Audiences can now enjoy a performance at Fremantle Town Hall in the comfort of the iconic building's newly refurbished balcony.
The $600,000 project to upgrade the balcony area and increase the venue's capacity is now complete.
Builders from heritage restoration specialists, CLPM, re-levelled the tiers, increased the balustrade height, installed new seats, handrails, carpet, and floor lighting and completed general restoration works.
One of the new features is an area for patrons with accessibility needs and their companions, with lift access from the adjacent Walyalup Civic Centre building.
A row of seats from when the balcony was added in 1895 and a row of seats and seat ends from the art deco period have been refurbished and retained for display purposes.
The City is currently deciding what to do with the remaining seating components salvaged during the works, which are currently stored in the City's Civic Collection.
Fremantle Mayor Hannah Fitzhardinge said the project will help ensure the future viability of the venue.
"Council has committed to a comprehensive, staged program of works so that this grand old dame can be used to her full potential by the community for another century and beyond."
The Fremantle Town Hall is one of Fremantle's most iconic historic buildings and has been the place for many a community event over its 138-year history.
The heritage-listed building first opened in 1887 and is one of Perth's best examples of Victorian Free Classical style architecture.
The balcony project was made possible by a Commonwealth Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program grant from the Federal Government.
Federal Member for Fremantle, Josh Wilson MP said "I was delighted to deliver almost $294,000 for the City of Fremantle's Town Hall balcony restoration project to ensure that this civic treasure can continue to be a key place of meeting, culture, celebration, and activism far into the future."
Across four funding rounds, the $3.25 billion Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program has delivered $2.19 million to City of Fremantle community infrastructure projects.
"Not too long ago, Commonwealth funding to towns, councils, and shires, focused only on fixing local roads. I am glad to have played a role in shifting the dial to include community infrastructure projects like this one because local governments do vital work in hearing from and responding to the needs of communities," Mr Wilson said.
The City has plans for upgrades to the Town Hall building services, audio visual infrastructure and interior, subject to the approval of future annual budgets.
