Things to Do in Fremantle, Australia: Walking Guide

Fremantle is a port city at the mouth of the Swan River in Western Australia, celebrated for its well‑preserved harbour, convict‑era architecture and vibrant arts scene. Visitors are drawn to its maritime museums, lively markets and nearby beaches, all set against a relaxed coastal atmosphere that feels distinct from the larger Perth metropolitan area. Neywo provides a free audio guide for Fremantle with 26 narrated places, letting you explore the city’s stories at your own pace.

Explore Fremantle’s highlights

Fremantle Prison (museum)

Fremantle Prison, also known as Fremantle Gaol or Fremantle Jail, is a former prison that now serves as a heritage site and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its grounds contain cellblocks, a gatehouse, perimeter walls, cottages and tunnels, illustrating the scale of the institution. Originally built to hold convicts transported from Britain, it came under colonial government control in 1886 and continued to house locally sentenced prisoners until its closure in 1991, when it was replaced by the Casuarina Prison. During its operation it was Western Australia’s only lawful place of execution, with more than forty hangings recorded between 1888 and 1984. The prison is also famous for several daring escapes, including those of Moondyne Joe, John Boyle O’Reilly and six fellow Fenians, and Brenden Abbott in 1989. Reform efforts began with Royal Commissions in 1898 and 1911, but substantial improvements did not arrive until the 1960s, after prisoner unrest led to a major riot in 1988.

E Shed Markets (market)

E Shed Markets operate as a weekend market inside a historic timber building on Victoria Quay at Fremantle Harbour. The space combines shopping with free entertainment, creating a lively atmosphere. The building dates from 1929; in 1995 it was moved from its original position beside the river on Victoria Quay to vacant land behind the B and C sheds and rotated 180 degrees. The relocation and conversion into a market were designed by Tarek Ibrahim for AND Design, with construction carried out by the Fini Group.

Engine Museum (museum)

The Engine Museum is devoted to marine engines, showcasing a collection that highlights Fremantle’s maritime engineering heritage.

Western Australian Maritime Museum (museum)

Located on Victoria Quay, the Western Australian Maritime Museum explores the state’s connection to the sea. Its exhibits cover everything from early Indigenous watercraft to modern naval vessels and the industries that have shaped Fremantle’s harbour.

Fremantle (other)

Arriving in Fremantle—or “Freo” as locals call it—means entering a port city where the Swan River meets the ocean. Known to the Noongar people as Walyalup, Fremantle Harbour serves Perth and brings together maritime, convict and creative histories. The area was the first site settled by the Swan River colonists in 1829 and takes its name from Captain Charles Fremantle, the English naval officer who claimed the west coast of New Holland for Britain. Before European arrival, the Noongar inhabited the region for millennia. A defining chapter began in 1850 when penal transportation brought convicts to the colony; Fremantle became Australia’s primary destination for those prisoners, and the convict‑built Fremantle Prison continued operating long after transportation ended in 1868. Today the prison is a World Heritage Site, and the surrounding streets display well‑preserved Victorian and Edwardian buildings alongside convict‑era architecture that give the city its distinctive character.

Fremantle Police Station complex (other)

The Fremantle Police Station complex, also referred to as the Fremantle Court House and Police Station Complex, is a heritage‑listed group that combines former civic and police facilities. It includes the former courthouse, police station, police barracks and lock‑up, as well as an artillery drill hall that adds a military dimension to the site.

HMAS Ovens (other)

HMAS Ovens is a former Royal Australian Navy submarine preserved as a museum ship. This Oberon‑class vessel was built in 1967, entered service in 1969 and remained active until decommissioning in 1995. Named after Irish‑Australian explorer John Ovens and the Victorian river that bears his name, the submarine achieved several firsts for the RAN: it was the first to deploy with the ANZUK force and the first to fire an armed Mark 48 torpedo, sinking the target ship Colac.

Samson House (historic site)

Samson House operates as a museum and heritage site, offering a glimpse into Fremantle’s residential past within a preserved historic building.

Moores Building Art Space (museum)

Housed in a heritage‑listed building, Moores Building Art Space is linked to the former W D Moore and Company complex, which transitioned from commerce to public exhibitions. The complex was restored by the City of Fremantle in 1985‑86 with a Commonwealth Government grant and has since hosted exhibitions and public events. The adjoining W D Moore and Company Warehouse on Henry Street features an ornamental stucco facade dating from 1899; behind it lie a residence, warehouse, factory, stable, offices and shops constructed between 1862 and 1899. The site also contains a three‑storey backstore that may date back to as early as 1844. The business originated with a store established by Samuel Moore in the 1840s, later expanded by William Dalgety Moore into a general merchant enterprise that dealt in food, beer, wine, flour, coffee, spices, hardware and mining supplies.

Rainbow (statue)

Rainbow is a contemporary public sculpture situated in Fremantle, providing a place to pause and experience a modern work of art in an open setting.

Artillery Drill Hall (theatre)

Also known as Freo.Social, the Artillery Drill Hall is a former Army drill hall that now serves as a venue recalling Fremantle’s military past.

Christian Science Church, Fremantle (church)

Located at 3 Canning Highway, the Christian Science Church is a heritage‑listed place of worship that forms part of Fremantle’s streetscape.

Church of Christ, Fremantle (church)

The Church of Christ in Fremantle is a heritage‑listed building that contributes to the city’s architectural diversity.

Fremantle Grammar School (church)

Although no longer operating as a school, the Fremantle Grammar School building remains a heritage‑listed structure that reflects Fremantle’s educational history.

Fremantle Synagogue (synagogue)

The Fremantle Synagogue, situated on South Terrace at the corner of Parry Street, is a heritage‑listed building and the oldest surviving synagogue in Western Australia. Dating from the late nineteenth century, it was associated with Jewish community leaders and merchants in Fremantle and is also known as the Beers building.

Explore Fremantle with Neywo

Neywo’s free audio guide for Fremantle includes 26 narrated places and two self‑guided walking tours. The first tour, “From the Quay to the Town Square: Fremantle’s Harbour Heritage,” covers 2.17 kilometres in about 94 minutes and stops at 12 sites, including the Western Australian Maritime Museum, HMAS Ovens, the Engine Museum, E Shed Markets and Moores Building Art Space. The second tour, “Convicts, Courts and Churches: Fremantle’s Convict Story,” spans 2.67 kilometres, lasts roughly 100 minutes and visits 11 stops such as the Fremantle Police Station complex, the Artillery Drill Hall, Fremantle Prison, Samson House and Fremantle Grammar School. Each story plays automatically as you reach the location, allowing you to move at your own pace without a group or a set schedule. Narration is available in 11 languages, so you can choose the language that suits you best. To start exploring, simply download the Neywo app, select Fremantle, and let the guides lead you through the city’s rich history and vibrant culture.