The Meeting Place

The Meeting Place 50th Anniversary

Tuesday 12 May
The Meeting Place

The Meeting Place a community staple in South Fremantle

The Meeting Place Community Centre offers welcoming spaces for people of all ages in South Fremantle, Western Australia.

Conveniently located on the vibrant South Terrace café and dining strip, our centre is at the heart of the community, making it easy to visit and connect.

Opening Hours

We are open Monday to Friday, 9am – 4pm, providing a safe and inclusive space for social, recreational, and community activities.

Contact Us

For more information or to get involved, call us at 08 9432 9676
or email meetingplace@fremantle.wa.gov.au.

Venue Hire Volunteer

50 Years of Community Connection

The Meeting Place has been a welcoming community hub in South Fremantle for nearly 50 years.

It began in 1976 when community social worker Helen Cattalini opened a small information centre to support migrant women working at the Mills and Wares Biscuit Factory.

The space provided advice, information and access to services for women who were new to Australia and often far from family support.

Over time, the centre grew into the vibrant community space it is today.
With programs, classes, events and room hire, The Meeting Place continues to bring people together across cultures and generations, just as it did in the beginning.

Hear more history with Ronelle Brossard who first helped The Meeting Place come to life, back in 1976.

Discover the story

Founder: Helen Cattalini, community social worker
Purpose: Information space for migrant women working at the Mills and Wares Biscuit Factory
Community Support: Volunteers helped clean, paint, and prepare the space
Services included: parenting sessions, social worker support, language and craft classes, and after-school programs.

“Many of us cleaned up, painted the house, and put in some grass,” recalls Ronelle Brossard, volunteer and founder of Fremantle Women’s Health Centre.

Space moved to a larger house nearby to meet growing demand
Beth Hewton hired as coordinator
The centre became a welcoming drop-in space for women, children, and families

“This used to be a children’s playroom. Both my children played here with other kids from the community. There was always music, books, laughter, and conversation.” – Ronelle Brossard, volunteer and founder of Fremantle Women’s Health Centre.

TMP became a hub for migrant families arriving in Fremantle
Provided support, connection, and learning for families far from relatives
Activities included craft, language, cooking, and parenting programs

“It brought everyone together. A cup of tea, someone to listen – it created a real sense of community.” – Ronelle Brossard, volunteer and founder of Fremantle Women’s Health Centre.

TMP celebrates half a century of service
Continuing its mission as a hub for learning, creativity, and community connection
Focus on supporting young families and intergenerational programs

“I would love to see it return to its beginnings – a space full of young families again.” – Ronelle

Legacy: The Meeting Place remain welcoming spaces for all generations.

Soroptimists make quilts for foster children and women escaping violence
French Conversation Class – decades of learning together
Time Out to Quilt – celebrated 20 years

“We still need spaces like this. We came with young children, and now return as retirees – it’s a place to connect.” – Ronelle Brossard, volunteer and founder of Fremantle Women’s Health Centre.

From little things, big things grow!

An elderly woman opens a gate in front of a blue house with a red roof and sign reading The Meeting Place. The house is surrounded by a fence and greenery, and the sun is shining.

A woman and a child stand smiling in front of the entrance to a building labeled The Meeting Place Community Centre with the number 245 visible on the porch post.

Two women are in a kitchen. One, wearing a floral dress, cooks at the stove while the other, in a red shirt and apron, stands nearby holding an oven mitt. Shelves of spices and condiments are visible above the stove.

A small community center with a porch is decorated with colorful flags. A banner reading Happy 30th Birthday Meeting Place Community Centre hangs on the fence. Two bikes are parked outside and people stand near the entrance.

Colorful patchwork quilts hang on the porch and fence of a building called The Meeting Place, with a sign reading Airing of the Quilts under a sunny, tree-shaded sky.

Volunteer opportunities

Join The Meeting Place (TMP) as a group facilitator and help run one of our popular volunteer-led social groups. Opportunities are limited, so submit your application today.

What volunteers do

Lead a TMP social group and work with staff
Attend your group for free
Complete a volunteer induction
Take attendance and share feedback with TMP staff

How the groups work

TMP manages the groups administratively
Volunteers can make decisions to benefit the group
Participants sign up through Humanitix and pay a small session fee

Apply to volunteer

Complete the volunteer application form to get started.

Apply

A rustic house with stone and brick walls features white-framed windows. A paved path runs alongside the house, leading to a wooden bench and covered patio area beneath large leafy trees.

Venue hire

The Meeting Place has comfortable, flexible rooms suitable for community groups, businesses, and individuals.

There are four spaces available, accommodating small meetings and larger gatherings, for one-off or ongoing bookings. Rooms can be used for workshops, courses, seminars, or meetings.

We offer two options for facilitators running workshops: we can handle promotion and administration, or you can hire the space and manage your workshop independently.

Learn more