Sealanes began in 1922 when Salvatore and Mary Paino operated a small grocery shop, The Roma Fruit Palace in Market Street, Fremantle, Western Australia selling grocery items and importing Italian goods for the local migrant population. In 1928 the range of goods expanded into selling fresh seafood to local customers and supplying cafés and restaurants. The move to purchase the shop next door resulted in converting the Roma Fruit Palace into a retail fish shop and re-naming it Fremantle Fish Supply.
The business continued to experience growth during the 1930’s despite the depression. Staff numbers increased to 7 full time employees and 3 casuals. Around the same time, Salvatore sold the original fruit shop and moved the import and general provisions business into the seafood premises. The outbreak of the Second World War was a busy time for the port of Fremantle with many visits by the American and Dutch Navies as well as the Australian Defence forces. It was here that the ship supply business began to grow by supplying fish to the incoming vessels.
Salvatore and Mary’s three sons Anthony, Sam and Victor all worked in the family business and through the 1950’s and 1960’s naval contracts increased and the sales of fish grew as many ships carrying migrants came into Fremantle. During the mid 1960s the business was taken over by Sam and Victor, as Salvatore suffered ill health and passed away in 1966 and Anthony left to pursue other interests.
It soon became obvious that the name Fremantle Fish Supply was not an accurate trading name for a business expanding into general shipping, so a second trading name, Port Providoring began to appear on invoices to ships. With the division of trade, Sam took control of the land based food service division and Victor assumed the responsibility for shipping. By the 1970’s, the business had exceeded the space of the current premises and the business was moved to Marine Terrace, South Fremantle with a purpose built warehouse and office space in 1972. The company was also renamed Sealanes during this time to link the major activities of food service, wholesale seafood distribution and ship supply.
Sealanes began a period of rapid growth during the 1980s, with the expansion of the premises on Marine Terrace and the supply of new markets, such as the visiting Japanese tuna boats and the growing tourism to Western Australia and the increase in restaurants, cafés and hotels. Victor’s children were active in the business during this period.
In the 1990’s with the expansion of visiting crews to Australia, Sealanes opened three branches to supply ships and offshore oil rigs in Port Hedland and Karratha in Western Australia and Darwin in the Northern Territory. In 1993, a Retail Fish Shop was also opened on the premises, reminiscent of the earlier days. Sam’s children entered the business on a part time basis during this period.
In 2004 Victor decided to retire and sold his half interest to Sam and this saw the exit of his family from the business after a 50 year involvement with the company. Sam continues to own and operate the business with his family.
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