Fremantle is the ideal place to learn about Western Australia’s pioneering history. You can experience extraordinary stories of convict prisoners, maritime heroes, murderous mutineers and pioneering settlers at an excellent range of museums and attractions.
Built by convicts in 1850, the Fremantle Prison offers a sombre yet fascinating reminder of days past. You can take a guided tour, an eerie candlelight tour, explore the grounds yourself or take a unique boat tour of the subterranean tunnels built below the prison for Fremantle's early water supply.
The Western Australian Maritime Museum is especially popular with its stunning maritime design, set on Victoria Quay at the entrance to Fremantle Harbour. The museum contains a world-class exhibition of Western Australia's maritime history, including Alan Bond's America's Cup-winning yacht Australia II.
The old Shipwreck Museum in Cliff Street houses the original timbers and treasures from the infamous 17th century Dutch Batavia shipwreck which sank in 1629. Another interesting museum, the Fremantle Motor Museum houses arguably the best collection of vintage and veteran cars in the Southern Hemisphere. The museum is located in historic B Shed on Victoria Quay.
The Army Museum showcases the entire colonial and post-federation periods through to the end of World War II, while the historic Round House was the first permanent building in the colony - making it the oldest building in the state today.
How about visiting the character building housing the Fremantle Arts Centre? While appreciating the exhibitions, you can learn about the centre's fascinating history as a lunatic asylum and shelter for homeless women.
You can also experience much of timeless Fremantle aboard an historic tram tour which fills you in on the historical secrets of old-time Fremantle.
