Fremantle: History, Tours and Maritime Tradition

Fremantle brings together historic sites, guided visits and an annual tradition. The Round House represents the history of the Arthur Head Reserve, Fremantle Prison offers tours about the prison’s history, and the WA Shipwrecks Museum offers a free guided tour of its galleries. The Blessing of the Fleet also takes place, with its procession ending at Fishing Boat Harbour. If you’re looking for a hotel in Fremantle, the focus of your trip can guide your choice: a historical theme, a tour or an annual event.

Historic Sites in Fremantle

The Round House at Arthur Head Reserve is the oldest surviving public building in Western Australia. As a popular tourist attraction, it informs visitors about the difficult and complex history of the Arthur Head Reserve. For your planning, the Round House’s defining feature is the connection between the building and the history of the place.

Fremantle Arts Centre was originally built as a “lunatic asylum” in the 19th century. Taken together with the Round House, it offers two historical perspectives: the history of Arthur Head Reserve takes centre stage at the Round House, while the Arts Centre is understood in the context of its former use. This comparison distinguishes the history of a place from a building’s original function.

Tours and Museum

Fremantle Prison offers a range of tours that explain the prison’s history. Choosing a tour is itself part of planning: the options may change. If a tour is important to your stay, check which tours are currently available before your visit. This means a visit to the Prison as a guided experience needs to be planned differently from a visit to the Round House as a historic attraction.

The WA Shipwrecks Museum offers a free guided tour of its galleries. It runs daily, except during school holidays. Compared with the range of tours at Fremantle Prison, a different scheduling consideration is noted here: for the museum, take account of the school holiday exception, while the Prison’s offerings may change.

Fishing Boat Harbour and the Blessing of the Fleet

Fishing Boat Harbour is a major tourism and leisure destination, while also remaining an active maritime area. Unlike the historic buildings and tours, the focus here is not only on history but also on a present-day maritime function.

The Italian tradition of the Blessing of the Fleet has taken place annually in Fremantle since 1948, and the procession ends at Fishing Boat Harbour. Two details have different significance: 1948 marks the beginning of the tradition, while Fishing Boat Harbour is the procession’s endpoint. If you’re planning your trip around the Blessing of the Fleet, check the event dates for the year you’ll be visiting.

Discover more destinations: Lesmurdie, Cloverdale, The Vines, Carmel, Cottesloe, Belmont, Rottnest Island, Armadale City

For the main travel overview: Perth.