"Walk the cell blocks of Western Australia's only UNESCO World Heritage-listed building."
Fremantle Prison, Perth Overview
Fremantle Prison is a UNESCO World Heritage-listed former prison that operated from 1855 to 1991, and is considered the best-preserved convict-built prison in Australia. Set at 1 The Terrace in Fremantle, close to Fremantle Markets, the limestone complex includes cell blocks, a gatehouse, the restored 1964 gallows room, and underground tunnels. Visitors can choose from guided options including the Convict Prison Tour, Behind Bars, True Crime, Torchlight, and Tunnels tours, taking in more than 15,000 preserved artefacts across 136 years of penal history.
Built using convict labour from 1850, Fremantle Prison held its first inmates in 1855 and served as Western Australia's primary prison until its closure on 30 November 1991. In 2010, UNESCO inscribed it as part of the Australian Convict Sites World Heritage listing. The site now operates as a heritage museum, offering daytime and evening tours through cell blocks, the chapel, the restored gallows room, and a network of underground tunnels once used for stone quarrying. A visitor centre, cafe, gift shop, and a hostel occupy parts of the historic grounds, and a searchable convict database lets visitors trace individual prisoner records.
