Fremantle Prison

A limestone prison built by convicts in 1855 and in use until 1991. It is a World Heritage site on Australia's convict sites, and its guided tours cover gallows, escapes and underground tunnel adventures.

Fremantle Prison was built between 1851 and 1859. British convicts transported to Western Australia laid its limestone walls by hand. For many years it was the state's highest-security prison, until it closed in 1991 after riots and poor conditions. In 2010 it was inscribed as one of the Australian Convict Sites on the World Heritage List, making it Western Australia's only World Heritage cultural site. Visits are only possible on guided tours. The Convict Prison tour (75 minutes) covers 19th-century transportation history and architecture. Behind Bars (75 minutes) covers 20th-century prison life, the 1988 riot and escape stories. You will see cells, the execution chamber, the flogging frame and prisoner murals. The True Crime tour is also available. The Torchlight night tour runs on Wednesday and Friday evenings, covers ghost stories and execution history, and is not suitable for children under 10. The most thrilling option is the Tunnels Tour (2.5 hours). Wearing a helmet, you descend 20 m into the waterways dug by convicts, and you cross them by kayak. It costs about AUD 70 to 100 and must be booked in advance. Single tours cost about AUD 25, and combined tickets offer a discount. The main gate and exhibition areas are free to enter. The entrance has a café and an art gallery that sells works by prisoners and local artists. Some buildings beside the prison now form the YHA hostel, where you can stay in a former cell. The prison is a 15-minute walk from Fremantle Train Station, or you can take the free CAT bus to The Terrace. Tours have limited capacity, so book online in advance for weekends. The tunnel adventure has age (12+) and fitness requirements and will get you wet. Indoor areas are cool, so bring a jacket in winter.

Fremantle Prison

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