If walls could speak, a lot of tales will be told regarding the legendary Fremantle Prison. One of Western Australia's most fascinating and premier heritage web sites, it has also grow to be a significant tourist destination.



Some History



Fremantle Prison was built within the 1850s inside the early days of European-settled Western Australia. It was the unfortunate location for many convicts, colonial prisoners, prisoners-of-war and maximum-security detainees. It was also a location of hangings, floggings, prisoner riots, and dramatic escapes. It was closed in 1991 right after 136 years of continued use as a spot of incarceration. A year later it was opened for the public as a tourist attraction and considering that then has grow to be a striking physical reminder in the harshness of those early days. It truly is undoubtedly a spot to be observed and can also be an instance of your grand heritage architecture that Fremantle is renowned for.



What to see



Visitors can take tours inside the 14-acre walled enclosure which is made of thick limestone blocks. Be sure to take one of many guided tours any time you take a look at and hear each of the fascinating stories and information. You are going to genuinely appreciate the lives from the prisoners after you see their tiny cells along with the open exercise yard. It was an extremely tough place with really simple living situations.



You may also see the little room that homes the gallows, which was under no circumstances observed by those sentenced to death given that they had been hooded before getting into.



Fremantle Prison is listed on the Australian Heritage Commission's Register in the National Estate. It can be open every day from 10am to 5pm except on Christmas Day and Good Friday. Entry to the major gatehouse, which incorporates a cafe, gift shop, prisoner art gallery and interactive visitor centre is absolutely free however the tours usually are not.



The existing tours are:



Doing Time Tour

Wonderful Escapes Tour

Tunnels Tour

Torchlight Tour.

Obtaining There



You can get there in significantly less than 30 minutes by train from Perth Central Station to Fremantle Station. When you prefer a bus, they depart from a variety of bus stops on St. George's Terrace in Perth and take anywhere from 30 to 45 min to Fremantle. You could even catch a ferry to Fremantle leaving from the Barrack Street Jetty in Perth. Following arriving in Fremantle on train, bus or ferry, it's walking distance for the Fremantle Prison. There's also a Fremantle CAT bus that does a circuit about the city at no cost so that is a different approach to get to or from the prison. I suggest walking though as there's lots to view around the way.



Apart from being a tourist spot, Fremantle Prison is also a favourite among corporate and community groups for their cocktail parties, exhibitions, conferences along with other purposes.