If walls could talk, quite a few tales will be told about the legendary Fremantle Prison. Certainly one of Western Australia's most fascinating and premier heritage internet sites, it has also become a significant tourist destination.


Some History



Fremantle Prison was built inside the 1850s in the early days of European-settled Western Australia. It was the unfortunate destination for a lot of convicts, colonial prisoners, prisoners-of-war and maximum-security detainees. It was also a spot of hangings, floggings, prisoner riots, and dramatic escapes. It was closed in 1991 right after 136 years of continued use as a location of incarceration. A year later it was opened towards the public as a tourist attraction and due to the fact then has turn into a striking physical reminder in the harshness of those early days. It is definitely a location to be seen and can also be an example in the grand heritage architecture that Fremantle is renowned for.



What to determine



Guests can take tours inside the 14-acre walled enclosure which is produced of thick limestone blocks. Make sure you take one of many guided tours when you stop by and hear all of the fascinating stories and facts. You can actually appreciate the lives from the prisoners whenever you see their tiny cells and the open physical exercise yard. It was an really tough place with very standard living circumstances.



You can also see the small area that homes the gallows, which was never seen by those sentenced to death considering the fact that they have been hooded before entering.



Fremantle Prison is listed around the Australian Heritage Commission's Register on the National Estate. It is open every day from 10am to 5pm except on Christmas Day and Superior Friday. Entry to the major gatehouse, which incorporates a cafe, present shop, prisoner art gallery and interactive visitor centre is free nevertheless the tours aren't.



The current tours are:



Doing Time Tour

Fantastic Escapes Tour

Tunnels Tour

Torchlight Tour.

Receiving There



You can get there in much less than 30 minutes by train from Perth Central Station to Fremantle Station. If you choose a bus, they depart from numerous bus stops on St. George's Terrace in Perth and take anyplace from 30 to 45 min to Fremantle. It is possible to even catch a ferry to Fremantle leaving in the Barrack Street Jetty in Perth. Just after arriving in Fremantle on train, bus or ferry, it really is walking distance to the Fremantle Prison. There is also a Fremantle CAT bus that does a circuit around the city at no cost so that is an additional strategy to get to or in the prison. I advise walking although as there's lots to determine around the way.



Aside from getting a tourist spot, Fremantle Prison is also a favourite amongst corporate and community groups for their cocktail parties, exhibitions, conferences and also other purposes.