History of the Fremantle Town Hall Clock with Garth Caesar

Garth Caesar will be familiar to many of us who have presented him with a watch or clock to be fixed at his workshop in the Atwell Arcade, but in addition to his day job Garth took on the responsibility of maintaining the Fremantle Town Hall Clock some 30 years ago.
Garth will come talk to us about his work with the Fremantle Town Hall clock, the trials and tribulations, and no doubt, share some amusing anecdotes.

The bells, approximately 7 tonnes in weight, were cast in Birmingham, England, in 1887. High Street watchmaker and jeweller, William Hooper, supplied and installed the clock when it arrived from England in 1888. It was dragged down High Street by 16 horses, and was hoisted up through a pulley system through a hole cut out of the floor in the tower. In 1949 William Hooper was quoted in the Sunday Times 31st July as saying: provided it has the proper attention, the clock should still be giving Fremantle citizens the time in another 100 years. His Atwell Arcade workshop is now closed but Garth still comes, once a week, to make sure the clock is ticking away as it should. Last year some of the cogs and wheels were found to be worn and needed replacing, the first time in its 137-year history. William Hooper would be so proud.

Drinks and nibbles will be served at 5.00 pm, before the talk at 5.30 pm.