7 Pakenham Street (pre 1938 - 37 Pakenham Street)
Notre Dame University ND48 - Vacuum Oil Company
Architecture: Building no 7 is a two storey brick façade only. There is a large brick office complex behind it, extending along facades of nos. 5 - 9 Pakenham Street. The façade features a parapet with a decorative pediment, stucco decorative skirts under the stucco arched architraves over the windows, and ashlar effect pilasters on the ground floor.
1840 To be sold by Auction, By Messrs. L. & W. Samson. At Fremantle, that substantially built stone house on Lot No. 100 Packenham Street, lately occupied by Messrs. Watson and Bigge, at a rental of £70 per annum... see description of original house owned by W. Lamb. (Reference)
1829- 1840 Lot 100 owned by W Lamb was then transferred to Hackett (1855-1858), then John Gallop (1859-1878).
c.1880 Mr. Hitchcock's Reminiscences on early days in Fremantle: “…we come to the residence of Mrs. McCann, which stood nearly opposite the present Terminus Hotel. In front was a magnificent fig tree, and in the verandah a talking cockatoo. When the tempting fruit attracted the attention of the passing small boy and impelled him to commit the sin which Eve succumbed to with such disastrous consequences, his depredations would be cut short by the cockatoo's ejaculating in a voice almost human, "Stealing figs, Mrs. McCann!" This brought the old lady out instanter, and woe to the youthful marauder if she arrived on the scene in time to cut off his retreat.” (reference)
From 1899 until 1902 was occupied by Ho, John Sang (storekeepers). Ho John Sang was among many Chinese storeowners who donated to the Indian Famine Fund in 1900. (reference)
in 1903 it was purchased by the Strelitz Bros. (bio link), who built a new two storey building by Architect Joseph Allen.
The building was occupied by the Vacuum Oil Company until 1915.
The Vaccuum Oil Company of Australasia (est 1895) sold lubricating oil, kerosene, candles, linseed oil, graphite, and paints and was renowned for using boys to do their packing. See an article about a fire, which destroyed their premises in their Nairn St in 1904… (reference) and calls for them to pay a ‘living wage’ to the 27 lads they employed. (reference)
1905 A veracious little cock-robin informs me that an incipient strike occurred at the Vacuum Oil Company's store in Packenham street on Tuesday last. This wealthy organisation, allegedly of American origin, has the reputation of running its lucrative business almost entirely with boy and girl labor, and of sweating them in the process. Anyhow, all the employees at Packenham street are youths and juveniles of ages ranging from 13 to 17 and 18 years of age. A week or so ago someone "pinched” a sponge or a sweater from the stores, of the intrinsic value of Is.6d. The culprit refused to own up, so the enterprising manager (Mr. Lewis) surmounted the difficulty by the simple expedient of fining the whole of the staff Is.6d. each last payday. But the democratic young vagabonds bucked wildly at the aspersions cast upon their character, and expressed their objections to the reflection and fine by coming out on strike. They held out for three hours, and as they exhibited no sign of wavering Mr. Manager Lewis backed down, paid each of them the amount deducted from their weekly subs., and took them to his palpitating bosom once again. The incident pourtrays Mr. Lewis in a most discreditable light, and as I have had several complaints of a similar character made to me respecting Mr. Lewis’s niggardly and oppressive methods, I propose to give him one to go on with at an early date. (reference)
In 1913 workers went on strike over low pay at the company’s North Fremantle premises. (reference) In 1913 Vacuum Oil was granted approval by Council to build ‘‘large oil stores’’ at North Fremantle. (reference) and in 1915 they built them and new office buildings at North Fremantle. (reference)
Paterson & Co were in Packenham st from 1908 at what is now PSAS. before they moved across the street to this building in 1916. They stayed until 1949. (reference)
1909 Mr. Duncan Paterson started the business of Paterson and Co. in Fremantle. The start was, necessarily, upon a somewhat restricted scale, but Mr. Paterson has served his apprenticeship in a school where the word ‘failure’ was unknown…The scope of operations covered include the auctioning of all classes of produce, buying sandalwood, and the importation of every possible requirement of the man on the land. (reference)
1910 Operation in connection with thc shipment to the Orient of Western Australian sandalwood continue to give employment ta a large staff of workers at Fremantle. The Norwegian steamer Brand, now lying at Victoria Quay, arrived in ballast some days ago and will commence taking aboard a full shipment of sandalwood for China, to the agency of Paterson and Co., Ltd. See photo (reference)
1949 Paterson & Co. Most W.A. Assets Sold. It is understood that the shareholders and long established firm of Paterson & Co. Ltd., of Wellington street, Perth, have disposed of the bulk of their interests in Western Australia. Retaining only the assets of the Preston Valley Canning and Processing Coy at Donnybrook. They have sold their Perth and Fremantle premise. (Reference)
OccupantS
1829 - 1840 Lot 100: Lamb, William
1855 - 1858 Lot 100: Hackett
1859 - 1878 Lot 100: Gallop, John
1880-1887 Mrs McCann
1887 Fay Lawrence
1899 - 1902 Ho John Sang & Company storekeepers ( A John Sange, Chinaman lived at 64 Packenham st in 1919 (reference)
1903 - 1915 Vacuum Oil Company (J. R. Lewis, manager 1903-1907), (J.D. Fraser, manager 1908-1914), Vacuum Oil Company Propy. Ltd. (L.D. Dalton, manager 1915)
From 1916 - 1949 PATERSON & CO LTD, merchants, shipping & insurance agents.
1944 Australian Apple & Pear Marketing Board.
1950 Elder Smith & Co.
1968 Seppelts (next door at no 5) bought it for storage of wine and spirits.
This site was purchased by Interstruct in 1984 and a new development behind the facades of Nos. 5, 7 & 9 Pakenham St was built.
c 2010 used by Notre Dame University ND48
