Fremantle Prison
Fremantle Prison · Fremantle, Western Australia
A limestone prison built by the convicts themselves, in use until 1991.
Know before you go
- Don't enter cell blocks that are closed to visitors
- don't write on the walls
This article is Not yet verified. Please check official announcements for prices, opening hours and dates.
Stories & people
Stories & people
History
Stirling's colony and the convicts' prison
On 18 June 1829 Captain James Stirling read the proclamation founding the Swan River Colony at Fremantle, and Perth was founded the same year. The colony lacked labour in its early years, and from the 1850s Britain began transporting convicts to Western Australia. They quarried limestone on site and built this prison with their own hands: the gatehouse was completed in 1854–1855, and the main cell block, holding up to 1,000 prisoners, has barely changed since it was built in the 1850s.
Source: Wikipedia: Fremantle Prison; Wikipedia: James Stirling
Culture
Culture & customs
Background
Fremantle Prison first held convicts transported from Britain; in 1886 it was handed to the colonial government and used for locally sentenced prisoners. Until around 1911 prisoners were still sent out to build public works. The prison closed in 1991, replaced by the new Casuarina Prison, and has since been protected and restored as heritage. It is part of the 'Australian Convict Sites' World Heritage Site; the nomination focused on the convict era (1850–1886), and some later criticised this for overlooking the prison's more recent history, including the Aboriginal prisoners held here.
Local customs
Fremantle is Perth people's favourite weekend port town: markets, craft-beer pubs, fish and chips
Etiquette
Etiquette & taboos
Rules that apply here
Australian beaches: swim between the red and yellow flags
- Swim only between the red and yellow flags where lifeguards are on duty
- If you don't know the conditions, ask a lifeguard
- Swimming at unpatrolled beaches or outside the flags
Outside the flags there may be rip currents, and lifeguards cannot reach you in time.
Not yet verifiedSource: Surf Life Saving Australia: beach safety signs
Uluru: climbing is not allowed
- Walk the base track around Uluru and learn about Anangu culture
- Climbing Uluru
The climb closed permanently on 26 October 2019; climbing breaks the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act and is punished.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park: climb closure
Entering Australia: food, plant and animal products must be declared
- Truthfully declare all food (even small, packaged snacks), plants and animal products on your arrival card
- If in doubt, declare it
- Bringing fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, seeds or wooden souvenirs without declaring them
You can be issued an infringement notice; your visa may be cancelled, you may be refused entry and barred from returning for up to 3 years.
Not yet verifiedSource: Australian Department of Agriculture: travelling to Australia
Don’t DON'T
- Don't enter cell blocks that are closed to visitors
- don't write on the walls
Locals appreciate DO
Locals appreciate visitors who take the guided tours and respect the prison's history.
Plan your visit
Practical info
| Best time | Daytime |
|---|---|
| Time needed | 2 hours |
Travel tips
- It's about half an hour by train from Perth to Fremantle
- visits are mainly by guided tour, including a tunnels tour (physically demanding) and night tours
- combine with the Fremantle Markets and the Maritime Museum on the same day
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