that for 40 years has laid dormant—was approved by Western Australia’s metro inner development assessment panel on July 22.
The project comprises three retail premises (totalling 396sq m) and two offices (totalling 165sq m) on the ground floor, six “boutique” two-storey apartments across the top two levels, 34 at-grade parking bays and 14 bicycle spaces.
GJJ, directed by Perth-based Gary Johnson and Shannon Bell, aims to consolidate a 1518sq m block at 220 Queen Victoria Street and a 585sq m lot at 6 Burns Street.
Across Queen Victoria Street from the planned development is Mojo’s Bar which, since it opened as The Stoned Crow in the 1970s, has been an internationally significant hub of rock and pop music.
Ahead of the panel meeting, one objector said noise complaints from future residents of the $6.75-million complex would threaten the “cultural institution” that has hosted hundreds of music acts.
Bands and performers that have played Mojo’s include WA-grown John Butler, The Triffids, Jebediah, Tame Impala, the Farriss Brothers (that morphed into INXS) and The Valentines (the pre-AC/DC band of the late Bon Scott, a one-time North-Fremantle local).
In a 349-page report to the panel that mentioned Mojo’s 17 times, City of Fremantle planner Chloe Johnston said GJJ had located living spaces away from the celebrated pop and rock music venue. Johnston said the project would also have masonry walls and limited window openings to keep the venue’s noise out.
“The proposal has been designed to balance noise impact from a significant Fremantle entertainment venue (Mojo’s Bar ...) as well as noise from road and [the Port of Fremantle’s] operations,” she said.
“It is considered that these provisions will effectively address impact from surrounding noise generating sources, including Mojo’s.”
During the project’s public submission phase, 14 objections and 14 supporting submissions were received.
One submitter who supported the project nevertheless said they hoped it would not “impact the likes of local institution Mojos”.
“Thank God someone wants to develop this block and has put forward what looks to be a sensible proposal!; not some skyscraping ridiculous tower,” the submitter said.
The development has been designed by Matthew Crawford Architects, which occupies a 1980s-built office at 6 Burns Street that would be demolished under the proposal.
Mojo’s and other hospitality venues make Queen Victoria Street the liveliest strip in a onetime working class suburb that since the 1980s has been largely gentrified.
