WA Maritime Museum wins Freo award

The WA Maritime Museum, The Raw Kitchen, and small bar Percy Flint were among the winners at the Fremantle Chamber of Commerce's annual awards night this past Friday, in a competition described by judges as one of the most tightly fought in years.

Now in its 11th year, the awards recognise businesses across a variety of categories, including sustainability and innovation.

Chief executive Danicia Quinlan said the awards this year focused on those businesses that brought a fresh approach and growth opportunities to Fremantle, as well as those that were truly distinct and unique to the city.

Emerging victorious from a group of 20 finalists, the WA Maritime Museum won the Fremantle Ports business of the year award for having grown the attendance of family audiences by 148 per cent in the past 12 months.

The museum also won the Notre Dame excellence award for innovation, while its Antarctica VR Experience won the AFA award for best attraction.

Other businesses to win multiple awards included The Raw Kitchen, which took out the Business Foundations growth scholarship award as well as the mayor's award for sustainable enterprise on the back of its Zero Store, a retail outlet located inside of the restaurant that offers reusable and natural personal care and cosmetic products.

Small bar Percy Flint won the people’s vote, taking out the people’s choice award.

Other bars and cafes were also honoured with people’s choice awards across four subcategories, including Kazoomies, Sweetwater Roof Top, Fremantle Markets’ Palace Patisseries and Lo Sosta.