tour of fremantle prison

Welcoming visitors since 1850

Step inside and do time

Get Inside the criminal mind

Explore the darker side of history

Descend into the depths below

Whats on at fremantle prison.

School Holidays 3 - 10 Apr 2024

Escape! Tours

School Holidays 2 - 11 Apr 2024

Locked Up! Tours

Event Sat 20 April | Sat 4 May | Sat 18 May

Event Sat 11 May

Women on the Inside

Event Sat 27 April

Walk in the Shoes of Convicts

ARE WE OPEN?

Please note: Fremantle Prison will be closed on Good Friday (29 April). The Prison will re-open on Saturday and be open across the rest of the Easter Long Weekend.

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Fremantle Prison Tours Review: Which One is Best?

Looking for a Fremantle prison tours review? Which one is best?

There are five Fremantle prison tours: Convict Prison, Behind Bars, True Crime, Tunnels Tour, and Torchlight Tour.

Our family have taken the Fremantle Prison True Crime Tour and the Behind Bars Tour. We plan on booking the Tunnels tour soon.

This post may contain affiliate links (of companies I book through). This means I may receive a small commission if you book through them. You can read the disclaimer for more information.

When it comes to prisons, most people think of Alcatraz. However, Fremantle Prison in Perth , Western Australia, is a prison that is worth visiting. Fremantle Prison is the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Perth and is the largest convict-built structure in Western Australia (and the most intact convict building in the Southern Hemisphere). The prison was used from 1851 until 1991 and is now a tourist attraction.

The Fremantle Prison Tours

Convict prison tour.

The Convict Prison Tour concentrates on the history from its construction to the end of the convict era in 1886. As we already knew a lot about the history, we decided to give this one a miss.

True Crime Tour

Hear the true stories told by your guide of the notorious inmates and their escapades. On this tour, you’ll see the prison cells, exercise yard, and see where prisoners escaped.

Behind Bars Tour

Behind Bars details how a convict-built prison transformed into Western Australia’s primary place of incarceration for men, women and children and served as a maximum security gaol from 1887 to 1991. See the main cell block and exercise yards as you learn about the daily life of the prisoners.

Tunnels Tour

A tour for the adventurous is the Tunnels Tour, which we hope to do soon. You need to wear a hardhat and overalls, lock into a ladder system and descend about 20 metres below the Prison to explore the tunnels built by prisoners. Guides lead you through dry sections of the tunnels on foot, before boarding replica convict punts to explore the submerged passageways accessible only by boat. You may get wet, so a spare pair of socks is recommended.

Torchlight Tour

A popular attraction is the Torchlight Tour but it’s not for the faint hearted. Your guide tells you sordid and ghastly stories in the dark with details of executions gone wrong, innocent people unjustly imprisoned and the guilty punished.

Fremantle Prison Entrance

Pay attention to the historic buildings along the Terrace with signs explaining what they were used for. As you approach the grand Gatehouse, think about all the prisoners that used this entrance at the start and end of their sentence.

The clock above was made in London in 1854 and installed at the front gate in 1856. The deputy superintendent lived on the top floor, while the gatekeeper and chief warder used the lower floor. Later in the 1900s, rooms were used as a visitor entry and search rooms.

Head to the gift shop to collect your tour tickets if you have ordered them online. You can visit the Gallery, Convict Depot, and Museum if you have time before your tour starts. The gallery features several paintings by prisoners throughout Western Australia, which are available to buy. There were some amazing artworks by indigenous Australians that stood out. The museum houses exhibits showcasing the history, conservation, and cultural significance of Fremantle Prison.

There is no entrance fee to enter the Gatehouse area. This includes access to the gift shop, Convict Café, Gallery, Convict Depot, and Museum.

Fremantle Prison Tours: True Crime Tour Review

The tour starts through the main prison gates, where your guide will briefly explain the tour and some rules to keep everyone safe and preserve this historical landmark.

Opposite, you will see the Anglican Chapel, part of the main cell block, which was restored in 2007 to remove the rendering used to cover the limestone in the 60s. It is now back to how it looked when it was first constructed, and much nicer.

As you walk around the perimeter of the main cell block, your guide will regale real-life stories of some of the most notorious prisoners that spent time here. It’s interesting to hear what they got up to and how some even escaped the prison.

I won’t go into detail about the stories as it will spoil your tour. However, we learned about  Martha Rendell  (who was the only woman to be executed here), the  Postcard Bandit ,  Eric Edgar Cooke  (the serial killer who was the last man hung here), Sydney Sutton (the last person to be flogged),  David & Catherine Birnie  (also known as the Moorhouse murderers), and Stephen Burnett and Peter Boyd (The  Rubbish Truck Heist ). Fascinating stuff!

You will see the exercise yard from above, the maximum-security cells, and the cell block during the Fremantle Prison True Crime tour.

Once the tour finishes, you can explore the Gatehouse area and read more about this historic convict prison.

The True Crime Tour at Fremantle Prison is one of the best tours in Perth .

Fremantle Prison True Crime Tour Price

The cost of this tour at August 2023 is A$22 per adult, A$19 for concessions, A$12 per child, and A$62 for a family pass.

The Family Pass is valid for two adults and up to three children (aged 4 – 15 years).

The Fremantle Prison True Crime Tour is not recommended for children under ten due to details relating to sex crimes.

Bookings are recommended in peak times to ensure the time slot you want is available.

Fremantle Prison True Crime Tour Times

This tour runs for 1 hour and 15 minutes.

They run daily every hour from 11.45 am to 4.45 pm.

Fremantle Prison History

Originally known as The Convict Establishment, the name changed to Fremantle Prison in 1867. The site was chosen due to the closeness to the city and the harbour. It was believed that the strong sea breeze would help prevent disease.

The prison was built by convict labour between 1852 and 1859, with limestone quarried on site. The site not only included the prison but accommodation for the officers. The buildings alongside Fremantle Prison, now called The Terrace, consists of four houses and the gatehouse. They housed the superintendent, the deputy superintendent, the chaplain, and the surgeon superintendent. The Knowle, the comptroller-general’s house, is now part of Fremantle Hospital. The grandeur of these residences helped perceive the high status of the young men who lived there. They remained staff lodgings until the 1960 s when they were taken over by prison administration and are now used for commercial and educational purposes.

The Surgeon’s residence was built in 1856 and the prison’s surgeon superintendent, George Attfield, moved in the next year. He was responsible for the patient’s health, including the effects of punishment, and looked after the prison hospital and the lunatic asylum on Finnerty Street. You can see this building before you enter Fremantle Prison.

Superintendent Thomas Dixon was the first occupier of the magistrate’s building which was constructed in 1855. It was in 1886 that the resident magistrate, who was responsible for hearing prisoners’ crimes, moved in. Holding cells were built into the cellar in 1903, which held the prisoners overnight until the reception was open the next day.

Between 1850 and 1868, when convict transportation ceased, nearly 10,000 convicts had come here.

Fremantle Prison remained in use until 1991 and was a dark place of hangings, floggings, riots, and escapes.

By 1886, there were fewer than 60 convicts held here, so Perth Gaol closed, and this became the main prison. Men, women, and juveniles were all imprisoned here.

A Royal Commission in 1983 recommended the prison’s closure, mainly due to a series of prisoner riots and diabolical prison conditions.

Fremantle Prison was decommissioned on 8 November 1991.

Women were already being held at Bandyup, but male prisoners were sent to Casuarina Prison. This replaced Fremantle Prison as Western Australia’s main maximum-security prison.

Where is Fremantle Prison?

Fremantle is a suburb in Perth, Western Australia.

How to get to Fremantle Prison

Besides driving, the easiest way to get to Fremantle from Perth is by train. The journey takes around 30 minutes and will cost approximately A$5 one way. Timetables can be found on Transperth’s site .

There are car hire booths at Perth Airport , but it’s best to pre-book your car rental. To compare Australian car hire prices, Discover Cars is an award-winning car rental comparison website. They offer competitive pricing in over 10,000 locations worldwide and are highly rated. DriveNow is a good resource to compare campervan hire in Western Australia. It includes all the large companies like Britz, Maui, & Jucy as well as smaller ones. Compare Rental Cars Here .

Other Helpful Guides

• Fremantle accommodation
• Things to do in Fremantle
• Perth sightseeing tours
• Perth 3-day itinerary
• Western Australia Travel Guide

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Fremantle Prison Behind Bars Tour: What To Expect

Doing a tour at the Fremantle Prison is an absolute must when visiting Perth. It’s the perfect afternoon activity that combines history and a unique location with an interactive experience. This is definitely not a traditional museum and even if you usually don’t enjoy historic sites this one will not disappoint.

Make sure to put Fremantle Prison on your bucket list for visiting Perth and don’t forget to check out our public transport guide to find out how to get there for free.

While there are quite a lot of tour options to choose from the  Behind Bars Tour  gives you a great insight into what life in this prison used to be like. Keep reading to find out exactly why you should choose this tour when you visit the Fremantle Prison and what to expect when you go.

Don’t forget to check out this incredible road trip from Perth to Albany if you want to see more of Western Australia.

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Table of Contents

FREMANTLE PRISON

Construction of the prison began in 1850 and carried on until 1859 when the initial buildings were completed. Since then the prison has undergone numerous alterations and renovations, many of which were conserved and can be seen by visitors today. The first convicts arrived at the Fremantle Prison in 1855. It was never a peaceful location. Uprisings, hangings, murder and extreme levels of discrimination were a norm at the prison largely due to the horrific treatment of indigenous inmates.

The prison had both male and female inmates and acted as a maximum security facility. There are numerous escape stories from over the years, some of which were mentioned during the tour. Read some of them  here .

The Fremantle Prison is Western Australia’s only world heritage-listed building. It became a tourist attraction in 1991 when it was officially closed as a penitentiary. Since then restoration works have made it possible for the prison to become a wedding and event location and, of course, act as a museum and educational site for visitors.

It is one of the largest historic prisons in the world.

CAN YOU VISIT THE FREMANTLE PRISON WITHOUT A TOUR?

The main part of the prison is only accessible via the paid tours such as the  Behind Bars Tour  described in this post. However, you can visit the Gatehouse which is the prison’s entrance building for free and without a tour. It is not very large but still nice to see if you don’t want to commit to paying for a tour. This area includes the visitor’s centre, the prison gallery and museum, a little tourist shop and a cafe.

However, you won’t be able to access any of the cells or prison buildings without a guided tour. The prison complex is very large and it’s definitely worth seeing.

THE BEHIND BARS TOUR

The  Behind Bars Tour  aims to give you an insight into prison life. It guides you through the prison as if you were an inmate yourself and shows you all parts of a prisoner’s daily routine. By showcasing different time periods visitors can truly see how the prison changed over the years and what convicts were subject to.

Most of the tour takes place in the cellblocks and you get to see the prison kitchen, recreational areas, cells and yards. You can see both the male and female prison facilities as well as the areas of racial segregation.

This tour also takes you to the execution chambers of the prison where many inmates were hanged over the years. It is definitely not for the faint of heart, however, you can choose to opt-out of seeing these places if you wish.

HOW MUCH ARE THE TICKETS?

A regular adult ticket for the  Behind Bars Tour  costs $22 AUD. A concession ticket or a group ticket for more than 10 people costs $19 AUD. A ticket for children under 15 years old costs only $12 AUD. Family tickets are available for $62 AUD which includes 2 adults and 3 children.

If you show a valid student ID you can get a student discount so you only have to pay $10 AUD for a ticket.

There are combination tickets available for multiple tours which will make prices cheaper. Check the prison’s website for  more information.

SHOULD YOU BOOK IN ADVANCE?

It’s usually sufficient to book a tour at the Fremantle Prison a few days in advance. You can also book tickets on arrival, however, since tour spaces are limited you might not be able to get on the tour you want. Try to book online if you’re visiting on a weekend since the tours will be significantly more popular then. Usually, it’s harder to get tickets for the afternoon tours than the morning options.

If you want to visit the prison on a specific day with a time constraint then book your tickets online or over the phone in advance.

WHEN DO THE BEHIND BARS TOURS RUN?

The  Behind Bars  tour runs every hour from 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The prison is closed on Good Friday and Christmas Day.

HOW LONG ARE THE FREMANTLE PRISON TOURS?

The Behind Bars tour lasts for around 1 hour and 15 minutes.

WHAT TO BRING

The prison offers lockers where you can leave any items and bags that you do not want to take with you into the prison. This is optional, however. You should definitely bring your camera on the tour as well as a water bottle. Anything else is not really necessary to bring.

WHAT’S THE BEST WEATHER TO GO?

The majority of this tour takes place inside, although there are some parts where you will be standing in the various prison yards. While it is still enjoyable to do this tour during a rainy day it will be a better experience when the weather is dry so you can take a better look at the outside areas of the prison.

ACCESSIBILITY

The  Behind Bars  tour is 100% wheelchair accessible.

MY EXPERIENCE: THE FREMANTLE PRISON BEHIND BARS TOUR

At the beginning of the tour, you are welcomed at the reception of the prison where inmates would first arrive and be registered. You are lead through the prison showers, the kitchen and offices which were all conserved to show exactly what prison life was like. With original artefacts such as cooking equipment or office documents, this area was really interesting in my opinion. There are little gadgets such as original soundscapes from the dining hall which make the experience truly come alive.

Next, you get to see two different prison yards where the inmates spent most of their time. In the past, these yards were racially segregated and it was powerful to see the paintings made by aboriginal inmates who were often incarcerated unfairly.

THE CELLBLOCK

After seeing the yards we were lead into the cellblock itself and could look at a variety of cells from different points in time. It was fascinating to see how these cells changed over time. Some only had a makeshift hammock while others were equipped with TVs, toasters and even bathrooms.

The tour guide was very knowledgable and did their best to engage the audience by asking questions and giving small interactive tasks. The stories of prison uprisings and how they were started were especially popular.

One of the most fascinating parts of this tour were the paintings in many of the cells in my opinion. Some inmates were allowed to paint the interior of their cells and the artwork was stunningly beautiful but also disturbing. Again I appreciated the acknowledgement of the suffering of aboriginal inmates.

The tour lead its visitors to the execution rooms of the prison at which point we had the choice to opt-out and skip this part. It was a disturbing experience but conducted in a respectful and educational manner.

Afterwards, we were lead to a more modern cellblock as well as the prison cinema which showed videoclips of actual prisoners exercising in the room. This was another favourite of mine as it gave you real-life impressions to take away from the experience.

Lastly, we visited the women’s quarters of the prison. It was shocking to see the differences between male and female treatment at the time. Again, I was pleasantly surprised at how the tour made sure to highlight these disparities.

The tour ended at the prison courtyard where visitors could see the impressive exterior of the cellblocks and chapel.

OTHER TOURS AT THE PRISON

If you want to see more of the prison you can opt to take other tours while you are there. These include the  Convict Prison Tour  which focuses on individual prisoners’ stories and the prison’s history or the  True Crime Tour  which highlights escape stories and legendary inmates. Lastly, the prison offers special  Tunnels  and  Torchlight Tours  which let you visit the prison’s impressive tunnel system or see the facility at night.

WHAT TO DO AFTER THE TOUR

If you haven’t done a lot of exploring yet you need to see more of Fremantle. This little town may or may not be the best part of Perth and there is so much to do. Don’t miss out! You’ll love the unique things to do in Fremantle we collected in this post.

If you’ve already seen Fremantle why not check out Rottnest Island? Find our complete backpacker’s guide  here .

Camping in Australia? Find out all you need to know  here .

Did we miss anything? If you have any questions or feel like something is missing from this post please leave a comment below or  contact us .

About The Author

How To Get Around Perth – Public Transport Guide

19 Unique Things To Do In Fremantle, Western Australia

Perth Itinerary: What To See And Do In Perth In 5 Days

Best Camping Sites in Bremer Bay, Western Australia

Best Campsites and Free Camping in Coral Bay, WA

Perth to Albany Road Trip Itinerary – Insider Tips for the Drive

The only Perth to Kalbarri Road Trip Itinerary You’ll Need

Rottnest Island Backpacker & Camping Guide

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Honest tourism information about Australia

What can I see on the Fremantle Prison tunnels tour?

• David Whitley
• Attractions

The Fremantle Prison tunnel tours go into the convict-dug tunnels below the historic, World Heritage-listed prison building. There’s a boat cruise through the Fremantle tunnels after an 18 metre ladder descent.

Fremantle Prison is one of the most important historic buildings in Australia. When convicts arrived in Fremantle , Western Australia in the 1850s, one of the most pressing tasks was to build a prison they could be locked away in.

Book your perfect Fremantle accommodation .

When convict shipping from the UK stopped, the Fremantle Prison housed the general population . By the time the prison closed in 1991 it was dangerously outdated and completely unsuited to task. The Fremantle Prison is now a World Heritage site, open to the public for a variety of tours. These are themed on prison life and escape attempts.

Fremantle Prison tunnels tour: Under the prison

The Fremantle Prison tunnels tour, however, goes deeper. Literally deeper – it takes visitors into the network of tunnels under the prison.

These underground passageways were dug out in order to tap into a fresh water supply. This was used first for the prisoners, and then for the whole of Fremantle.

The tunnel water is still used for the prison gardens, but the tunnels themselves are now a tourist attraction. Participants don paper suits, harnesses and helmets, then clip themselves to a safety ladder system.

The initial 18 metre descent on the Fremantle tunnels tour is down a series of ladders. This seems scary enough when you’re clipped on, but the original convicts just had a basic ladder and no safety equipment.

Things to book in Fremantle before you arrive

• Your Rottnest Island ferry tickets and bike hire .
• A best of Fremantle two hour walking tour .
• Whale-watching cruise tickets .
• A street art and beer tour .
• A half day sailing cruise to Carnac Island.
• A sunset sailing cruise .
• A four venue Fremantle bar tour .

How convicts dug the Fremantle Prison tunnels

Under the prison is a kilometre-long network of tunnels. Most of this was dug out by hand. Astonishingly, doing the digging for eight hours a day, six days a week, was seen as one of the better jobs. As long as the prisoners worked hard, they would be given time off their sentence in return. Far worse was standing at the top of the shaft, manually pumping out water all day long.

Once inside the tunnels, there’s a lot of bending over to do. They are not high. Tree roots sneaking through show that the tunnels go outside the prison boundaries.

DON’T MISS OUT! 9 fabulous Perth experiences to book today ✅

• ✅ See the Rottnest Island quokkas the smart way – with a ferry and bike package .
• ✅ Be amazed by the abundant wildlife – on a dolphin, penguin and sealion cruise .
• ✅ See clear night skies in a moon-like desert – on a Pinnacles stargazing experience .
• ✅ Indulge in chocolate, cheese & premium wines – on a Swan Valley food and wine tour .
• ✅ See the city sunset from the water – on a Swan River dinner cruise .
• ✅ Watch gold being melted and poured – on a Perth Mint gold tour .
• ✅ Combine nature with imperious city views – on Kings Park Segway tour .
• ✅ Face your fears and get the thrill of your life on a – on a 15,000ft skydive .
• ✅ Find all the best hidden hangouts – on a small bar and street art tour .

Fremantle Prison boat tour

Given that only around a quarter of the tunnel system is walkable, much of the tour is conducted by boat. Participants are loaded into a series of little wooden boats, only big enough for one or two people.

The paddling is self-propelled, and the boat ride goes past spider webs, well shafts and timber supports. It’s a disorientating experience, as there are no landmarks to go by and no maps to read. The lack of things to see make the tour so atmospheric, however. It’s a claustrophobic, underground experience that majors on the weirdness of the location.

The Fremantle Prison tunnels tour must be booked in advance.

The Fremantle tunnels tour costs $65 and lasts around two-and-a-half hours.

5 great day trips from Perth – make your visit special

• Rottnest Island ferry transfer – with bike hire and snorkelling gear. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• The Pinnacles desert – with koalas 🐨 and sandboarding.
• Wave Rock day tour – with wildflowers & Aboriginal culture.
• Margaret River wineries experience 🍷 – with tastings, caves & Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse.
• Full day Swan Valley wine tour 🍷– with lunch.

The prison is a 24km drive or taxi ride from Yagan Square in Perth CBD . A visit can easily be combined with a browse around the WA Shipwrecks Museum and the Roundhouse , or dining at Bread In Common .

Other Fremantle activities include taking a ride on the Fremantle ferris wheel , going for a sunset cruise and a street art and beer tour by bike.

Fremantle accommodation recommendations

The best Fremantle accommodation options are:

• For distinctive character and a sense of history: Hougoumont Hotel .
• For gorgeous apartments: West End Warehouse .
• For location and cool factor: Warders Hotel Fremantle Markets .
• For a decent pool: Pier 21 Apartmentment Hotel .       
• On a budget: Fremantle Prison YHA .

More underground adventures

The show homes of Coober Pedy , South Australia .

Caving tours at Giants Cave, Margaret River .

More heritage buildings

What heritage buildings in Adelaide are worth seeing?

Explore the castle in the rainforest at Paronella Park near Innisfail .

Which are the best historic buildings on Collins Street , Melbourne ?

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The History Hit Miscellany of Facts, Figures and Fascinating Finds

Fremantle Prison

Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia

Fremantle Prison in Western Australia is Australia’s largest and best-preserved convict-built prison. Built between 1852 and 1859, you’ll hear stories of inhumane conditions, escapes, floggings and hangings, solitary confinement and the famous (and infamous) men and women who resided here.

Sarah Roller

19 jul 2021, @sarahroller8.

About Fremantle Prison

Just south of Perth, Fremantle Prison on Western Australia’s Indian Ocean coast is Australia’s (and one of the world’s) largest and best-preserved convict-built prison. It is also the state’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site.

History of Fremantle Prison

Built by convicts between 1852 and 1859 from limestone quarried from the hill on which it is built, the prison was originally intended for imperial convicts but by 1886, only about 60 were left in a jail built to house a thousand. When Perth Gaol closed in 1888 and the local population grew with the gold rush of the 1890s, Fremantle Prison got busy again.

Prison life was highly regulated with meals being eaten in cells and up until about 1911 prisoner labour was used for much of the city of Fremantle’s infrastructure. Punishment ranged from flogging, time spent in irons, lengthening of sentences, deprivation of visits or what passed for entertainment all the way up to hanging. Forty-four (43 men, one woman) were put to death at Fremantle between 1888 and 1964 – Western Australia’s only lawful place of execution. The last man led to the noose was serial killer Eric Edgar ‘Night Caller’ Cooke, convicted of eight murders and 14 attempted murders.

The decision to decommission the prison was reached in 1983 but it remained in operation until 30th November 1991 when all remaining inmates were transferred to a maximum-security prison at Casuarina, 30km south of Fremantle.

Fremantle Prison today

Today, Fremantle Prison is one of Australia’s most popular tourist attractions and while entry to the gatehouse is free and includes the Convict Café, gift shop, prison gallery and an interactive visitor centre, there are a number of fascinating, interactive tours.

The Tunnel Tour which takes you on a subterranean boat ride through convict-built tunnels; the Doing Time Tour includes the solitary confinement cells, men’s cell block and kitchens; the Great Escape Tour includes fascinating tales of famous inmates, stories of escape, intrigue and the 1988 riot designed to highlight the inhumane conditions in which the prisoners were kept which led to the prison’s closure and the Torchlight Tour which focuses on the more macabre elements of prison life at Fremantle. The prison is open daily, 9am to 5pm.

For the really keen, there’s a YHA housed in a corner of the old prison.

Getting to Fremantle Prison

The prison is in central Fremantle, a 15 minute walk from the High Street and 20 minutes from The Roundhouse. Fremantle itself is a south western suburb of Perth – you’ll want a car to get here, or hop on a 30 minute train from central Perth to Fremantle station, which is a 10 minute walk away from the prison.

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Visiting Fremantle Prison: What to Expect

Fremantle Prison was built by convicts in the 1850s and operated until 1991. It is a great way to learn about the history of Australia and the people who lived there. The tours offer a unique perspective on life in the prison and you’ll get to see some of the cells and hear about the conditions that the prisoners lived in. There are several tours available at Fremantle Prison, so you can choose the one that interests you the most. A Fremantle Prison tour will reveal to you the history of the prison and its inmates. You will also get to see some of the cells and hear about the conditions that the prisoners lived in.

The prison consists of several buildings, including the main cell block, the hospital wing, and the gallows. Several exhibits tell the story of Fremantle Prison.

Table of Content

History of Fremantle Prison

Fremantle Prison was built in the 1850s and has been in use as a prison ever since. Prior to its closure in 1991, it operated as a maximum-security prison. Fremantle Prison reopened as a tourist attraction in 1995 after they closed it for a few years.

Prisoners in Fremantle Prison remained locked up in their cells for most of the day. For a few hours each day, they could exercise or work in the prison workshops. The cells were very small and there was very little space to move around. The prisoners were given a bed, a desk, and a chair. They were also given a Bible and a few personal items.

In 1988, a major riot took place in Fremantle Prison. The riot began on the night of January 4 and continued until the morning of January 5. About 130 prisoners took part in the riot which caused extensive damage to the prison. The prisoners burned down several buildings, smashed windows, and destroyed furniture. The death of a prisoner sparked the riots. An armed guard had beaten a prisoner to death, causing the riot. The prisoners were angry about the treatment of the prisoners and took revenge on the guards and prison officials. The riot lasted for about 12 hours before the authorities finally brought them under control.

Fremantle prison housed women for many reasons, including idleness, drunkenness, and prostitution. They even incarcerated pregnant unmarried women. The conditions in the prison were often harsh and women were subjected to various forms of abuse. In 1892, a report criticized the prison for its poor sanitation and lack of medical care.

Besides the 43 men, and one woman hanged at Fremantle prison, countless others suffered ill health, floggings, and brutality at the hands of other inmates. Fremantle Prison was a brutal place, and even today it is one of the most haunted places in Australia.

The Prison Tours

A prison tour is the best way to see Fremantle Prison, and there are several options. This gives you access to the prison’s cells, tunnels and yards. The tour also provides historical context and stories about the prisoners housed here. Those without a tour can only see a small part of the facility outside the main gate which has an elaborative exhibition.

Convict History Tour

The Convict History Tour is the perfect way to learn about the history of Fremantle Prison. On this tour, you’ll learn about the convicts who built the prison and the prisoners who lived there. The tour begins in the prison’s main courtyard, where visitors can learn about the daily lives of the prisoners. It then takes visitors through the cells, which housed both male and female prisoners. The tour finishes in the execution room, where visitors can learn about the grim fate that awaited many of the prisoners. You’ll also hear about the riots and escapes that took place at Fremantle Prison. This tour is a great way to learn about Australia’s dark past, and it provides a fascinating glimpse into the world of its convicts.

Duration: 1 hour

Price: Adults $22, Children $12

Behind Bar Tour

The Behind Bars tour gives visitors a unique opportunity to see what life was like for the prisoners. The tour takes guests through the different cell blocks and into the exercise yard. Visitors also have the chance to try on a jail uniform and have their mugshot taken. On this tour, you’ll see the prison’s cells, tunnels, and yards from a prisoner’s perspective. You’ll also learn about the living conditions in the prison and hear stories about the prisoners incarcerated here. It is an experience that is unlike any other, and it provides insights into one of Australia’s most interesting historical sites.

True Crime Tour

On the True Crime Tour, you’ll learn about some of the most notorious criminals who ever lived in Fremantle Prison. You’ll hear about their crimes and the punishment they received. The tour includes the cells of criminals like Moondyne Joe, an escape artist captured after six months on the run, and Ernest Day, a man sentenced to death for the murder of his wife. On the tour, you will also visit the gallows, which have seen over 40 executions in the prison’s history. The True Crime Tour is a great way to learn about crime and punishment in Fremantle.

Tunnels Tour

The Tunnels Tour is a great way to see Fremantle Prison from a different perspective. On this tour, you’ll explore the prison’s underground tunnels, which prisoners used as a way to escape. The tour also takes visitors to the prison’s water tower and workshop. The tour also includes a visit to the punishment cells, the exercise yards, and the solitary confinement cells. Visitors also have the opportunity to see how prisoners were transported from their cells to the gallows. It is a great way to see the prison’s hidden side and learn about its history.

When booking a Fremantle Prison Tunnel Tour, there are a few essentials you will need to remember. First, the tour is not suitable for children under the age of 10, and those under the age of 15 must be accompanied by an adult. Second, the tour lasts for approximately 2.5 hours and involves a fair amount of walking, so it is important to be reasonably fit. Third, you will need to be able to climb a few staircases, as there are no lifts or ramps in the prison.

Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes (only on weekends)

Price: Adults $65, Children $45

Torchlight Tour

Discover the darker side of Fremantle Prison’s history on a special Torchlight tour. This tour takes place after dark, and it is only available for adults. Offered only on Wednesday and Friday evenings, the tour gives visitors the rare opportunity to explore the prison after hours. The eerie atmosphere of the corridors and cells, with countless inmates incarcerated here over the years. Hear stories of executions gone wrong, of prisoners who went mad from the isolation, and of those who were unjustly accused and left to rot in their cells. The tour offers a unique insight into one of Western Australia’s most iconic landmarks and is not for the faint-hearted.

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Price: Adults $28

A visit to remember

If you’re looking for an interesting and unique way to learn about Australian history, Fremantle Prison is a great option. The tours provide a fascinating glimpse into life behind bars from the 1850s through to 1991. Whether you’re a history buff or just want to do something different, it is well worth a visit.

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Very Unique Tunnel Tour under the... - Fremantle Prison

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Very Unique Tunnel Tour under the Prison on Foot and on Boat

The Tunnel Tour at Fremantle Prison will give you a very unique and exciting experience. But first I must say that this tour is not for people who are: 1) afraid of height, 2) claustrophobic, 3) afraid of darkness, 4) has vertigo, or 5) not in a good physical health. I went with 8 other friends on a Saturday 2.40pm tour. A friend paid for the group booking using his credit card. Everyone will need to download a "Visitor Declaration Form" before being allowed to join the tour. For some reason the link to the form on the official website did not work but managed to find it online using Google (what else? haha). A tour guide met us and explained about the tour. We went into the prison compound and watched a short movie. A friend and her son thought the tour was too much for them and decided to cancel. They ended up going for another, less 'scary,' tour. I believe she got a refund for the Tunnel Tour fee. So there were only 7 of us, plus two other men in the group. After the movie, each one of us was handed a disposable onesie-type of thin white clothing to put on plus boots to wear. So yes, you need to wear socks. We were told that the temp would be warm underground, especially with the climbing, walking and paddling. So everyone took off his/her jacket/hoodie. We left all our stuff in a locker and that included our smartphone. So no phone underground. Next, we entered the 'pit' where we would climb down a 18-meter vertical ladder. No worries though since the descend would be done in three stages. So it was not all the way down in one go. Besides, we wore safety harnesses, helmet (with head torch), and ladder-safety hooks that would save us in case someone slipped from the ladders. It's very safe and easy to use. After a brief safety instruction, we went down the ladder in pairs. Once we got to the bottom, we walked the tunnels and the tour guide explained many things about the tunnels. In some parts, we had water in the tunnels. And we had to walk by bending our back since the ceiling was very low in some sections. So if you have a bad back or lower-back pain, you might want to reconsider taking this tour. At one point, all the lights (including head torches on our helmets) were turned off to give us the chance to experience how it was like underground when the prisoners were still here, working in the tunnels. Went back to the starting point and it was time for boat rides. We get on the boats in pairs too. Only shallow waters so no need to worry that you might tip over the boat. It was a unique experience to paddle a boat in such a narrow and low-ceiling tunnels. There are intersections underground so the tour guide made sure that no one was left behind or took the wrong turn :) At the end of the tour we could see light at the end of the tunnel (literally and figuratively). The guide explained about this 'light at the end of the tunnel' and we paddled back to the starting point and parked the boats. Then it was climbing up back to the ground level. After which we were allowed to get our phone and took pictures while still wearing the onesies and all the gears. Then the tour was over. The 2.5 hours went so fast when you were experiencing something exciting :)

Hi anugraha_aa, thank you for submitting your review of your Tunnels Tour experience at Fremantle Prison. It is wonderful to hear you enjoyed the tour. Thank you for letting us know about the declaration form on the website, we have double checked this, and although we couldn't identify any issue with the form being available we have updated this section to indicate that hard copies of this form are available on arrival. We hope to see you again soon.

Went on the "doing time" tour. Learnt all about origins of the prison, its prisoners and their terrible conditions. Tour guide Brett was great who knew his stuff and included a wicked sense of humour. Can't wait to visit again for the great escapes tour.

Hi langleyd2015, thanks for letting us know you enjoyed your Doing Time tour with Brett and we look forward to seeing you again soon for the Great Escapes!

when visit the prison , the tour will bring us around the cell and tell us story. for those that want to know the prisoner life then yes , worth a visit .

We had a great lady guide for our Doing Time Tour! It's very informative and interesting and my kids enjoyed the tour very much! A must see in Fremantle.

It is not a fun place to visit, with the primitive cell accommodation, the flogging frame, the execution scaffold, and the rules for everything. Having said that, I think we all need to see what happens when we demand people be locked away. Take a guided tour, or you just get the see the gift shop and cafe.

Took two 12-year-old boys on the torchlight tour. Richard was a fantastic guide, and the boys loved everything!

3D Virtual Tour Fremantle Prison – EventSpace3D

Welcome to the fremantle prison 3d virtual tour, brief introduction.

Fremantle Prison was built as a convict barracks in the 19th century and remained in continual use until 1991. The Prison was a place of hangings, floggings, dramatic convict escapes and prisoner riots. Inmates included imperial convicts, colonial prisoners, enemy aliens, prisoners of war and maximum-security detainees.

The first convict transport sailed into Fremantle Harbour in 1850. The Convict Establishment, as the prison was first known, was built by convict labour between 1852 and 1859 using limestone quarried on the site. The first prisoners moved into the main cell block in 1855.

The Establishment was renamed Fremantle Prison in 1867. Transportation ceased the following year when the Hougoumont carried the last convicts to Fremantle. Nearly 10 000 convicts passed through the ‘establishment’ between 1850 and 1868.

At first only imperial convicts were confined at Fremantle Prison. By 1886 less than 60 convicts remained inside a prison built to hold 1000 men. Perth Gaol closed and Fremantle Prison became the colony’s primary place of confinement for men, women and juveniles. With the population boom of the 1890s gold rush, Fremantle Prison became busy once again.

More space had to be found for a burgeoning prison population. After the Rottnest Island Aboriginal Prison closed in 1903, prisoners from Fremantle Prison were sent to the island to carry out public works. New Division was built and opened in 1907. During the Second World War, the Australian Defence Department sequestered part of the prison as a military detention centre. A large number of Italian Australians, identified as ‘enemy aliens’ were incarcerated at Fremantle during the war.

Following a series of prisoner riots and growing concerns with prison conditions, a royal commission in 1983 recommended the Prison’s closure. Female prisoners had already been transferred to a new facility at Bandyup Women’s Prison in 1970. Fremantle was decommissioned on 8 November 1991 and its prisoners transferred to Casuarina Prison, replacing Fremantle Prison as the state’s main maximum-security prison.

After its closure the WA state government embarked on a long-term conservation plan to ensure the Prison’s preservation for future generations. Fremantle Prison is one of the largest surviving convict prisons in the world today.

Welcoming Visitors Since 1850

Fremantle Prison is one of 11 historic sites that together form the Australian Convict Sites World Heritage Property.

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Got one day in Freo? Try our self-guided Fremantle walking tour

Fremantle is a walking-friendly city, with wide roads, alleyways to duck down, and a huge range of shops, bars, restaurants, and attractions to stop into and explore. 

There’s nothing we love more than getting out and discovering the city on foot. So whether you’re a first-time visitor to Fremantle, or a Freo regular who just wants to do something different, we’ve created our own special self-guided walking tour of Fremantle. 

It’s the perfect itinerary for those with a day to spend who want to immerse themselves in this portside city – let’s get started!

A self-guided walking tour of Fremantle should start with a coffee

Location: Anywhere around Fremantle—go for a walk and find your favourite! Time required: As long as you need to sip your coffee and enjoy a bite.

You need to fuel up before your walk, and there are plenty of exceptional coffee spots located in the heart of town.

For a quick feed, Best Wishes dish up exceptional coffee and bagels. If you’ve got time to spend a bit longer, linger over breakfast and a brew at Good Things , Moore & Moore , or Hush Specialty Coffee , just to name a few.

Fremantle Prison

Location: 1 The Terrace

Time required: Schedule at least 90 minutes if you plan on taking a tour of the site.

Fremantle Prison is a key part of the town’s heritage. Built between 1852 and 1859 by prisoner labour, it remained in operation until 1991. And while the cells remain empty, the Prison itself stands as a stark reminder of Western Australia’s convict past.

Visiting Fremantle Prison is an iconic WA adventure. Inside you’ll learn the history of the prison and the stories of the people behind the bars.

See the conditions they lived in, and take a tour through the gaol to understand what life was like. 

You might even learn some of the more sordid stories, which fuel the rumours of supernatural spirits that linger in some of the darker corners.

Fremantle Markets

Location: Corner of South Terrace and Henderson Street Time required: Depending on how long you like to browse markets, expect anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 hour or more if you stay for something to eat.

Fremantle Markets are the bustling heart of Fremantle’s eclectic culture. They’ve been a part of the city since 1897, and are still going strong today.

Home to over 150 stalls, you’ll find a wide selection of local vendors offering fresh produce, hand-made clothing and crafts, food, and collectibles. 

Start your visit with something sweet at the Fremantle Candy Store, or when you’ve made the rounds, stop past and experience the Perth-famous Eggspot. More than just breakfast burgers, these pillowy-soft egg rolls are an attraction in themselves.

Esplanade Park

Location: Marine Terrace Time required: As long as you want to spend

Esplanade Park is a place that’s just so typically Fremantle. Lined with over one hundred Norfolk Pines (that were planted in 1908), it’s the perfect place to stop and relax after a morning of walking. Take a minute to enjoy the sound of the breeze under the pines, or stop off for a picnic with treats purchased at the Markets.

Here, you can see Fremantle from the sky on the 40-metre high Tourist Wheel. The Youth Plaza creates a safe place for kids to be kids, too, with a playground, skate park, and rock climbing facilities available.

WA Shipwrecks Museum

Location: 47 Cliff Street Time required: For history buffs, it’s best to schedule an hour or more just to take everything in

The WA Shipwrecks Museum stands in an impressive stone building, just off Esplanade Park. An international authority on shipwreck preservation, it’s the leading maritime archaeology museum in the Southern Hemisphere, so you’re guaranteed to learn facts and stories that you won’t get anywhere else in the world.

It’s an exciting place to learn about WA’s perilous coastline, uncover the legends of ships that have made their final resting place under the waves, and even come face to face with reclaimed relics from WA’s most famous shipwrecks.

Fishing Boat Harbour & Bathers Beach

Location: 46 Mews Road Time required: Half an hour, more if you stop for fish & chips

Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour and Bathers Beach is an integral part of any Fremantle walking tour. Here you can walk up and down the boardwalks, check out the bustling boat trade, get a photo with the iconic Bon Scott statue, and feel the port side of the city come to life. 

The best bit? There are a range of restaurants where you can stop in and enjoy piping hot fish and chips as fresh as they come—right on the wharf. Or get it to go, wander down to Bathers Beach, and enjoy your meal as you watch the sun start to set over the Indian Ocean.

Searching for the best places to stay in Fremantle?

Fremantle is an exceptional city, steeped in history, and with its own vibrant culture. So when you’re staying here, you need a place to stay where you can holiday the way that suits you . 

And just a 25-minute drive from Perth CBD, or a direct ride on the Fremantle train line and 910 bus route, it’s easy to get out and spend a day—and a night—by the water.

Pier 21 is the perfect place to stay when you’re spending a day in Fremantle. Ideal for those travellers who like to get out and about, and immerse themselves in what the town has to offer (just ask about our free bike hire for guests!)

So book your next Fremantle holiday at Pier 21, and learn more about the city with your own self-guided walking tour. 

How player heights in the AFL have changed over time and what it means for the future of the game

Analysis Sport How player heights in the AFL have changed over time and what it means for the future of the game

Being a good footy player often isn't about being the biggest, strongest, quickest or tallest — it's about making the most of what you have got and playing to your relative strengths.

In 2014, the AFL created the Laws of the Game Charter, designed to provide the AFL Commission and the Laws of the Game Committee with an overview of the guiding principles and fundamental elements of Australian Football.

These principles loosely cover key elements such as player positioning, movement and the free flow of play. Nestled in between these principles is one setting out the physical characteristics of the players of the game.

"Players of various sizes, football and athletic ability have an opportunity for success in the game played at the highest level."

Last night, in their win over Adelaide , Max Gawn and Kysaiah Pickett lined up next to each other for the 82nd time.

That four year partnership has brought a tremendous amount of individual and team success, not least Melbourne's 2021 premiership.

Both are integral parts to the Demons' set up, even if their heights span the extremes of the current footballing spectrum.

The gap between Gawn and Pickett is — depending on the source you trust — 38cm, or one foot, three inches in the old language.

That 38cm gap is just 4cm shy of the record gap between Fremantle teammates Matthew "Spider" Burton and Peter Miller.

Australian Football has long been a game fought at two different altitudes. For a team to have success, they have to be adept both in the air and on the ground. A good team is balanced between the tall timber and the mosquito fleet, symbiotically feeding off each other to make an unstoppable force.

For much of footy's history the height of the general playing pool tracked that of the general population. But recent decades have seen a shift away from this trend, of increasingly soaring heights amongst players notionally big and small.

Measuring up to find the right data

Since the start of the VFL in 1897 more than 13,000 players have played in the league.

At the present time there are height listings for about 12,300 of them. Many of these are taken from sources such as club yearbooks, newspapers and media guides.

This blend of official and unofficial sources makes telling the story of height in football hard to do.

Take Gawn and Pickett for example. AFL Tables — the much relied upon yet unofficial source — lists them at 208cm and 170cm respectively. The AFL currently has the teammates at 209cm and 171cm, with other measurements out there pitching different heights.

Two further curious cases involve two of the game's current tall stars.

Tim English and Harry McKay have taken dramatically different trends in the progression of their official AFL listed heights over time, in a way that confounds normal growth patterns.

In short — there are individual discrepancies that make this exercise harder — but not impossible.

That's nothing compared to working out how tall everyday Australians are.

There are few long term sources tracking the heights of Australian men and women over time. Instead, a patchwork quilt emerges of different studies taken at different times of different cohorts of Australians.

Studies of height have been used for a variety of reasons over time for different important purposes. Academics believe that height can be used as a proxy for improvements (or sudden declines) in living conditions, nutrition and health care.

For example historians believe that a decline in the average height of military recruits in the late 1800s may have been at least partially impacted by the 1890s economic depression.

Changing sizes across the history of the game

For much of the first half century of league football the height of elite footballers largely tracked at that of the average Australian male (as estimated by ABC Sport), albeit at a distance of about 5cm.

This includes that dip in player height around the turn of the century, right when the delayed effects of that 1890s economic depression would be expected to hit.

Around 1950 the trend between the average height and the height of professional footballers started to diverge. As the years have progressed more and more distance has been placed between the average Australian and the average footy player.

In the VFL, individual height barriers were slowly ticked off over time.

Geelong's Eddy James was the only 6 foot 4 (193cm) player in the first VFL season and wasn't just making up the numbers — he was also the league's first (joint) leading goalkicker.

Fifteen years later Melbourne's Tim Lane was the first player over 195cm in his sole VFL season.

The Herald described Lane as:

"A tall man something over 6ft — and is built on grand athletic lines. He is as active as a five-footer, and can kick with telling effect."

In 1929, Len "Booby" Mills was the first VFL player to crack the 200cm barrier when he debuted for St Kilda at the age of 31. Mills wasn't a late bloomer or a flyer for the Saints; instead having a full life and career before joining the club.

Mills joined the military for World War I at the age of 16, and later became one of the most feared military boxers of his day.

One of the finest ruckmen of the era — two time Magarey Medalist Bruce McGregor — called Mills his hardest opponent, able to win hitouts without rising from the ground.

Fitzroy's Dean Farnham was the first over 205cm in 1974, and Matthew Burton becoming the first above 210cm in Fremantle's debut season of 1995.

The record for the tallest AFL player currently rests with three different players at 211cm: Peter Street, Aaron Sandilands and Mason Cox.

Richmond rookie lister Mate Colina is poised to break this tie if he debuts, with the former basketballer standing at 213cm.

At the same time the heights of the shortest players in the league have also increasingly stretched skywards.

This year Hawthorn rookie Nick Watson took over the mantle as the shortest player in the league — one centimetre shorter than Pickett and Caleb Daniel.

A forward thinking reason?

Given the trend away from the national average height, a bigger question presents itself — why?

A clue can perhaps be found closer to goal.

While the height of the average goalkicker hasn't significantly increased over time, the height of the spearheads — those who kick three or more goals in a game — has leapt ahead of the general trend.

Gordon Coventry — the game's second greatest goalkicker and noted high marking exponent of his day — was the same size as Hawks forward Chad Wingard (183cm).

Bob Pratt, considered by some to be the greatest full forward of the 20th century, stood at just 180cm — the same size as small forwards Orazio Fantasia and Charlie Cameron.

The great full forwards of old tended to be placed in one-on-one battles — often only having to beat one opponent. They didn't have to crash packs to take contested grabs to kick goals.

As football has evolved, it has become significantly more aerial in nature.

The development of the drop punt through the first half of the 20th century and its eventual widespread adoption across subsequent decades has led to more predictable high marking contests.

This likely led to an arms race for teams targeting taller and taller players to target in the forward half.

Defences have also had to keep up with this increase in size. You can't spoil a mark you can't reach, and to spoil a Harry McKay you need a Ben McKay sized defender.

Recent years have seen a move to more and more intricate team defences — designed to stop easy marking opportunities and the subsequent goals.

But eagle eyed readers might notice a little downtick in the trend of the biggest goalkickers in recent years.

This trend might be part strategic, and part symbolic of a greater change at play across society.

A downward tick over time

This year 41 hauls of three or more goals have been kicked. Seventeen of those bags have been kicked by players shorter than league average height, with just 13 kicked by players taller than 195cm.

Teams are increasingly leaning on more complex forward set ups — often with a dominant small being left deep in space.

Focal points such as Toby Greene, Charlie Cameron and Tom Papley have taken the place of more traditional talls, forcing defences to adjust in kind.

Overall, player height across the league seems to have stagnated in the past few years. Shorter players are now being considered at the top end of the draft again — Watson was pick five last year, and Pickett was the 12th pick in 2019.

There's also a broader theory amongst some academics that the "great Australian growth spurt" may be coming to an end.

Football may just be the canary in the coalmine in this respect.

Football has long been reflective of wider society. It has represented broader social trends, including the size of the community. If Australia is really slowly getting smaller again, it makes sense that footy is too.

Or this could all just be a minor blip — a strategic anomaly — and the footballing height race might just be heating up.

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• Tunnels Tour
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Feeling adventurous?

Feeling adventurous? Get into your hardhat, slip into your overalls, lock into the ladder system and descend 20 metres below Fremantle Prison to explore a labyrinth of tunnels built by prisoners.

Guides lead the trek through dry sections of the tunnels on foot, before boarding replica convict punts to explore the submerged passageways accessible only by boat.

Guided Tour.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Full terms and conditions will be provided during the booking process or upon request.

Saturday and Sundays only at 9:00am, 9:45am, 10:40am, 12:20pm, 1:40pm, 2:40pm, 3:25pm (subject to availability). Duration 2.5 hours

Adult $65.00 / Child $45.00 (aged 12–15) $195.00 for a family pass

Min 1 / Max 13

This is a premium experience developed with Cultural Attractions of Australia in mind.

Discover 140 years of prisoner art and explore the Fremantle Prison Collection.

Do time and explore Fremantle Prison’s history as a maximum-security prison.

Discover the convict history of Western Australia’s only World Heritage-listed building.

Explore the darker side of Fremantle Prison’s history.

Get inside the criminal mind.

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