Destination-Perth-2025-HR-nocrops (1) - Flipbook - Page 31
without a tour of the infamous
Fremantle Prison. This UNESCO
World Heritage-listed building
was built by convict labour in the
1850s and incarcerated WA’s most
dangerous criminals right up to
1991. If the stories on offer don’t
send an eerie chill down your
spine, perhaps a chance ghost
sighting will! Delve underground
and explore the labyrinth of
tunnels built by prisoners on a
Fremantle Prison Tunnels Tour, to
envision life behind bars.
A 15-20 minute walk north of
Fremantle Prison, you can discover
another of Fremantle’s original
and gothic heritage jewels, the
Fremantle Arts Centre. This is a
must-visit attraction, housing visual
art exhibitions and a stunning
retail store, FOUND, stocked with
handmade creations by local WA
artisans. The arts centre also hosts
epic summer concerts on its South
Lawn, as well as Sunday summer
music sessions in the front garden
— true to the culture of Fremantle
that sees musicians celebrated
and supported across its rich mix of
pubs and arts venues.
NATIONAL HOTEL
FREMANTLE BEACHES
THE WEST END &
VICTORIA QUAY
As a port city, Fremantle’s
maritime history runs deep and
especially so in Victoria Quay —
the gateway to Rottnest Island
/ Wadjemup. Discover the vast
riches of its history at the WA
Maritime Museum and absorb the
activity of the industry at present
from the ultimate vantage point
— Gage Roads Brewery. Situated
on the edge of Victoria Quay
within Fremantle Harbour, watch
ships cruise into port and the sun
sparkle across the waterfront with
a locally brewed beer in hand and
gastropub fare on your plate. With
DJ sets every Friday and events
regularly on the horizon, it’s the
place to stop to elevate your mood.
On the southern side of
Fremantle’s port, you’ll find
the historic West End with the
Fremantle Bus & Train Station at
REPUBLIC OF FREMANTLE
its entrance. Marvel at the best
preserved streetscapes of the 19th
century gold rush, encompassing
250 late Georgian and Victorian
style heritage buildings, whilst
soaking up the youthful activity
of its most recent occupiers,
the University of Notre Dame. A
haven for creatives, in the West
End you’ll uncover a bounty of
artisan boutiques, bars, modern
restaurants and galleries tucked
within its various nooks and
crannies. To stay among it all, book
in at the boutique Hougoumont
Hotel or the beautifully restored
and award-winning National
Hotel. A stone’s throw towards the
port there’s also Quest Fremantle,
among many more centrally based
The salty sea breeze that
permeates Fremantle brings
everything back to its brilliant
beaches. Stretch out along
the sandy shores of Bathers
Beach in central Fremantle
— Australia’s first licenced
beachfront — and sip on
cocktails as you soak up the
sun. Further north, gentle
waves and shallow banks can
be found at Leighton Beach
— offering an optimal mix of
swell and wind, matched with
pristine sands for sunbathers.
Meanwhile, Port Beach is a
hub for maritime explorations,
offering views of incoming
ships. Venture to South
Fremantle for famous sunsets
at the protected South Beach,
blessed with calm, pool-like
conditions year-round.
destinationperth.com.au
31
