Adelaide Steamship House

Adelaide Steamship House
Street view from the corner of Phillimore Street
General information
Architectural style	Federation Free Classical
Address	10-12 Mouat Street
Town or city	Fremantle
Current tenants	The Port Counselling Centre
Construction started	1900
Completed	November 1900
Renovated	1947-48, 1991, 2006
Owner	Adelaide Steamship Company
Technical details
Floor count	2
Design and construction
Architecture firm	Oldham and Eales
Main contractor	C. Coghill
Renovating team
Architect	F.G.B. Hawkins
Awards and prizes	Commendation – 1993 Heritage Conservation and Property Value Awards

The Adelaide Steamship House is located at 10-12 Mouat Street, Fremantle. Built in 1900, the building was designed by Fremantle based architectural firm Charles Oldham and Herbert Eales and was constructed by C. Coghill. The building takes its name from the original owners of the building, the Adelaide Steamship Company, who provided sea passenger and freight services around Australia.

The Adelaide Steamship Company (ASC) was formed in September 1875 in Adelaide by a group of pastoralists and businessmen. In 1883 the ASC purchased two steamboats, the Otway and the Rob Roy from Anderson & Marshall and Lillie & Company securing the provision of services from Melbourne to Derby. Following the discovery of gold in the Kimberley in 1885, Pilbara in 1888, and Coolgardie-Kalgoorlie in 1892, the ASC further expanded its trading routes in Western Australia.

In 1883 the ASC established an office in Fremantle, initially with an agent and then with its own staff. The company originally leased offices in Fremantle at the corner of Cliff and Phillimore Streets. In 1900 the company purchased two properties in Mouat Street to construct their offices close to the Fremantle wharf. The ASC engaged a local architectural firm, Oldham and Eales to design the building. Construction was undertaken by Mr C. Coghill, a local North Fremantle builder, in the latter half of 1900. The building was completed by the end of November 1900 and the manager of Adelaide Steamship, William Ernest Moxon, and his staff took possession of the building. Moxon was appointed as the Western Australian manager of ASC in 1896 and continued in that role for over twenty years, until 1918, when he took the position of manager of the ASC's Queensland operations. During his tenure Moxon was the chairman of the Steamship Owners of Australasia, Fremantle Branch for fifteen years and for two years the president of the Fremantle Chamber of Commerce.