Sat, 17th Dec, 2016 Ross & Lara’s, Wattle Grove, WA (exploring Fremantle)

Still windy and cool, 20 degrees. Packed up lunch etc and headed across to Fremantle.

Drove through town looking for a free parking spot – Wilson Security have parking areas everywhere, no wonder they have plenty of money to sponsor V8Supercars. Stopped at the War Memorial up on the hill. Built in 1928 of Donnybrook sandstone.

Fabulous views. Took a video of the views as I walked around the monument. Looking across to Perth City, then out to sea. Garden Island, Bathers Bay then out to Rottnest Island.

Went back to Marine Terrace to park for free as the free CAT bus goes by. Caught one into the Railway Station (opened in 1907).

Nice Cobra.

Walking up Market Street. The Ice Break girls were handing out drinks (got some the other day at the wharf too – very nice). Lovely old church.

I love all this old architecture.

Into the Info Centre for some info and to get a history walk map. Unfortunately they have gone modern and don’t produce paper versions of the walk – you have to have a ‘smart’ phone. Luckily the lady was very helpful and gave me lots of info. Fremantle was founded on 2^nd May, 1829 when Captain Charles H Fremantle claimed the West Coast of New Holland (Australia) as British territory. The first British settlers arrived in early June 1829 under Governor James Stirling. Originally all the ships came into Bathers Bay using short and long jetty to unload passengers and cargo. Then they opened up the mouth of the Swan River and all the shipping went in there.

A great sculpture of a sculptor.

Another lovely Anglican church – St John the Evangelist, first church built in 1843, this one built in 1882.

Love the ute – it’s a Fargo. Never heard of that one.

Through the park – Steve made a move!! The Town Hall has been under refurbishment so it is all wrapped. Supposed to reopen by the end of the year.

Memorial drinking fountain.

Put the camera over the fence for a photo of John Curtin’s sculpture. A lady stopped to explain what was going on – the limestone had been painted over in the 1960s hence the bricks couldn’t breathe and were deteriorating. All the paint is being removed and the building brought back to its original state. She said the workers have found inscriptions, by the original builder, up in the tower.

Lots of information about the Town Hall which was good.

Certainly is an impressive building.

Looking down High Street Mall.

Outside the main entrance of the Town Hall is a plaque of the first plan of Fremantle.

The fence is lined with great photos, though not the best to photograph. Top aerial shot of the Town Hall precinct in 1957.

A little bit of Christmas as we walked around the Town Hall.

Another great sculpture of Air Commodore, Sir Hughie Edwards.

Bits of art everywhere.

On the other side of the church we found the site of the original one.

Out with the map to work out where to next – a lovely lady asked if we needed any help – very friendly people here. Headed down High Street towards Bathers Bay. Just loving all the buildings. Lots of stained-glass windows too.

An old America’s Cup boxing kangaroo.

That’s a fancy bike. Will send this one to Dave & Wendy – maybe they would enjoy touring in this – it is Russian.

More buildings down High Street.

The P & O Hotel is now used by Notre Dame University – as are many of the other old buildings to house there various departments. When we left here on Tuesday after going to Rottnest Island there were loads of young people in their graduation gowns – now we know why.

Nearly to the end – looking at the Round House.

Turned down a side street to check out a German built building the info centre lady mentioned.

Out into Phillimore Street.

On the other side of the street was the P&O Building which is now the Uni’s School of Nursing and Midwifery. Found a small plaque which said it was the Customs House from 1903-1907.

On the corner of Phillimore and Cliff Street was the Mediterranean Shipping Co building.

Shame they don’t have these on each street.

The light bricks showing where the shoreline was back in 1829. The first railway station built in 1880s.

Tramlines ran down the middle of Cliff Street. The buildings haven’t changed from that photo – should have taken the photo from the other side of the road like the original one.

Old versus new.

More buildings down Cliff Street. Only the front left of the last one. Don’t have any more information about all these buildings.

Turned off to the tunnel under the Round House. The tunnel was dug in 1837 by a whaling company.

Lots of good information in here.

The original floor is shown under the Perspex floor and this is the secret tunnel connecting the prison (Round House) above to the tunnel during WW2.

Looking back through the tunnel.

A lot of the cliff face has been removed if you compare these photos. The tunnel is hidden behind a shed.

Bathers Bay (from north end).

More info about the whaling company and the limestone seawall.

Another information board about the whaling company. This map shows the buildings further around which fits in with the flooring here.

Back through the tunnel – view up High Street to the Town Hall.

Climbed up the stairs which were altered to make way for the railway line.

The Round House.

The volunteer lady advised us to go around to the other side for the talk about the Time Ball and Time Gun prior to the gun going off at 1pm.

 

The ball was hoisted to the top of the tower three minutes before 1pm and was released exactly at 1pm when a shot from the cannon was fired too. A sound travels slower the Captains on the ships set their clocks by the ball drop – hence the saying ‘keep your eye on the ball’ – so they got the correct time. The ball doesn’t drop anymore but the gun went off with a bang – a nice firecracker down the cannon. Took a video of it. We could check out the canon after the firing. The little kids thought it was great.

  

Great view from up here too.

The chap explained about the islands. Garden Island – Naval Base, land there and someone will be with you promptly to tell you to leave.

Carnac Island and rocks form the edge of the original coastline (millions of years ago) and are the cause of many a ship wreck over the years. Don’t land there either as the Tiger Snakes will get you and if you swim either the seals or sharks will get you in the water!!

Lots of nice boats in Challenger Harbour (home of the Royal Perth Yacht Club where the America’s Cup lived for a while) and on the water.

Artwork about the Anzacs.

Into the Round House – lots of information and photos to check out. Steve checking out a cell.

The Curfew Bell.

Steve’s been a naughty boy – the lady read out his crime and punishment.

The inner area with the well in the middle.

In the other cells was more information.

Maybe this one was for the gaoler as it has a fireplace.

Back outside we wandered down the lane past the old Pilot’s cottages.

Back across to the other side we walked down the stairs made of limestone. I thought the convicts must have down it but the plaque says they were built in 1987.

The old Kerosene Store is now an art house.

Cute changing rooms opposite the busy restaurant area of Bathers Bay.

More information along the boardwalk on the beach side of the Kerosene Shed.

The sea wall.

Zoomed in on the two lighthouses – the green one on Arthur Head and the red one on Rous Head.

This section of Bathers Bay beach is much nicer.

Along the boardwalk to the other end to check out the old wharf. This is the site of the Long and Short wharves seen in all the old photos. Only a couple of pylons are left after the sea wall around Challenger Harbour was built etc.

A buxom lady where the ‘ladies bathes’ used to be.

Good view and information guide.

Continued around and up the road beside Challenger Harbour. Information plaques about the American Cup Challengers in 1987 – bit hard to read on the metal.

More info. I thought the harbour was named after the challengers for the America Cup, which is why the harbour was built, but it was actually named after the ship Captain Fremantle landed near here in 1829.

Another plaque.

Looking across to Fishing Boat Harbour.

Back along the road – our boat has arrived!! It’s a BITT small!!

Followed the boardwalk around the edge of Fishing Boat Harbour.

A wharf, sculptures and names of everyone involved in the fishing industry over the years.

Another sculpture – Bon Scott from ACDC lived in Fremantle.

A ferris wheel in the Esplanade Reserve.

Nice pine-lined Norfolk Street – aptly named.

Continued up Marine Terrace to our truck – nice bus shelters.

Plenty of boats to choose from.

Had lunch in the truck in the shade of the trees then hopped on the blue CAT bus again. Got off  opposite the huge His Majesty’s Hotel, est 1890 – now part of the Notre Dame University. Further down Phillimore Street to the Customs House.

Got on the red CAT bus up to the Fremantle Prison. Impressive entrance.

Lots of different tours to do but we don’t have the time so wandered around in the Gatehouse area.

There is plenty to read here. I didn’t realise it was still functioning as a prison right up till 1991.

Further along we went into the Convict Depot – originally this area was the Chief Warder’s yard. An outdoor toilet, bath, copper and troughs were located here. The area also included a wood shed and access to an underground cellar. During the 1980s this area was roofed and converted into a dining room for prison officers. Inside was lots of information.

Pensioner Guards.

More information.

The convict built Commissariat building at the end of the Short Jetty (c 1870) – it now houses the Shipwreck Museum.

Lots of convicts tried escaping – some succeeded and some didn’t.

The first thing the convicts did was build their own prison.

Then they worked on many projects in WA.

Creating this space they unearthed the stairs to the cellar and lots of artefacts.

Back out in the main area we checked out the parade ground which was behind the Superintendent’s house. A convict, Moondyne Joe, was crushing rocks in the corner and dug himself a tunnel through the perimeter wall, hidden by the rockpile. He escaped (7 March, 1857) in only his underwear and was at large for two years before being captured in the cellar of Houghton’s Winery in the Swan Valley on 25 February, 1869. Looks a bit different now.

On the right hand side of the main gates is the Visitors’ Centre. The slot in the wall was for the guards to put their rifles through.

Lots of information. There was also a video of prisoners working in the 1980s.

Steve is happy to see me in the contact room.

They have left the roof open to show the ceiling changes over the years.

The Wray Gates were made from iron from convict ships and were not welded. The names of the designer, builder and building supervisor.

Put my camera through the grill – big area. The various tours take you through this and more.

In the Prison Gallery are in the West Workshops, built in 1900 to provide work opportunities for inmates. It included a boot shop, tailor shop and print shop.

More information.

Inmates made their own furniture too.

Toilet buckets!! Wow they were still emptying them in 1991 as when they were given port-a-potties they used the chemicals to make alcohol!!

They made some good things too like this baptismal font.

The old print shop is now a gallery.

There are tunnels under the prison too which were built by the prisoners to access the fresh water. There is a tour that takes people through it – some tunnels you have to row in a boat. They found this big dish buried in the tunnel – believed to be used to carry tools etc.

Back outside to check out the houses on The Terrace.

To the right.

To the left.

Vehicle access to the prison.

Chaplain’s residence and memorial to aboriginal prisoners.

Looking back down The Terrace.

The Ladies’ Prison area is now an YHA Hostel.

Last two residences.

Back to the main entrance then we walked down Fairbairn Street which was a ramp built in 1851 to connect the prison with the town below.

Fabulous aerial shot.

Around the edge of Fremantle Oval – Victoria Pavilion built in 1897.

Mark of the Century.

Across the road was an entrance to heritage-listed Fremantle Markets. Wandered through – lots of different things for sale.

Out the other side to the main entrance on South Terrace.

Caught another blue CAT bus to take us along South Terrace to South Beach then back down Marine Terrace to our truck. Lovely murals.

Back on the road – down South Street to turn onto Kwinana Freeway. Across the Canning River.

The Freeway then runs along the edge of the Swan River. Looking across to the Swan Brewery below Kings Park.

Over the big bridge over ‘The Narrows’ below the War Memorial on Mt Eliza.

Continued along the Freeway – easy driving till we turned off onto Warwick Road in the north to find Judy and Richard’s place. Josh was home so enjoyed meeting him again. Great night chatting over a delicious meal of traditional Burmese food. Richard gave me a brown jade necklace and Steve a bottle of whiskey he brought back from one of his visits to his home country of Burma. Also a box of Ferrero that we shared with them over coffee. Christmas has come – thanks so much Judy and Richard. It was so great to be able to catch up with them both again.

Cooler night as we head back down the Tonkin Freeway to our van.