Demolition at Morley Market in Morley, Perth, began by 1 October 2025, after a fire caused severe damage to the Bishop Street building. The City of Bayswater had issued a demolition permit on 26 September and initially expected work to start in the first week of October. A year later, the site remained vacant and fenced, with no redevelopment applications received by the city, according to ABC.
What happened at Morley Market?
The City of Bayswater said the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) responded at 12:27am on Wednesday, 3 September 2025, to a report of a fire at the market building on Bishop Street. The blaze severely damaged the building and businesses inside. ABC reported that roughly 70 firefighters took several hours to extinguish it. The city’s incident update and ABC’s report on the demolition describe the response and subsequent work.
When did demolition start, and how long was it expected to take?
The city issued a demolition permit on Friday, 26 September 2025. Its original schedule anticipated demolition in the first week of October, followed by three to four weeks of debris removal and site cleanup. ABC reported on 1 October that demolition had begun. At that point, councillor Josh Eveson estimated the demolition itself would take two to three days and that clearing the site could take two to three weeks. These were separate estimates made at different points; neither is confirmation of the exact completion date.
| Milestone | Reported timing or estimate | Source and context |
|---|---|---|
| Demolition permit issued | 26 September 2025 | City of Bayswater |
| Demolition anticipated | First week of October 2025 | City forecast; cleanup expected to follow over three to four weeks |
| Demolition underway | Reported 1 October 2025 | ABC report; councillor estimated two to three days for demolition |
| Site clearing estimate | Two to three weeks | Councillor’s estimate reported by ABC after work began |
The city’s permit date and original schedule are in its Morley Market fire update; ABC’s on-site account is dated 1 October 2025.
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What caused the fire?
A definitive cause has not been established in the reports. ABC said police later deemed the blaze non-suspicious, with no criminality detected. In its one-year follow-up, ABC reported that authorities could not determine the cause because the damage was so severe. That follow-up also described a DFES debrief finding that a local alarm was not operational. These findings do not establish how the fire started.
What happened to the businesses?
ABC reported that more than 20 stores and restaurants operated in the market, most of them family-run. By September 2026, some businesses had reopened elsewhere while others were still looking for premises. Traders described financial and emotional strain, including difficulties with insurance. Their situations varied: for example, ABC reported that barber Mohammad Frahim had public liability insurance but no contents cover. That is one trader’s account, not a general description of the other businesses’ cover.
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Mojgan Fakhar, former owner of Frida Tattoo Studio, told ABC: “Seven years I worked hard for my business, and in one night I lost everything.” The interviews and one-year recovery update are in ABC’s report published 3 September 2026.
What is happening with the site now?
ABC’s 3 September 2026 follow-up reported that the former market site remained vacant and fenced, and the City of Bayswater had received no redevelopment applications. The October 2025 report described early-stage planning for the adjacent, city-owned car park, but said the council had not discussed redevelopment with the private owners of the market land. The car park and market property are separate sites; the car-park planning was not an agreed redevelopment plan for Morley Market.
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Where could affected traders seek support?
The City of Bayswater established a recovery hub at Morley Library, held three drop-in sessions, kept a register of affected businesses and made a private room available by appointment for meetings with service providers. Its information page lists insurance, small-business support and debt-advice contacts. Check the City of Bayswater update for current contact details and support information.
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