If walls could talk, many tales would be told about the legendary Fremantle Prison. One of Western Australia’s most fascinating and premier heritage sites, it has also become a major tourist destination.
Some History
Fremantle Prison was built in the 1850s in the early days of European-settled Western Australia. It was the unfortunate destination for many convicts, colonial prisoners, prisoners-of-war and maximum-security detainees. It was also a place of hangings, floggings, prisoner riots, and dramatic escapes. It was closed in 1991 after 136 years of continued use as a place of incarceration. A year later it was opened to the public as a tourist attraction and since then has become a striking physical reminder of the harshness of those early days. It is definitely a place to be seen and is also an example of the grand heritage architecture that Fremantle is famous for.
What to See
Visitors can take tours inside the 14-acre walled enclosure which is made of thick limestone blocks. Be sure to take one of the guided tours when you visit and hear all the fascinating stories and facts. You will really appreciate the lives of the prisoners when you see their tiny cells and the open exercise yard. It was an extremely tough place with very basic living conditions.
You can also see the small room that houses the gallows, which was never seen by those sentenced to death since they were hooded before entering.
Fremantle Prison is listed on the Australian Heritage Commission’s Register of the National Estate. It is open everyday from 10am to 5pm except on Christmas Day and Good Friday. Entry to the main gatehouse, which includes a cafe, gift shop, prisoner art gallery and interactive visitor centre is free however the tours are not.
The current tours are:
- Doing Time Tour
- Great Escapes Tour
- Tunnels Tour
- Torchlight Tour.
Getting There
You can get there in less than 30 minutes by train from Perth Central Station to Fremantle Station. If you prefer a bus, they depart from various bus stops on St. George’s Terrace in Perth and take anywhere from 30 to 45 min to Fremantle. You can even catch a ferry to Fremantle leaving from the Barrack Street Jetty in Perth. After arriving in Fremantle on train, bus or ferry, it’s walking distance to the Fremantle Prison. There is also a Fremantle CAT bus that does a circuit around the city for free so that’s another way to get to or from the prison. I recommend walking though as there’s lots to see on the way.
Aside from being a tourist spot, Fremantle Prison is also a favourite among corporate and community groups for their cocktail parties, exhibitions, conferences and other purposes.