Latest news with #FremantlePress
The Age
24-06-2025
- Business
- The Age
Fremantle Press buys landmark first home with Fini, state support
Fremantle Press and CircusWA have together jointly purchased their first permanent home: the historic SEC Substation on Fremantle's Parry Street, with the support of prominent Perth property developer Adrian Fini. The state government will also on Tuesday announce $500,000 funding for the two organisations to secure their much-needed permanent home near the intersection of Parry, Quarry and Adelaide streets. The purchase will also preserve and activate the heritage building near Clancy's, DADAA and the Elders Wool Stores redevelopment in the soon-to-be reinvigorated East End of the port city. Known arts supporters Adrian and Michela Fini are making the ambitious plan possible with a low-interest loan to the organisations. Adrian Fini is also behind the Wool Stores project, which is touted as WA's biggest heritage redevelopment since the State Buildings were completed in Perth more than a decade ago and is likely to inject significant residential population and commercial activity into the area. Press chief executive Alex Allan said the Press had been looking for a permanent home for years, given their aged and cramped current space, but nothing had been quite right for their requirements, including 'the pure number of books that we take with us.' They had noted the substation vacant, for lease and finally for sale, 'peered through the windows' at the beautiful example of interwar industrial architecture, but dismissed the possibility, given the enormity of the building with the huge rear machine hall at the rear. Another year of searching later, Allan had a chance conversation with CircusWA artistic director Jo Smith, then Sarah Booth of Fremantle social enterprise Spacemarket, which is dedicated to realising value in under-utilised spaces, facilitated further talks between them and finally a joint tour. 'We thought, This is amazing. There's a perfect spot for Fremantle Press, and at the back a perfect spot for CircusWA. It felt like it was meant to be, especially because, ironically, the substation sits absolutely equidistant between our two existing offices,' Allan said. 'The magic was there. And the next challenge was, how on earth would two arts organisations like us manage to pull this off?'
Sydney Morning Herald
24-06-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Fremantle Press buys landmark first home with Fini, state support
Fremantle Press and CircusWA have together jointly purchased their first permanent home: the historic SEC Substation on Fremantle's Parry Street, with the support of prominent Perth property developer Adrian Fini. The state government will also on Tuesday announce $500,000 funding for the two organisations to secure their much-needed permanent home near the intersection of Parry, Quarry and Adelaide streets. The purchase will also preserve and activate the heritage building near Clancy's, DADAA and the Elders Wool Stores redevelopment in the soon-to-be reinvigorated East End of the port city. Known arts supporters Adrian and Michela Fini are making the ambitious plan possible with a low-interest loan to the organisations. Adrian Fini is also behind the Wool Stores project, which is touted as WA's biggest heritage redevelopment since the State Buildings were completed in Perth more than a decade ago and is likely to inject significant residential population and commercial activity into the area. Press chief executive Alex Allan said the Press had been looking for a permanent home for years, given their aged and cramped current space, but nothing had been quite right for their requirements, including 'the pure number of books that we take with us.' They had noted the substation vacant, for lease and finally for sale, 'peered through the windows' at the beautiful example of interwar industrial architecture, but dismissed the possibility, given the enormity of the building with the huge rear machine hall at the rear. Another year of searching later, Allan had a chance conversation with CircusWA artistic director Jo Smith, then Sarah Booth of Fremantle social enterprise Spacemarket, which is dedicated to realising value in under-utilised spaces, facilitated further talks between them and finally a joint tour. 'We thought, This is amazing. There's a perfect spot for Fremantle Press, and at the back a perfect spot for CircusWA. It felt like it was meant to be, especially because, ironically, the substation sits absolutely equidistant between our two existing offices,' Allan said. 'The magic was there. And the next challenge was, how on earth would two arts organisations like us manage to pull this off?'
West Australian
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Books for Little Bookaburras ambassador & local WA author Renae Haywarth brings stories to Geraldton kindies
Young Geraldton students have been treated to a new reading initiative that delivers important storytelling, children's books and joy to regional kindergarteners. As part of the regional celebration of the Fremantle Press 2025 Books for Little Bookaburras program, Bookaburras ambassador and WA author Renae Hayward will visit three kindies across regional WA, starting with Beachlands Kindilink which she visited on Wednesday. Mini libraries — sets of books especially curated for young readers — are given to each child, before an interactive storytime session is held by Hayward for the excited students. The Little Bookaburras initiative, supported by a growing number of sponsors and creatives, will reach more than 4500 children across WA, ensuring access to books no matter where they live. Hayward said: 'Books are so important for children aged 0-3 years. Books expose kids to new words and concepts, and can even help build empathy. 'I'm so thrilled to be an ambassador for the Bookaburras program, which puts books by WA creators into the hands of kids who might not have that many books of their own, if any. 'It was such a joy to hand out the Bookaburras book packs at Beachlands Primary School KindiLinks. The kids immediately started reading their new books with their grown-ups, which is what we love to see.' Fremantle Press CEO Alex Allan said the initiative was having a real impact on young regional WA readers. 'Last year over a third of our participants were based in regional areas,' he said. 'Some 200 of the total number of children had no other access to books, and others didn't have homes to take them to at all. 'The program is providing a much-needed permanent resource for families — a set of books for the kids to treasure and a valuable resource for carers to use to build literacy and a life-long love of stories.' The program's mini-libraries feature stories by local authors and First Nations storytellers, with titles that reflect the richness of Australian voices. Each child recieves books such as Say Hello or Say Goodbye by Hayward and fellow author Rebecca Mills, along with Indigenous stories like Crow and the Water Hole by Ambelin Kwaymullina or In Your Dreams by Sally Morgan and Bronwyn Bancroft. In a touching show of support, all creators of the 2025 books have donated their royalties back to the program, helping it grow and reach even more children.
