Fisherman's Co-operative Fremantle Accessible Office Platform Lift: A WA Commercial Access Upgrade
The Project
P. R. King & Sons documented a Fremantle, Western Australia project at the landmark Fisherman's Co-operative building, where wheelchair access was needed for an upper-level office that could only be reached by stairs from street level. The brief was simple: make the office accessible without compromising the building's overall presentation.
🏠 Get Perth access support for lifts, ramps, or bathroom upgrades anywhere in WA.
The company assessed the site and recommended an Artira inclined platform lift with a custom rail for the existing staircase. The lift was chosen to create a cleaner visual fit inside the building and to match the architect's matte black specification for the office fit-out.
The project details published by P. R. King & Sons note a capacity of one person, a travel distance of 23 steps, and two stops plus a mid-way landing. The lift's BCA-compliant design made it a practical option for a staircase that was long enough to need a proper access solution, but still narrow and site-specific enough to rule out a generic approach.
That combination of compliance and restraint is often what makes a commercial access project successful. The best solution is not always the biggest one; it is the one that gets people where they need to go while still respecting the building's layout and finish choices.
The Company
P. R. King & Sons supplies stairlifts, platform lifts, home lifts, and inclinators across Australia. Their case study library covers private homes, business premises, and public buildings, and the Fremantle installation is a good example of how an inclined platform lift can solve a specific access problem in a tidy, site-aware way.
Cost and Funding Notes
The source does not publish a final cost or funding arrangement for the project. For a lift like this, pricing usually depends on the staircase geometry, rail length, the number of stops, finish requirements, and any building or electrical works needed to support the installation.
For owners and managers of older buildings, that matters because access work often has to balance compliance, aesthetics, and daily use. A well-specified platform lift can improve accessibility without forcing a major structural rewrite of the property.
Why This Matters
This Fremantle case study shows how commercial access upgrades can be both practical and visually considerate. An upper-level office becomes usable for more people, the building remains functional for everyday operations, and the lift can sit neatly within the existing architecture instead of overpowering it.
Read more about home modification options in Australia, Perth home modification support, and modification types.
Home Modification Services by City
Find home modification contractors and access support in your city.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. Always consult a licensed builder and occupational therapist for your specific situation, budget, and funding pathway.