Fremantle (Walyalup) is alive with stories, history and heritage.
We are always learning more about our beautiful port city and we've put together some of the interesting facts that you may not know.
Did you know the Nyoongar name for Fremantle is Walyalup? The name means place of the Walyo or Woylie, a small brush-tailed bettong or kangaroo rat. The local Whadjuk people, part of the larger Nyoongar aboriginal nation, have been its custodians for over 45,000 years. The Whadjuk people had their traditional camping grounds in and around the areas known as Fremantle Park, East Fremantle Oval, Tradewinds Hotel, Fremantle Cemetery, South Beach and Coogee Beach.
Did you know that Fremantle's West End is one of the largest single places to be permanently included in the State Register of Heritage Places? The area includes 250 buildings and 200,000 square metres between Market Street to the east, Collie Street and Marine Terrace to the south, Little High Street to the west and including both sides of Phillimore Street to the north. The West End is a rare example of an intact business district established in the gold boom era. A stroll along High Street can feel like stepping back in time as you look upon the stunning original buildings - there's plenty of photo ops and The National Hotel Rooftop provides a fantastic view of the precinct. We are daydreaming of this view for now.
Did you know that the Round House is the oldest public building in the state of Western Australia? It was opened in January 1831, just 18 months after settlement, and was built to imprison any person convicted of a crime until 1886 including Aboriginal people before they were sent to the Rottnest Native Penal Establishment. The building has also been used for a police lock up, accommodation for the Water Police, and a storage facility for the Fremantle Ports. It's part of the historic Arthur Head Reserve precinct and today it’s an important historical tourist attraction, with views down the length of High Street and overlooking the Indian Ocean and Bather's Beach. If you haven't been to check out this historical treasure yet, it's worth the visit
Did you know there was once a jetty at Bather's Beach? In fact, there were several jetties built after the arrival of Captain Fremantle in 1829. The Long Jetty, also known as the Ocean Jetty, was built in 1873 and later saw two extensions resulting in the total length of 2,830 feet out to sea. After the opening of the harbour in 1897, the jetty was closed to traffic and used only as a promenade for some years, before it was doomed to demolition in 1921. Next time you are having a drink at Bather's Beach House, imagine the olden days of the jetty stretching out west. Try to see if any of the pylons are still standing.
Image: Anglesea Point from the light house on Arthur Head, c1891 by Non Pareil Photographic
Did you know that the Australian craft beer revolution began in Fremantle in 1984? The Matilda Bay Brewing Company, led by Phil Sexton, bought and renovated the original Freemasons Hotel on South Terrace, renamed it the Sail and Anchor Hotel and launched Australia's first craft brewery, transforming the landscape for beer lovers for good. There's still plenty brewing in Fremantle including Monk Brewery & Kitchen, Little Creatures at Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour and The Otherside Brewshed at Freo.Social. Beerpourium on South Terrace may not brew but serves exclusively Australian craft beers and celebrates the art of brewing. Feeling thirsty? Looking forward to a cold brew once this blows over.
Did you know that the giant numbat mural on Henderson Street Mall was painted by international artist ROA? The 25 metre numbat near the side entrance to Fremantle Markets is now a favourite among a growing collection of street art in the city. ROA is a Belgium-based artist known for painting large-scale images of animals on city walls around the world, bringing nature back to our built up landscapes. The City of Fremantle commissioned this piece in 2011 to coincide with the Fremantle Festival.
N.B. The Numbat is a small endangered marsupial native to parts of Australia that has a long sticky tongue, a black-and-white striped back and a bushy tail.
Did you know that the Synagogue on the corner of South Terrace and Parry Street was the first Synagogue in WA? Opened in 1902, the building operated as a synagogue for only eight years and has since been an immigration centre, an auction mart, a carpet shop, a clothing outlet, a gallery and a cafe. This site is currently home to The Old Synagogue entertainment precinct that includes great several venues.
Image: Fremantle City Library History Centre [E001037]
Did you know that our beloved Esplanade Reserve was reclaimed from the sea in the early 1900s? The Fremantle foreshore originally came all the way up to Marine Terrace! Storms caused damage to the buildings along the foreshore and in the 1880s a sea wall was built by convicts to protect the buildings. The sea wall was not very effective and finally the area was reclaimed from the sea and the stunning Norfolk Pines were planted. The reserve is now home to a world class skate park, playground and the tourist wheel. Look carefully as you explore the West End and you will see an artwork created by ceramicist Joan Campbell MBE that replicates Fremantle's original shoreline.
Did you know the Fremantle Arts Centre building opened in 1864 as the Convict Establishment Fremantle Lunatic Asylum and Invalid Depot. This stunning gothic building has had a fascinating history. From the convict built asylum to a hospital during the gold rush, it's been a Women's Home, billeted servicemen during the war and then faced the threat of demolition in 1958. Fremantle Arts Centre (FAC) as we know it today was officially opened in 1973. You can take a look at the centre's gorgeous exhibition space via their online tour of the stunning Revealed Exhibition 2019.
Did you know Fremantle's boutique small room hotel, the Hougoumont Hotel is named after the last convict ship to transport convicts to Fremantle. Enter the lobby and you'll find a list of passengers (and their crimes) on the eastern wall including the notable Irish Fenian, John Boyle O'Reilly, one of the lead characters in Peter FitzSimons latest book the Catalpa Rescue. You can pick up a copy of the book at New Edition bookshop on High Street or arrange delivery over the phone.
Did you know that in 2010, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee placed Fremantle Prison on the World Heritage list? This iconic landmark, overlooking our city centre, joined ten other Australian Convict sites listed as part of a serial nomination under the theme of Convictism – Forced Migration. Fremantle Prison is the only UNESCO World Heritage listed building in Perth. You can learn plenty more about the Prison's stories of escape and convict era characters on their website.
Image: Jessica Wyld
Did you know that the numbers '888' are present at the top of the parapet on the former Trades Hall at the corner of Collie and Pakenham Street? For bonus points, do you know what these numbers represent? The Trades Hall was built in 1904 during the gold boom period and the foundation stone was laid by Sir John Forrest, Western Australia’s first premier. The building is now part of one of the largest heritage listings on the state heritage register and is classified by the National Trust. The hall was the centre of the powerful maritime and port unions and workplace leaders such as Paddy Troy, founder of the maritime union and the Trades and Labour Council, until the 1960s. It was the home of the Old Trades Music Hall during the 60’s before housing several restaurants including the infamous Raj Neeshee's restaurant, Zorba the Buddha. The numbers '888' signifies the hours required for a full and healthy balanced life… 8 hours work, 8 hours leisure, 8 hours sleep.
Image: Fremantle City Library History Centre [E000281]
Did you know that the mural on the side of the Norfolk Hotel on Norfolk Street in Fremantle is a woman's face? Do you know who it is or who created the artwork? The artwork was created by Vhils, a Portuguese graffiti artist who since 2005, has undertaken site specific artworks in over 30 countries including Centre Pompidou (Paris), Barbican Centre (London) and the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (San Diego) using his groundbreaking bas-relief carving technique. Dame Dorothy Margaret Tangney (1907-1985) is the woman depicted. She grew up in Fremantle and in 1943 became Australia’s first woman senator. Tangney was prominently involved in women’s political organisations, and in the Senate she championed equal pay and equal opportunity for women. The work was commissioned the by City of Fremantle for the 2013 Street Arts Festival.
Interesting fact: Dorothy’s grandfather Owen assisted in the escape of Fenian convict John Boyle O’Reilly from a road gang near Bunbury. O’Reilly went on to plan the rescue of other Fenian prisoners from Fremantle Prison in 1876 in what became known as the Catalpa Escape.
Image: Norfolk Hotel Fremantle Facebook page
How many of these facts did you already know?
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