Fremantle Prison, Perth: How To Reach, Best Time & Tips

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Fremantle Prison Overview

Fremantle Prison is a historic prison located in Fremantle, Western Australia. It was built in the 1850s and operated as a prison until 1991. Fremantle Prison is known for its well-preserved historical architecture and its role in the history of Western Australia. Today, it is a popular tourist attraction and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Variously called Fremantle Jail or Fremantle Gaol, this 15-acre prison is now a World Heritage Site that attracts tourists from near and far, for its architecture and history. The site includes prison cell blocks, perimeter wall, gatehouse, tunnels and cottages and this is one of the best places to visit in Perth.

Fremantle Prison is also referred to as Fremantle Jail or Fremantle Gaol. The maximum-security prison, built from 1851 to 1859, was constructed to house prisoners from England. A quarter of a century later, in 1886, the local government took over the control of the prison and this led to the housing of prisoners from Australia.

The architecture of the Fremantle Prison is reminiscent of prisons from 19th century England and was designed to house workshops, a hospital and even a section for female convicts. Since 1991, Fremantle Prison has been opened as a recognized heritage site.

Various restoration construction has been done to restore the monument. The entire build up is being open for various uses like restaurants, restrooms, museum rooms etc. to attract more tourists. Fremantle Prison is the only lawful execution place in western Australia where more than 40 hangings have taken place between 1888 to 1984.

On 30 Nov 1991, the prison got close due to prisoner riots that lead to the damage of $1.8 million. Fremantle prison after closing got replaced by the high security Casuarina Prison.

Highlights

• Fremantle Prison is a well-preserved historic prison that offers a unique and interesting experience for visitors. It is one of the great places to visit in Perth to learn about the history of the prison system in Western Australia and the experiences of prisoners who were held there.
• The prison offers a range of guided tours, including a heritage tour, a torchlight tour, and a tunnels tour. These tours offer the chance to see the prison's cells, exercise yards, and other facilities, as well as learn about the history of the prison and the stories of the prisoners who were held there.
• It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is an important part of the cultural and historical heritage of Western Australia. It is a great place to learn about the history of the state.

How To Reach

There are many ways one can take to reach the Fremantle Prison. Here is the breakdown of all the possible options:

Airport:

The airport closest to Fremantle Prison is Perth. You can reach the facility in around half an hour, either by the easily available public transportation or a private cab, from the airport.

Train:

Numerous trains connect Perth and other cities to Fremantle. While planning a trip, it would be a good idea to club it with visits to nearby attractions, like the Maritime Museum and Fremantle Markets.

Road:

You can easily reach Fremantle Prison by cab or through your own transport.

Best Time To Visit

The facility attracts tourists from around the world. The prison is open for tourists throughout the year, from 9 am till 5 pm, closed only on Good Friday and Christmas. It's advisable to keep in mind the high temperatures during summer in Australia which extends from December to February. If you are visiting as a large group, plan early to be there on a weekday as it gets crowded on weekends and national holidays.

Other Essential Information

Location:

1, The Terrace, Fremantle, WA 6160, Australia

Timings:
9 am - 5 pm, throughout the week. The timings are extended on Wednesday and Friday. The prison is closed on Good Friday and Christmas.

Entry fee:

- Prison Tours (Convict Prison, True Crime or Behind Bars): AUD 22 for an adult, a concession fee of AUD 19 per adult for a group of 10 or more, AUD 12 for a child and AUD 62 for a family.

- Prison Tour Package (Option of 2 prison tours): AUD 32 for an adult, a concession fee of AUD 29 per adult for a group of 10 or more, AUD 22 for a child and AUD 102 for a family.

- Triple Prison Package (Combining all three tours): AUD 42 for an adult, a concession fee of AUD 39 per adult for a group of 10 or more, AUD 32 for a child and AUD 142 for a family.

- Tunnels Tour: AUD 65 for an adult, a concession fee of AUD 55 per adult for a group of 10 or more, AUD 45 for a child and AUD 195 for a family.

- Tunnels & Prison Tour Package: AUD 75 for an adult, a concession fee of AUD 65 per adult for a group of 10 or more, AUD 55 for a child and AUD 235 for a family.

- Torchlight Tour: AUD 28 for an adult, a concession fee of AUD 24 per adult for a group of 10 or more, AUD 18 for a child and AUD 82 for a family.

- The Visitor Centre, Prison Gallery, Gatehouse, Gift Shop and Convict Cafe do not charge any entry fee.

Distance from Perth airport:

Fremantle Prison is around 28 kilometres from the nearest airport in Perth. The distance can be easily covered in about half an hour.

Gift shop:

There is a gift shop at the Fremantle Prison with a unique set of merchandise that’s unlikely to be found elsewhere. These include souvenirs, replica keys of cells, outfits modelled after those of the convicts, t-shirts, etc.

Parking:

If you are coming from Perth, it’s a good idea to drive down or rent a car as there are other destinations along the way you would love exploring. At the Prison, there is paid parking facility available that has 60 bays.

Venue for hire:

While most monuments are tourist attractions and cultural sites, the Fremantle Prison is also interactive in a truly different way. The facility offers an incredible opportunity to hire parts of the premises for private functions including conferences, dinners and corporate events. This is a unique opportunity to impress your family, friends or office colleagues as they would have never had such an experience in their lives.

Visitor centre:

For the convenience of tourists, there’s a Visitor centre at the prison that houses several devices used in the prison in the 19th century, an actual video reel of the prison from the past and panels with details on the history of the facility.

Convict depot:

If you or any member of your family was a convict at Fremantle, there is a database through which you can find articles and photographs from that era.

History of Fremantle Prison

During the middle of the 19th century, there was significant demand for inexpensive and easily controllable labour in the country. The ideal solution for the colonial administrators was to use the services of those incarcerated.

Although initially, Australia wasn’t keen to take the prisoners, they eventually agreed. When the convicts arrived, the administration realised that they didn’t have a facility to house them in large numbers, and therefore, they were temporarily restrained to their ship.

The Comptroller General in charge of those incarcerated, Edward Henderson, started scouting for a site to construct a prison and zeroed in on Fremantle. In the early decades of the prison, prisoners convicted for less violent crimes were the majority of the inmates.

That situation changed as more violent convicts were sentenced to serve their time at Fremantle. This change in the prisoner profile, combined with an administrative culture rooted in the colonial treatment of prisoners, led to prisoner unrest and a major riot in 1988 that attracted worldwide attention.

The prisoners held some guards as captives, and in the ensuing fire, property worth $1.8 million was destroyed. Three years later the Fremantle Prison was shut down and the prisoners and the administrators were shifted to Casuarina, another maximum-security prison.

Among the incarcerated, there were some sentenced to death. Till 1984, around 40 of those convicts were hanged at Fremantle, the sole prison in Western Australia where executions were carried out. There were also some notable escape attempts in the history of the prison.

Some famous prisoners who managed to momentarily flee include Moondyne Joe, John Boyle O’Reilly and Brendan Abbott. Today the prison is an ode to a bygone era. Its colonial architecture and history continue to attract tourists. The 2010 World Heritage List of UNESCO added the prison, thus augmenting efforts to conserve it as a site of cultural and historical value.

The prison also housed prisoners of war and others under internment during both the First and Second World Wars. The number of inmates from the war reached 400 by 1945. Although there were several recommendations to shut down the prison, the most significant one being in 1983, it took another eight years for the facility to be decommissioned.

Eventually, it was decided that the former prison would be preserved as a site of historical and cultural importance under the aegis of the Fremantle Prison Trust.

Tips before Visiting the Fremantle Prison

Fremantle prison can be very busy, overwhelming and sometimes confusing. You may take some time to adjust in the bewildering place and to learn how to stay safe, healthy and sane. In order to help you enjoy your trip, here are some clever tips you must follow.

- If you get nervous in congested spaces, avoid the Tunnels Tour.

- Make sure you plan your visit to accommodate a trip to the other destinations too.

- Enquire at the counter or call ahead to find out how many tours and entrances have handicap access, in case you or anyone in your group might need it.

- Carry Umbrella to avoid sun and rain.

- You should prepare yourself for the big culture change.

- Be careful while walking on the sidewalk.

Day Wise Timings

Open Today

Normal Timings:

09:00 AM to 05:00 PM

Normal Timings:

09:00 AM to 05:00 PM

Normal Timings:

09:00 AM to 05:00 PM

Normal Timings:

09:00 AM to 05:00 PM

Normal Timings:

09:00 AM to 05:00 PM

Normal Timings:

09:00 AM to 05:00 PM

Normal Timings:

09:00 AM to 05:00 PM

Tourism Board Alliances

Fremantle Prison FAQs

Why was Fremantle Prison closed?

Due to overpopulation, limited infrastructure and colonial legacy, there were repeated reports of ill-treatment of prisoners which led to multiple calls to close the prison. There were multiple recommendations to close the facility, but the decision seems to have been postponed. The 1983 recommendation to close Fremantle Prison was finally implemented in 1991.

How many people died in Fremantle Prison?

According to available records, 43 women and one woman were executed at Fremantle. There is no credible record on the number of prisoners who passed away due to natural causes at the facility.

Is Fremantle Prison free?

Although the various tours are charged, there is no entry fee for the Visitor Centre, Prison Gallery, Gatehouse, Gift Shop and Convict Cafe.

Who built Fremantle Prison?

Fremantle Prison was built by convicts shipped from Britain under the supervision of Royal Engineers.

Is it child-friendly?

Most of the tours are child-friendly and families usually find it exciting. The Tunnels Tour is not advisable for young children, though.

Are there good hotels in the vicinity?

Yes, there are many highly-rated hotels in the city and nearby areas. Platinum Suites Fremantle, Hougoumont Hotel Fremantle, and The National Hotel are the famous ones.