The English admiral Charles Fremantle, captain of the HMS Challenger, founded in 1829 the settlement which carries his name. It was Fremantle who took possession of all of New Holland (the name given to Australia by Dutch navigators), with the exception of New South Wales, on May 2, 1829.
Like Perth, Fremantle started to really grow with the influx of convict labor which built the town's earliest structures, many of which have now been listed for protection and conservation by the National Trust.
Artificial harbour
An artificial harbour was built in the 1890s which turned Fremantle into the seaport of Perth.
Continuing growth and development turned Fremantle into today's place of many activities and attractions.
Maritime memories
Fremantle's museums provide a deeper insight into Western Australia's maritime history.
The Fremantle Museum and Arts Centre on Finnerty St, originally a convict-built lunatic asylum, houses a fine collection relating to the settlement's early history, the whaling industry, and Dutch East India company ships which first discovered the western coast of Australia.
Home of Australia II
The new Western Australian Maritime Museum at Forrest Landing, Victoria Quay, Fremantle Harbour, specialises in Western Australian maritime history and heritage.
It will be the permanent home of Australia II, the yacht with the winged keel which won the America's Cup in 1983.
Shipwrecks and heritage
The Shipwrecks Museum on Cliff St features maritime archeology and materials conservation. It is home to the original Batavia hull timbers. The Batavia was a Dutch ship wrecked in 1629 on a reef off the coast of Western Australia.
The Submarine on Slip St, Victoria Quay, Fremantle Harbour, is expected to house exhibits associated with Australia's submarine and naval heritage.
Market and prison
The Fremantle Market on South Terrace, open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, sells craft items, antiques, jewelry and various other interesting items.
The convict-built Old Fremantle Prison is open daily. You may want to join one of its eerie candlelight tours on Wednesday and Friday nights.
Parks and tram tour
There are a number of Fremantle parks including the popular Esplanade Reserve off Marine Terrace.
And there's the Fremantle Crocodile Park for those who like this sort of thing.
One way of getting an overview of Fremantle's attractions is to take the historical tram tour which leaves hourly from Town Hall. For the price of the ticket, you get a full commentary on points of interest along the route.
Getting there
If you're coming from Perth, the easiest and probably cheapest way is to take the train to Fremantle which runs at 15-minute intervals.
There are buses, too, or you may prefer to go by water and take the ferry.
Once in Fremantle, visit the information centre in the Town Hall shop for detailed and up-to-date infomation on Fremantle activities and attractions.
Next page: Perth Region Map
