[7] Since its construction, Fremantle Harbour has been the major port of call for vessels of all types, including ocean liners bringing migrants and tourists to Western Australia.

In the 1950s the Fremantle Port Authority recognised the need to improve the facilities for processing arrivals as the post World War II immigration policy was seeing large number of migrants arriving in Fremantle.

The arrivals were being processed in sheds and offices on Victoria Quay, so it was decided to build dedicated facilities.

The planning, which commenced in 1957, considered the future needs of the port, so designed a facility capable of processing two ocean liners simultaneously.

Hobbs, Winning and Leighton was the architectural firm that designed the building in the post war international style, with AT Brine & Sons and the Fremantle Harbour Trust commencing construction in 1958.