Sights in Fremantle
-
A
Bathers Beach
You could theoretically swim here, but most people save the soaking for beaches further from the port.
reviewed
-
Coogee Beach
Coogee is 6km further south of South Beach.
reviewed
-
B
Esplanade Reserve
A large park shaded by Norfolk Island pines between the city and Fishing Boat Harbour.
reviewed
-
C
Fremantle Markets
Originally opened in 1897, these colourful markets were reopened in 1975 and today draw slow-moving crowds combing over souvenirs. The fresh-produce section is a good place to stock up on snacks.
reviewed
-
D
Fremantle Prison
With its foreboding 5m-high walls enclosing a nearly 6-hectare site, the old convict-era prison still dominates present-day Fremantle. In 2010 its cultural status was recognised, along with 10 other penal buildings, as part of the Australian Convict Sites entry on the Unesco World Heritage list.
The first convicts were made to build their own prison, constructing it from pale limestone dug out of the hill on which it was built. From 1855 to 1991, 350,000 people were incarcerated here. Of those, 43 men and one woman were executed on site, the last in 1964.
Entry to the gatehouse, including the Prison Gallery, gift shop (where you can purchase fetching arrow-printed prisoner…
reviewed
-
Gold Rush Buildings
Fremantle boomed during the WA gold rush in the late 19th century, and the city retains many of the wonderful buildings that were constructed during, or shortly before, this period. High St, particularly around the bottom end, has some excellent examples including several old hotels. Worth seeking out are the Chamber of Commerce Building, built1873, St John's Anglican Church, built 1882, Fremantle Grammar School, built 1885, the Town Hall, built 1887, Samson House, a well-preserved 1888 colonial home, the Esplanade Hotel, built 1896, the Old German Consulate, built 1903, Fremantle Train Station, built 1907, and the Customs House, built 1908.
reviewed
-
Public Sculptures
Enlivening Fremantle's streets are numerous bronze sculptures, many by local artist Greg James . Perhaps the most popular, certainly with black-clad pilgrims, is the statue of Bon Scott (1946–1980) strutting on a Marshall amplifier in Fishing Boat Harbour. The AC/DC singer moved to Fremantle with his family in 1956 and his ashes are interred in Fremantle Cemetery.
Others include To the Fishermen, also by James, andMark of the Century, by Robert Hitchcock.
reviewed
-
South Beach
Sheltered, swimmable, only 1.5km from the city centre and on the free CAT bus route.
reviewed
-
E
Western Australian Museum – Maritime
Housed in an intriguing sail-shaped building on the harbour, just west of the city centre, this is a fascinating exploration of WA's relationship with the ocean. Various boats are on display and, if you're not claustrophobic, you can take an hour-long tour of the Australian Navy submarine HMAS Ovens (departing every half-hour from 10am to 3.30pm).
reviewed
-
F
Western Australian Museum – Shipwreck Galleries
Housed in an 1852 commissariat store, the Shipwreck Galleries are considered the finest display of maritime archaeology in the southern hemisphere. The highlight is the Batavia Gallery, where a section of the hull of Dutch merchant ship the Batavia, wrecked in 1629, is displayed.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
G
Customs House
reviewed
-
Fremantle Cemetery
reviewed
-
H
Fremantle Grammar School
reviewed
-
I
Fremantle Train Station
reviewed
-
J
Mark of the Century
reviewed
-
K
Old German Consulate
reviewed
-
L
St John's Anglican Church
reviewed
-
To the Fishermen
reviewed
-
M
-
N
German Consulate Building
A building of the boom era is the 1903 former German consulate building.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
O
Chamber of Commerce Building
A building of the boom era is the (still-in-use) 1873 Chamber of Commerce building.
reviewed
-
P
Fremantle History Museum
The Fremantle History Museum focuses on the diverse nationalities that make up the town's population.
reviewed
-
Q
Samson House
Fremantle boomed during the WA gold rush and many buildings were constructed during, or shortly before, this period. Samson House is a well-preserved 1888 colonial home on Ellen St.
reviewed
-
R
Old Fremantle Prison
In some ways, the Old Fremantle Prison, with its foreboding 5m-high walls, dominates present-day Fremantle. Tales of adventures and hardships experienced here have lived on in the city’s imagination.
reviewed
-
Bon Scott sculpture
A surprising drawcard for visitors is the Bon Scott sculpture at J Shed, where music fans can see this memorial to late-lamented local boy and lead singer of rock group AC/DC. A more permanent site is planned at Fishing Boat Harbour.
reviewed