Everything You Need To Know Before Visiting Fremantle Prison

When holidaying in Fremantle, itineraries likely revolve around the beach, bars and restaurants. But if you can tear yourself away from the white sand and gourmet food for a day, a trip to the historical Fremantle Prison is one you won’t forget.

Fremantle Prison – which is the largest convict-built structure in Australia and the most intact convict establishment in the southern hemisphere – is the only World Heritage-listed building in Western Australia. With an impressive range of tours (including an underground adventure through tunnels quarried by convicts), it’s a fascinating place for history buffs and true crime fanatics alike. You can even stay the night in a prison cell if you’re really eager.

Heading to the charming portside city of Fremantle? Here’s everything you need to know about visiting the iconic Fremantle Prison.

The history of Fremantle Prison

Fremantle Prison was built as a convict barracks in the early 1850s. Convicts themselves built the prison out of the limestone quarried from the site itself, with the first prisoners moving into the main cell block in 1855.

The building included four levels of cells, with each cell measuring barely more than two and a half square metres. This exceptionally small cell size was because the cells were intended to be used for overnight accommodation only, as the convicts were sent to work outdoors during the day. However, the cell walls being built with thick limestone – rather than corrugated iron cell partitions like other prisons of the time – made the cells very cramped even just for sleeping, not to mention poorly ventilated.

the exterior view of Fremantle Prison — Fremantle Prison was built as a convict barracks in the early 1850s. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Fremantle continued being used as a prison right up until 1991 and saw more than 10,000 prisoners pass through its doors. Inmates included convicts sent from Great Britain, colonial prisoners and prisoners of war. In addition, during the Second World War, the Australian Defence Department used part of the prison to detain many Italian Australians deemed ‘enemy aliens’ due to Italy’s alliance with Germany. The Prison was a place of hangings, floggings, dramatic convict escapes and prisoner riots.

A Royal Commission was launched into the prison in the 1980s following a number of riots and concerns over conditions, with the facility ultimately being shut down in 1991.

After its closure, the WA state government embarked on a long-term conservation plan to ensure the prison’s preservation for future generations.

the exterior view of the Fremantle cell — Fremantle Prison is the only World Heritage-listed building in WA. (Image: Fremantle Prison)

Why you should visit Fremantle Prison

Fremantle Prison’s significance stems from the fact that it is substantially – and impressively – still intact. The fabric of the Main Cell Block, perimeter walls, hospital and eastern workshop, gatehouse and three of the cottages on The Terrace is little altered from its convict era. Few enhancements were made over the years to allow the site to continue to operate as a prison into the ’90s, however, they didn’t significantly alter the structure. Consequently, the original fabric of Fremantle Prison has an incredibly high integrity.

A visit to Fremantle Prison will leave you captivated for hours. Within the Prison walls is the Prison Cafe, operated by the team renowned for popular Fremantle restaurants Emily Taylor and Sailing for Oranges, and a fascinating Visitor Centre showcasing actual footage of prison life and panels depicting the prison’s history, riots and reform programs.

guests attending a briefing session before the tunnels tour at Fremantle Prison — Travel back in time. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Head over to the Convict Depot, situated in the former prison superintendent’s backyard, to find out if you have a convict past. Visitors can search for convict ancestors on a fully interactive Convict Database, and explore hundreds of photographs and articles relating to the convict era.

There is also a constant roster of exhibitions at the Prison, including things like prisoner art and colonial artefacts. And of course, you grab a souvenir from the award-winning gift shop on your way out – the convict teddy bears are rather cute, and the collection of history books is fascinating.

artefacts on display, Tunnels Tour with Fremantle Prison — Browse the artefacts on display. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Best Fremantle Prison tours

Visitors to Fremantle Prison can step inside and do time on one of the compelling tours.

Convict Prison tour

This tour gives visitors an overview of the history of the prison, from its construction to its decommission. You’ll learn about the 10,000 men who were transported to the Prison from Great Britain, how they built their own prison and helped shape the future of Western Australia.

Opening hours: Daily, every hour from 10am until 5pm.
Duration: One hour 15 minutes.
Pricing: $23 per adult.

Behind Bars tour

This tour takes visitors back in time through the Main Cell Block and inmate exercise yards. As you walk through the facility in their shoes, you learn about the daily routine of prisoners and the realities of life on the inside.

Opening hours: Daily, every hour from 10.30am until 4.30pm.
Duration: One hour 15 minutes.
Pricing: $23 per adult.

peeking through a small hole in the corridor of Fremantle Prison — Get a glimpse of Fremantle Prison’s fascinating history. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

True Crime tour

For the true crime fanatics, this tour uncovers the real life stories of some of the Prison’s most notorious inmates – from bushrangers, thieves and murderers, to serial killers, bank robbers and escape artists.

Opening hours: Daily, every hour from 11.45am until 4.45pm.
Duration: One hour 15 minutes.
Pricing: $23 per adult.

Tunnels Tour

Not one for the faint-hearted (or claustrophobic), the tunnels tour sees visitors don a hardhat and overalls and descend below the Prison to explore a labyrinth of tunnels built by prisoners.

Guides lead the trek through dry sections of the tunnels on foot, before boarding replica convict punts to explore the submerged passageways accessible only by boat.

Opening hours: Saturdays and Sundays only at 9am, 10.40am, 12.20 pm, 1.40pm, and 3.25pm.
Duration: Two hours 30 minutes.
Pricing: $66 per adult.

the Tunnels Tour at Fremantle Prison — Trek through the tunnels on foot. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Torchlight Tour

Another one for those who are feeling brave, the Torchlight Tour takes visitors to the darkest side of Fremantle Prison. Guides lead you through the prison after dark, regaling you with tales of the loneliness, pain and suffering, of executions gone wrong, of the innocent unjustly imprisoned and the guilty punished.

Opening hours: Every Wednesday and Friday evening – April-Oct from 6.30pm, Nov-March from 7pm.
Duration: One hour 30 minutes.
Pricing: $29 per adult.

the facade of Fremantle Prison — More than 10,000 prisoners have passed through the doors of Fremantle Prison. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Staying at Fremantle Prison

If after all that you still can’t get enough, visitors can also stay overnight at the Prison at the YHA Fremantle Prison – even being able to stay in actual prison cells. If that’s a bit much for you, they have additional purpose-built rooms, either shared dorm-style or private rooms with ensuites. Whatever you choose, you’ll be staying the night in a UNESCO World Heritage site.

the rooms and corridor inside Fremantle Prison — Sleep in either shared dorm-style or private rooms with ensuites. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

What you need to know

Fremantle Prison is open seven days a week. It’s centrally located in Fremantle, a short walk from Fremantle Train Station, the cappuccino trip and Fishing Boat Harbour. Book your tours in advance.

a man going down the tunnel at Fremantle Prison — A visit to Fremantle Prison is guaranteed to astonish history buffs. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Address: 1 The Terrace, Fremantle.
Opening hours: 9am–5pm, seven days a week.
Price: Entry to Fremantle Prison Gatehouse is free and includes access to the Convict Café, Gift Shop, Prison Gallery, Convict Depot and Museum. Tours incur an additional charge.

Prefer to stay elsewhere? Check out our guide to the most charming Airbnbs in Fremantle.

Discover the perfect road trip stopover between Perth and wine country.

Western Australia punches above its weight when it comes to coastal hot spots, but no other town or city has seen a tourism boom quite like Mandurah. Named Australia’s Top Tourism Town in 2023 , it’s the relaxed, beachside break you’ve been searching for. And it’s perfectly placed, sitting between Margaret River and Perth, as it’s just a 55-minute drive from Perth’s CBD. Which is why we’ve put together your ultimate Mandurah guide.

Aerial view of Mandurah. — Plan your perfect coastal escape to Australia’s Top Tourism Town of 2023.

The best things to do in Mandurah

Wetlands and rivers, ocean and inlet; Mandurah’s laid-back lifestyle centres around the aquatic. Its waterways cover twice the ground of Sydney Harbour – measuring some 134 square kilometres in total – and form a unique environment for oceanic and estuarine flora and fauna to thrive.

In the city’s estuary lives perhaps the region’s most famed inhabitants – a resident pod of 100 bottlenose dolphins – and the inlet’s silty bottom is home to the prized blue manna crab. Spot the former breaching and playing on an hour-long dolphin cruise through the channels, or try your hand at catching the latter by wading through the estuary’s shallows with a scoop net in hand.

While swimming at the circular Kwillena Gabi Pool, chance encounters with the local wildlife aren’t uncommon. The sheltered estuarine pool takes its name from the traditional custodians of the land, the Bindjareb people, and directly translates to ‘dolphin waters’. Jutting out of the eastern foreshore, it’s enclosed by a ring of net-free floating pontoons, which allow the dolphins to swim freely through the attraction.

If that’s a little too close for comfort, book a kayak tour with Down Under Discoveries . The dolphins have been known to cruise beside the paddle-powered crafts, which are a fun, family-friendly way to explore the city’s inner waterways.

Dolphins swimming in Mandurah. — Watch dolphins glide by as you explore Mandurah.

You don’t have to be on the water to appreciate the coastal city’s aquatic beauty, with 600 kilometres of cycleways and scenic walking trails traversing Mandurah’s estuary, inlet and coast.

Follow the 30-kilometre coastal trail and you’ll come face to face with one of Thomas Dambo’s headline-making ‘Giants of Mandurah sculptures, Santi Ikto, along the way. There are five sculptures around Mandurah in total, hidden among gum-filled reserves or sitting sentry over the water.

Head to the Mandurah Visitor Centre to pick up a map to pinpoint their exact location and download the traveller’s companion to learn more about the sights along the way. Or join a three-hour e-bike tour from The Bike Kiosk and you’ll stop by two of the giants – Santi Ikto and Yaburgurt Winjan Cirkelstone – as you sightsee central Mandurah.

The towering Santi Ikto, one of Thomas Dambo’s iconic Giants of Mandurah. — Meet Santi Ikto, one of the legendary Giants of Mandurah.

Where to eat in Mandurah

Mandurah’s culinary scene reflects its laid-back lifestyle, with large, honest meals and locally brewed beer. After visiting Lake Clifton’s 2000-year-old thrombolites, head to the peppermint and gum-shaded beer garden at Thorny Devil Brewery . Tuck into a platter of house-smoked meats and an ale pulled fresh from the tanks. Closer to town and right on the waterfront is Boundary Island Brewery ; here, woodfired pizza, pub-style seafood dishes and easy-drinking brews are centre stage.

On a Murray River Lunch Cruise , the focus is as much on the environment around you as the food you’re filling up on. Help yourself to the colourful salads and freshly cooked meats on the buffet as you meander up the winding, jarrah tree-lined waterway, stopping at the heritage Cooper’s Mill for a quick walking tour along the way.

Keep your eyes trained on the Creery Wetlands as you pass – you’ll spot much of the region’s migratory birdlife, and, as always, might see the playful bottlenose dolphins in the inlet.

The most memorable meals aren’t necessarily always the fanciest, and lunch aboard a self-skippered Mandurah BBQ Boat is a testament to that. All food and beverage prep is left up to you as you cruise through the canals, sausages and steaks sizzling away on the central hot plate.

If seafood is more your kind of fare, board the Wild Seafood Experience , where dolphin cruise meets long table lunch. Eight courses of crab, crayfish and scallops await.

A table filled with plates of crab, crayfish, and scallops. — Dine on the water with eight courses of ocean-fresh fare.

Where to stay in Mandurah

With so many waterways comes abundant waterside stays. Like the self-contained Seashells Mandurah on the shores of Comet Bay. The calm, oceanic outlook from the one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and villas is as close to Maldivian as Mandurah gets. Families especially enjoy the property, bouncing between the protected cove and the beachfront pool for endless hours of fun.

The Sebel Mandurah , just a hop, skip and jump from the Mandurah Ocean Marina, has a different outlook entirely, overlooking the estuary and lively foreshore on the other side. It’s also within walking distance of the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre , cinema and a swathe of waterfront bars and eateries.

But you can’t get any closer to the water than on a vessel from Mandurah Houseboats . You don’t need a skipper’s ticket to hire one, nor do you need comprehensive boating experience; just a full driver’s license and your undivided attention during the pre-departure tuition will do. Then you’re free to take to the estuaries and tributaries for a few nights of peaceful rest, surrounded by the very element that makes Mandurah so special.

A houseboat cruising in Mandurah along the river — Captain a houseboat to explore Mandurah at your own pace.

Plan your next WA getaway in Mandurah.

The ultimate guide to visiting the fascinating Fremantle Prison