Fremantle – Western Australia

Fremantle – Western Australia

The city of Fremantle was named after Sir Charles Howe Fremantle who took possession of the western half of the Australia continent in 1829. Fremantle lies 20 km south west of Perth, the capital city of Western Australia.

In the early 1850s the city developed as a result of convict labor and it further expanded in the 1980s as a result of gold discoveries inland.

Demand

From the inception of the America’s cup in 1851 until its loss to the Australian in 1983 the event had been dominated by British and American rivalry. Australia’s win changed the event forever.

The major supporting competition such as the America’s cup attracting many tourists, is sometimes referred to as a hallmark event. Ritchie (1984) defines a hallmark event as a major one time or recurring event of limited duration, developed primarily to enhance the awareness, appeal and profitability of tourism destination in the short and or/ long term.

Impact

Research documented by Soutar and McLeod (1987) of Fremantle resident’s perceptions of the impact of the America’s cup in their city, found that the event was seen improving their quality of life. Over $100 million of public money spent in Fremantle vicinity on infrastructure improvements.

The major benefits included foreshore upgrading and improved public access, streetscape improvements, etc.

The less positive effects of the event and its associated development include a sharp increase in property prices and rent levels, the displacement of some poorer elements of the community, and a 36 percent increase in crime over the same period in the preceding year, etc.

Implication

There can be no doubt that Hallmark events can speed up the level of investment in a city area, although it is not clear if the end result would have been so successful had there not already been long-term infrastructure plan in place.

The examination of inner city areas showed tourism in a more positive light. Tourism has been a successful instrument of economic regeneration in a number of world cities, with relatively few adverse consequences.