A new custom-made wooden carriage has given a new lease of life to the famous cannon at Fremantle’s historic Round House.
From 1900 until 1937 a cannon at Arthur Head was fired at precisely one o’clock, in conjunction with the dropping of a ‘time ball’, to enable vessels moored offshore to verify the setting of their chronometer.
The practice ended in 1937 when it was superseded by radio signals, but the tradition was re-established in 1988 for the enjoyment of visitors to Fremantle.
The previous gun carriage dated back to 1955 and was showing its age.
The new gun carriage was built by local carpenter Justin Elvin from the City of Fremantle’s maintenance contractor AE Hoskins.
It was made from reclaimed WA jarrah and took Justin a week to build in a friend’s Fremantle workshop.
In recognition of his outstanding craftsmanship, Justin had the honour of being the first person to fire the cannon on its new carriage.
“I was 95 per cent confident, but I admit I did have a few nerves about how the carriage would perform,” Justin said.
“As soon as the Round House guides told me there was no recoil from the gun I knew it was going to be fine!”
As part of his work for AE Hoskins, Justin was also responsible for the recent restoration of the timber doors and windows at the Round House.
He said it was special to be able to work on such a significant piece of Western Australia’s heritage.
“To begin with it never really occurred to me, but my partner said a few times that it was amazing to be a part of it and to leave a little mark on Freo,” Justin said.
“I’ve only ever lived in Freo since I moved here from Wales 24 years ago. I came out as a backpacker and never left.
“At the time I was making the gun carriage it was just another thing, but since finishing it I’ve realised that it’s really important to people.
“I’m really proud to have made it.”
The new gun carriage is part of a package of recent maintenance and conservation works undertaken by the City of Fremantle at Western Australia’s oldest public building.
Other works have included the restoration of timber doors, windows, lintels and stairs, repairs to internal masonry buttresses and the repointing of the well inside the Round House courtyard.
Conservation works to the external outhouse located behind the pilot’s cottages are currently underway, while the bakery door is set to be replaced with impact resistant glass designed to allow more ventilation and reduce humidity.
