A new hotel has arrived in Fremantle, giving travellers the perfect excuse to linger longer in this port city.
There are plenty of reasons to visit Fremantle. This port city just outside of Perth offers maritime history, Victorian architecture and the UNESCO Heritage-listed Fremantle Prison, famed for its underground tunnels and torchlight tours. Then there’s the delicious food and a bustling seaside brewery. Accommodation options, however, have been limited. Until the Owston Hotel, that is.
About the Owston Hotel
Owston Hotel is the new kid on a historic block. (Credit: Jenna French)
Just 11 rooms, each one unique, can be found at this boutique hotel tucked into the restored Owston’s Buildings at 17 High Street. This is one of the most historic corners in Fremantle (for decades it was home to a local institution, Roma Restaurant).
It’s a place that wants to fit in with its surroundings, founded on a philosophy driven by “providing genuine neighbourhood hospitality". But also to stand out, with beautifully designed interiors, tied to 1950s Italy and hospitality that goes beyond the norm – think pre-arrival planning, local itinerary creation and neighbourhood walk recommendations to make guests feel like locals.
“Owston is our take on a contemporary locanda. We want guests to feel like they’ve been welcomed into the hospitality of the West End, not just checked into a room," said project lead Nina Trimboli.
In Italy, a locanda was traditionally a small, family-run guesthouse that combines homely accommodation with authentic, local dining. And Owston successfully channels the original concept’s charm. It’s a taste of Italian hospitality in Fremantle.
The design
Unique design details can be found throughout. (Credit: Jenna French)
Pastel-coloured rainbow curtains frame the entry to the hotel. (Credit: Jenna French)
The hotel expertly balances blank space with smaller design details. (Credit: Jenna French)
The reception to the Owston Hotel. (Credit: Jenna French)
A warm and clean colour palette is used throughout the hotel. (Credit: Jenna French)
Owston Hotel’s design was inspired by the history of the building, which started life in the 1950s as a Federation shop house during a wave of Italian immigration that shaped so much of Fremantle’s modern character.
Restoration was a careful process, with many original characteristics and heritage details preserved. Modern comforts have been integrated, but with a subtle touch.
“The design honours the building’s layered history. Warm finishes, soft tones and playful moments give it a really nostalgic, personal feel," explained Zenifa Bowring of Rezen Studio, which designed the hotel.
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The rooms
Each room has its own personal touch. (Credit: Jenna French)
Every room may have its very own flair, but some things remain the same. Like soft linens, locally crafted amenities and small details that nod to the building’s history.
Rooms facing the south will enjoy a view over the Fremantle cityscape, with an accessible option. Rooms facing High Street are generous in size, with a king bed and open views over Fremantle’s historic West End.
While The Corner Room is the largest at Owston Hotel, with a king bed, bathtub, double vanity and western-facing windows that catch the glorious sunset.
The details
Check in for local insights and hospitality. (Credit: Jenna French)
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Kassia Byrnes is the Native Content Editor for Australian Traveller and International Traveller. She's come a long way since writing in her diary about family trips to Grandma's. After graduating a BA of Communication from University of Technology Sydney, she has been writing about her travels (and more) professionally for over 10 years for titles like AWOL, News.com.au, Pedestrian.TV, Body + Soul and Punkee. She's addicted to travel but has a terrible sense of direction, so you can usually find her getting lost somewhere new around the world. Luckily, she loves to explore and have new adventures – whether that’s exploring the backstreets, bungee jumping off a bridge or hiking for days. You can follow her adventures on Instagram @probably_kassia.
Trade early morning phone alarms and city chaos for bucolic serenity and gastronomic delights.
Peaceful birdsong and coastal winds meet rolling green hills and turquoise waters; there’s no better place to start your day than in Western Australia’s Denmark. This picturesque coastal town, a 4.5-hour drive from Perth along the pristine Rainbow Coast, offers bucolic bliss in spades.
A hidden retreat lies just a 10-minute drive from the town centre, inviting guests to slow down and connect with nature. At Heyscape Denmark, the ultimate refuge from the rat race and the perfect setting for a rural escape await.
Whether it’s for a refreshing weekend away or a regenerative week-long sojourn, this idyllic pocket of the world will leave you feeling anew.
Where to stay
Make the most of outdoor baths. (Credit: Jarrad Seng)
Located on the 880-acre Raintree Estate, Heyscape Denmark is an award-winning, off-grid cabin retreat ideal for anyone craving time in nature while also enjoying sustainable, luxury comfort. Just 15 are sensitively embedded in the rural environment, ensuring privacy and the perfect setting to switch off. Choose from one-bedroom, two-bedroom or 4-person cabins. Four-legged friends can also join in on the fun with pet-friendly cabins available.
Check in, to check out.
The modern accommodations are well-appointed with queen beds dressed in lush linen and pillows; a bathroom with a warm shower, flushable toilet and botanical shampoo and conditioner; and an indoor kitchenette with a Nespresso coffee maker. Outside, find timber decks with seating to spot resident kangaroos from, Heston Blumenthal barbecues for whipping up delicious meals using local produce, and outdoor baths to soak up incredible nighttime skies – Denmark’s lack of light pollution makes it an exceptional spot for stargazing and viewing the Milky Way. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame sweeping Great Southern Ocean, William Bay National Park and Karri tree views.
Wellness is at the forefront of Heyscape Denmark with thoughtful touches including Note to Self prompts, gratitude cards and a botanical sleep spray ready to help you unwind. And for the ultimate weekend of R&R, two-bedroom cabins are fitted with saunas.
Where to eat
Catch your own freshwater crayfish, then have a chef prepare it for you.
The Great Southern region’s Mediterranean climate and nutrient-rich soils make for some of the most incredible produce in the world – and a stay at Heyscape Denmark lets you sample the very best of it. The estate farms over 200 black Angus cattle, marron – a freshwater crayfish endemic to the South-West of Western Australia –, hemp and French black truffle.
Just steps from these cabins sits the estate’s paddock-to-plate restaurant, The Dam. Featuring lofty jarrah ceilings, polished concrete and expansive windows revealing calming dam views, it’s a stunning spot for lunch or dinner, alongside an outdoor playground to keep little ones happy and busy.
Acclaimed chef Jason Jujnovich utilises ingredients from Raintree Estate’s regenerative farm in his hyper-local, Modern Australian menu. Seasonally changing dishes include the likes of wagyu beef lasagna and pistachio crumbed chicken cotoletta. Or join in for pizza night on a Friday, where the mushroom and truffle pizza is an easy winner.
Meals are designed to be paired with sips from the property’s innovative Cannabis Botanical Distillery, which concocts house-made hemp spirits and seltzers using ingredients grown onsite. Taste unique drops such as the Sativa Gin with warm citrus and pepper notes and the Pineapple Passion seltzer.
Another stand-out gastronomic offering is Heyscape’s Marron Catch & Cook Experience, which lets you hand-catch freshwater crayfish from the property’s pristine dams and have them prepared and cooked to perfection for you by chefs. Those wanting to enjoy a meal from the comfort of their cabin can fire up the barbecue and grill their fresh catch or order a gourmet dinner box with mouthwatering wagyu steak and antipasti against golden peaceful sunset views.
Things to do
Spend a day enjoying the idyllic Lights Beach. (Credit: Tourism WA)
There’s no shortage of things to do in Denmark, and basing yourself at Heyscape Denmark puts you within easy access to it all. Nature lovers are spoiled with unbeatable spots for swimming and snorkelling, plus coastal hiking trails at William Bay National Park – a protected coastal reserve with approximately 1734 hectares of stunning landscapes ready to be explored.
Hire an e-bike from the property and cycle just 15 minutes to the unbelievably clear waters and white sands of Greens Pools, a naturally sheltered beach. Or the idyllic Lights Beach, which features three beaches, dunes, natural wading pool and scenic walking trails. Keen surfers should turn their attention to Ocean Beach with its world-class surf breaks.
Wander the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk. (Credit: Tourism WA)
Stroll past towering Karri and giant Red Tingle trees on the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk. The 600-metre walkway rises 40 metres above the ancient forest floor and meanders through the hardwood trees, endemic exclusively to the Great Southern region.
Denmark is also a haven for creatives, and Butter Factory Studios is a must-stop on any itinerary. The contemporary art gallery, working artist studio and gift shop are housed within a historic building where workshops and exhibitions support and showcase creators from the region.
With the winning trifecta of delicious food, a pristine environment, and secluded accommodation, Denmark proves to be the ultimate destination for relaxation.
