Heritage hotel rises from ashes

The construction and restoration of the ground and first floors is nearing completion following the 2007 fire that gutted the heritage building.

The newly refurbished hotel, which was purchased by the Carnegie’s International Group (CIG) in 2012, will include a 56-seat alfresco drinking and dining strip on High Street, an open plan kitchen to service the restaurant, a rooftop garden and a beer cellar.

CIG Chief Executive Karl Bullers said a grand opening was set for January.

‘This has been a difficult and drawn out project but the end result is quite spectacular,’ he said.

‘A lot of effort and money has gone into restoring the heritage of the building such as the ceilings throughout the ground floor and the antique fireplaces that survived the fire have been stripped back and look amazing.

‘The National Hotel is at the very centre of Fremantle and it has a history as colourful as Fremantle itself.

‘Historically it was a meeting point for the local community and it will be again once we re-open.’