Fremantle Prison
- Visit: 2–8 hours
- from AUD 18.50
- Not step-free
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What's on here
Event Thurs 12 November 2026 Men at Work
Thursday, 10:00
Event Sat 28 November 2026 Guy Sebastian
Saturday, 09:001 USD
Event Sun 6 December 2026 Suzi Quatro
Sunday, 09:00
Event Wed 10 February 2027 Kaleo
Wednesday, 09:00
Event Friday 12 February 2027 Pete Murray
Friday · All day
Event Wed 3 March 2027 Belinda Carlisle
Wednesday · All day
Exhibition
Until 1 Apr 2027
Exhibition
Until 26 Apr 2027Free
Why go
- One of eleven Australian Convict Sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
- A Main Cell Block built by convicts and designed for 1,000 prisoners.
- The prison from which six Fenian prisoners escaped aboard the whaler Catalpa in 1876.
Opening hours
Today09:00 – 17:00Show all
Don't miss
- Gallows room43 men and one woman were executed here; the last was Eric Edgar Cooke in 1964.Main Cell Block
- Prison tunnelsConvicts dug this water-supply network 20 metres underground between 1874 and 1898; it extends for more than a kilometre beneath the prison and surrounding area.Beneath the prison and surrounding area
- Iron gateThe narrow gate includes iron made from salvaged shipwreck material.Between the gatehouse’s two towers, facing The Terrace
- Restored cellsSix restored cells trace changing living conditions across the prison’s history.
- Convict ancestor searchSearch the interactive Convict Database for convict ancestors.Former Superintendent’s backyard
Know before you go
- Tunnel tours are limited to participants aged 12 and over.
- School groups require at least two supervisors on every tour.
- A teacher or helper must accompany the guide to support students.
What's inside
- The Main Cell Block contains solitary confinement cells and Anglican and Catholic chapels.
- The visitor centre occupies the former Contact Visits Area, with punishment and reform artefacts, footage and history panels.
- The Convict Depot displays artefacts, stories, photographs and artworks from the convict era.
- The wider grounds include New Division, the former Women’s Prison, a hospital, cottages and perimeter walls.
With kids
- The prison hosts school excursions and day outings for child-care groups. A guide accompanies students throughout their tour.
Tips for your visit
- The prison offers several kinds of tours, including tunnel tours with sections explored on foot or by boat.
Interesting facts5
-
The prison’s design drew on Pentonville in Britain, but used a four-storey linear cell block rather than diagonal blocks.
Fremantle Prison - Wikipedia (part 2) -
80 men
Dormitory wards held up to 80 men sleeping in hammocks; individual cells measured 2.1 by 1.2 metres.
Fremantle Prison - Wikipedia -
A 4.6-metre wall encloses the grounds.
Fremantle Prison - Wikipedia -
The gatehouse clock was imported from England.
Fremantle Prison - Wikipedia -
In the convict era, prisoners ate bread from the prison bakehouse with every meal.
Fremantle Prison - Wikipedia (part 3)
Shorts
History
Prison labour helped shape Fremantle and Perth through roads, jetties and public buildings. By the early twentieth century, work increasingly took place within the prison walls.
- 1850The first convict ship, Scindian, arrived on 2 June.
- 1855Prisoners moved into the completed southern half of the Main Cell Block on 1 June.
- 1886The colonial government took control, renamed the Convict Establishment Fremantle Prison and transferred prisoners from Perth Gaol.
- 1898A royal commission heard almost 240 witnesses; afterwards, almost 100 cells were enlarged by joining pairs.
- 1888–1984The gallows room was Western Australia’s only lawful execution site.
Show all
- 1907–1908New Division opened in 1907 and was occupied in 1908; the three-storey, L-shaped building had electric lighting.
- 1911–1912A royal commission recommended closure, but the government did not act; the separate system and its exercise yards were dismantled in 1912.
- World War IIThe prison also served as a military prison and internment centre. By October 1945, it held up to 400 military and 160 civilian prisoners.
- 1988A riot involved hostage-taking and a fire that caused $1.8 million in damage.
- 1991The prison closed and was replaced by Casuarina Prison. Its buildings were conserved and adapted for community use.
- 1992The prison opened to the public.
- 1993Four northern workshops were converted into TAFE art workshops.
- 2005The tunnels opened to visitors.
How to get there
- ParkingFremantle Prison is at 1 The Terrace, Fremantle, Western Australia. Paid parking for over 60 vehicles is directly outside, via Fothergill Street.
- ParkingTwo coach bays are directly outside the prison; two more are on Parry Street.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair and pram access Some areas are inaccessible because of the site’s historic character.
- Hearing support Free AUSLAN handheld guides are available for visitors with hearing disabilities.
Sources: Fremantle Prison - Wikipedia · Fremantle Prison - Wikipedia (part 2) · Fremantle Prison - Wikipedia (part 3) · Perth/Fremantle - Wikivoyage (see) · Fremantle Prison | Western Australia's only Wor… · Visit Us I Fremantle Prison · Prison Cafe closed · Fremantle Prison - Wikipedia · Prison de Fremantle - Wikipedia · Schools and Groups I Fremantle Prison · School Group I Plan Your Visit At Fremantle Pri… · checked 28 Sep 2026
- Website
- fremantleprison.com.au/
- Phone
- 93369200
Questions and answers
Why was New Division built at Fremantle Prison?
It was built to relieve overcrowding and keep prisoners separated.
Who was Moondyne Joe at Fremantle Prison?
Joseph Bolitho Johns was a prisoner known for repeated escapes, including breaking through a prison wall.
Was Bon Scott imprisoned at Fremantle Prison?
The AC/DC singer was among the prison’s notable inmates.
What was Fremantle Prison’s Women’s Prison originally?
It began as a service complex and became Western Australia’s first separate prison for women.
What work did prisoners do at Fremantle Prison?
Tasks included cooking, laundry, cleaning, tailoring, bootmaking and printing.
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