Duke Street

A brief History of Duke Street

Duke Street was impacted by the creation of the Stirling Bridge and the extension of Stirling Highway in 1985. St. Peter's Road was created and named in memory of St. Peter's Church, which previously stood on the corner of Duke Street & Canning Highway (purchased by the Anglican Church from James Pearse in 1903; the first service was held that year and the final in 1970).

Duke Street was the home for many of the working class families that serviced the Port and the Railways. Many of them worked hard and where often injured at their work.

1944 Thomas Reginald Clark (45), of Duke-street, East Fremantle, driver of a Garratt engine, fell from the locomotive near the Mt Lawley station about 6 a.m. yesterday and rolled about 25 feet down an embankment. Suffering from concussion and injuries to his back, Clark was taken to Perth Hospital. (reference)
1944 Body of 48-year-old lumper Michael James Coughlin of Duke Street, East Fremantle, was found floating in Fremantle Harbour about 6:45 a.m. today. Coughlin slipped and fell into the harbour when he was descending a rope ladder from a ship to a coal hulk. Rescue efforts failed and Coughlin disappeared in deep water. (reference)

1951 A New Australian, Mrs Zlemits Brencans (41), of Duke-street, East Fremantle, received a lacerated forehead when she was struck by a motorcycle driven by Olwyn Ray Hammond, of Hope-street, Palmyra, while she was crossing Canning-highway, near King-street, East Fremantle, about 10 a.m. on Saturday. She was taken in a St. John ambulance to the Fremantle Hospital and allowed to leave after treatment. The cyclist was not hurt. (reference)
1952 An engine-driver was severely injured shortly after 9 o'clock last night when he was crushed between the buffers of two railway engines at the Fremantle locomotive sheds. He was George Frederick Brockwell (61), of Duke-street, East Fremantle. Mr. Brockwell was taken in a St. John ambulance to the Fremantle Hospital suffering from possible fractures of the right thigh and pelvis and severe shock. (reference)