One of Fremantle’s most iconic pubs is being brought back to life after a twenty year hiatus as the rejuvenated Ball & Chain at The Esplanade Hotel.
The heritage-listed building, first established in 1850 by Captain Daniel Scott, is overflowing with features preserved from the original site including a glass shielded floor and wall display of the original cellar door limestone.
Australia’s first craft brewery and Fremantle’s own Matilda Bay Brewery has partnered with Ball & Chain to bring the iconic institution back to its roots coincidentally on its 30 year anniversary. Offering the widest range of Matilda Bay craft beer and ciders on tap than any other pub in Western Australia, craft beer lovers will be spoilt for choice.
Whisky enthusiasts are welcome to the Ball & Chain’s own Bourbon Room featuring floor to ceiling shelves loaded with the best range of whiskey brands from around the world. Plus the Ball & Chain features a Pub Grub Menu hand selected to accompany your favourite craft beer of whisky. The selection includes beef sliders, prawn skewers, pulled pork, and jalapeno poppers to name but a few.
Ball & Chain General Manager David Bornmann has spent countless hours researching the historic site and is pleased to finally be able to present the pub to the public.
“Our history dates back to 1850 when Captain Daniel Scott decided to build a warehouse and to dig a well on the site,” Mr Bornmann said.
“With a well and warehouse he could act as a ship’s victualler but the waterfront warehouse was invaluable when the first 75 convicts arrived in Fremantle on the 1st June 1850. The convicts that arrived on the Scindian used Scott’s warehouse as their own home until Captain Henderson and the convicts had constructed their own convict establishment – hence the name Ball & Chain.”
“In 1896 the building was first used as a Hotel, later becoming a well-known corner pub named ‘Hubbles’ after its owner. It was also a meeting place for the working class of Fremantle as boxing tournaments were held out the back whilst workers picked up on the veranda who sat on the timber benches still outside today.”
“In recent times the pub went incognito as it was closed for business and instead used as office space.”
“Now we have ripped out the desks, stripped back the wallpaper, knocked out the temporary walls and brought back to life one of Fremantle’s most iconic pubs.”
Brought back to life by Primewest as part of their redevelopment of The Esplanade Hotel, the venue is now managed by Rydges. Primewest Directors John Bond, David Schwartz and Jim Litis Lodge purchased the Esplanade Hotel in 2013 to include in their expanding property portfolio with the most recent upgrade of the Ball & Chain pub completing the million dollar plus redevelopment of the property.