The Round House — Attraction in Fremantle

In 1868 the last convict ship arrived in Fremantle Western Australia. Western Australia was found by Dutch explorer Dirk Hartog as early as 1616 but not much attention was given. He was drifted of course on his way to Batavia, now Jakarta. Same happened to the famous ship wreck Batavia which was on it’s maiden sail when it crashed near Fremantle. It was until 1827 when the British Captain Stirling was exploring the area and wrote positive reports back to England. Afraid of losing ground to the French the British decided to control the region and raised their Flag in 1829 at the mouth of the Swan River and declared Western Australia as new Holland under King George IV. Due to the lack up people, immigration started only month later and with this also the first convict ships arrived. The 1st solid building in the area was the ‘Round House’ in 1931 which housed early prisoners from England. In 1850 Western Australia was declared a Penal Colony and with the growing number of convicts it needed more space and triggered the design of the Fremantle Prison built from 1852 -1959. A white limestone building which was built by the prisoners themselves. It served as a prison until 1991. (now a UNESCO world heritage site) It ended in 1868 with a total of 43 voyages from England and a total number of more than 9000 convicts reaching the...

Wow...an historical place that mixes up good and bad sentiments...Imagine the many incarcerated that suffered in that Round-house jail. Probably most of them 'guilty' of no more than from being from socially disadvantaged backgrounds, rather than being menacing law-breakers....Thankfully, mistreatment of unfortunate people situated there, finally ended.

So the Round-house is great for quiet contemplation of the striking contrast between once being a place of dark human misery and now offering up relief and other awesome vibes...contemplating the unsavoury past amidst most magnificient and spectacular views.

On a visit one day, I was kindly asked if I wanted to set the canon to fire a very loud shot-fire...but having my springer-spaniel dog with me, I could not accept...ha ha ha Lillypilly would not have appreciated being near that loud noise one bit!

Often overlooked by busy shoppers and visitors to Fremantle, it is perfect to take a 15 minutes break or more to visit. If you need a cheer-up or a gratitude check, you should go! The Ocean-freshness of the 'Fremantle Doctor' is most energizing. This place is a feast for...

My boyfriend and I visited the Round House in 2023, and I'm glad to finally share our experience. The volunteer team is truly dedicated to educating visitors about the history, stories, and cultural significance of the Round House. They go above and beyond to share their knowledge, and their passion really shines through. The volunteers were incredibly friendly and took the time to engage with us, making sure our visit felt meaningful and worthwhile. We especially remember one lovely older gentleman—unfortunately, we forgot his name—who was incredibly knowledgeable and kind. He made a lasting impression with the way he shared the history of the site. There was a sign suggesting a gold coin donation, but there was no pressure at all. A volunteer briefly mentioned it, and we were more than happy to contribute. Supporting places like this helps ensure the stories are passed on to future generations—and that people like the kind gentleman we met can continue to bring the Round House to life. It’s much more than just an old building; it’s a place filled...