Fremantle - the main port for Western Australia

Fremantle is "more than just a port of call", it is an ideal place to stay. It has been recognised as the best preserved example of a 19th century port streetscape in the world. It has Western Australia's largest collection of heritage-listed buildings many of which house attractions, museums, offices, art galleries and shops.

One of the most outstanding buildings now houses the Fremantle Arts Centre. A visit to this building is not to be missed, they have changing art and sculpture exhibitions, a wonderful history of the colonisation of Fremantle and Perth, an excellent art craft shop and a cafe serving delicious food and drinks. The building was originally the first purpose built lunatic asylum for women in Fremantle. For more information on this building and the early settlement of WA click here.

The building had some wonderful garden and courtyard areas, which of course have been greatly enhanced by the Fremantle Arts Centre Board. Instead of words, the following photos will give you a good view of the building.

The photo on the left is looking down a street towards "The Round House". This is the oldest remaining building in Western Australia. It was built as a gaol in 1830-1831 and was the first permanent building in the colony.

The Round House had eight cells and a gaoler's residence which all opened up into a central courtyard. This building was used as a gaol until the early 1850's. In the 1850's convicts arrived from England and a larger gaol was built (see photo below). The Round House  was then used as a police lock-up through until 1900. The Fremantle City Council took over responsibility for the Round House from 1982 when the headland was vested in the city. The building was opened to the public soon afterwards and can now be viewed seven days a week.

This photo shows the entrance to the prison that the convicts built on their arrival in Fremantle in the 1850's. The whole prison complex is extremely interesting and tours taking approximately 2 hours are available at the gates.

Western Australia Maritime Museum Fremantle

Two buildings form this Maritime Museum:

• The New Maritime Museum - a modernistic building sitting on the Harbour itself and opened in December 2002 - see photo above.

• The Shipwreck Galleries, shown in the photo below plus a photo of the restored pearl lugger Ancel that is exhibited on dry land next to the Galleries building.

What you will see in each of these buildings:

The Shipwreck Galleries: These are recognised as the foremost maritime archaeology museum in the southern hemisphere. The displays in the restored convict-built Commissariat building feature early exploration and shipwrecks along the Western Australian coastline. 

The two galleries that impressed me were:  

• The Batavia Gallery: This is the centrepiece of the Shipwreck Galleries. It houses the reconstructed remains of the VOC ship Batavia, wrecked in 1629 and which was excavated by Maritime archaeologists in the 1970s. After lengthy treatment by the Department of Materials Conservation, the remains were rebuilt in this gallery. It is in all an inspiring and awesome sight. Make sure you go to the upper viewing gallery to get the best visual experience.  

• The Dutch Gallery: This displays artefacts recovered from the Dutch wrecks including Zuytdorp, Zeewijk, Vergulde Draeck and limited material on the Batavia. This is quite an unbelievable collection and should not be missed.

The New Maritime Museum has six themed galleries: 

1. The Indian Ocean, 

2. Tin Canoe to Australia II, 

3. Fremantle and the Swan River, 

4. Hooked on Fishing, 

5. Cargoes, 

6. Naval Defence.

The favourite gallery, of course, seems to be Tin Canoe to Australia II as this gallery actually houses the winning yacht of the America's Cup Australia II.

For more information on the Maritime museums click here.