No visit to Western Australia would be complete without seeing the Port of Fremantle. Last Friday, Mag and I traveled 19 km south of Perth to "Freo" ( what the locals call this town), Perth's port at the mouth of the Swan River. Over the years, Perth has sprawled to engulf Fremantle, which is now more of a suburb of the city than a town in its own right. Despite recent development, Freo has a wholly different feeling than gleaming, skyscrapered Perth. It's a place with a real sense of history and a very pleasant atmosphere.
Fremantle was founded in 1829 when the HMS Challenger landed, captained by Charles Fremantle. Like Perth, the settlement made little progress until it relunctantly decided to take convicts. This cheap and hard-worked source of labour constructed most of the town's earliest buildings, some of them amongst the oldest in Western Australia. Fremantle was was abysmal until the brilliant engineer C. Y. O'connor built an artificial harbour.
Fremantle today is a bustling port city with interesting old buildings, some excellent museums and galleries, the Fremantle Markets, and a diverse range of pubs, coffee shops and restaurants.
We arrived early in the morn and parked below the Fremantle Prison. Walking up to the Fairbairn Street entrance, we checked the schedule of the various tours. Rather then do a day tour of the prison, we opted to come back later this month for the "Torchlight Tour" and explore the "darker side of the Fremantle Prison story at night by Torchlight". I think Magi wants to scare the bejeesus out of me.
Leaving the Prison, we headed over to the Fremantle Markets, stopping to see the South Fremantle Football Club Field. By the way, the next day, this Club (Ossie rules football) won the 2009 Grand Final of Football of Western Australia.
Then we stopped by the colorful Fremantle Markets, a bustling place where I bought a few souvenirs and Mag bought his grand-babies some fairy floss.
Leaving the market, Mag was ready for his first coffee so we ambled over to the Esplanade Reserve, a beautiful park beside the most picturesque boat harbour.
Leaving the boat harbour, we passed a group of kindergartners on a field trip. Unlike the United States, all children in public schools wear uniforms.
Then it was on to see The Round House on Arthur Head near the Maritime Museum. Built in 1831, it's the oldest public building in Western Australia.
Leaving the Round House, we toured the town looking at all the Colonial architecture and then went out to the South Mole Lighthouse at the entrance to Fremantle Harbour. It is here the Indian Ocean meets the Swan River.
In follow-up photo/essays, I will explore each of these themes in greater detail.
Images by Magi and Bob.
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Comments: 42
In Canada, kids used to wear uniforms in public schools.
Was that an American football the guy was holding in the statue?
Georgia, in the US. was also used as a penal colony.
When I looked at the first photo, I thought: OMG the cars are parked the wrong way.
I asked my husband about driving in Brisbane. He said it was very hard, and that all his instincts were off.
Featured in the Triple Name Club.
The statue? It would be Rubgy League, an Australian commercialised version of Rugby Union, changed to make it easier to follow on TV...actually it is American Football in spirit at least. Gridiron without the body armour.
In Victoria they play an even more corrupted football called "Aussie Rules". It's woeful.
I think South Australia was the only Colony that didn't either start as a Penal colony or import connvicts later. As a result they speak something closer to the Queen's English, and are ridiculed by the other States for "Talking funny".
Allen, the statue is actually of Aussie Rules footy - and the mark (by the guy holding the ball) is of a famous mark by a South Fremantle player by name of John Gerovich. As in Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia, Aussie Rules Football reigns supreme over soccer and rugby here in West Oz. Indeed, neither of the other forms of "football' has much of a following in West Oz - here, generally speaking, these are not considered as having the excitement of Aussie Rules and thus are regarded as just too boring.
What are you doing UP so late? hmmmmm
I was already sound asleep when Bob posted this.
And she is now still in the Land of Nod as I post this comment.
My favorite book, Morgan's Run, is about the colonization os Australia by the convicts of England - very interesting read.
So it's nice to match some scenery up with people I've known. Thanks, guys!
I think I would have gone back too for the garden and the tree top walk.
A Leprechaun was wiggling his toes
For this he was sent to Freo prison
Where some say they served The Evil Addiction
However, a Leprechaun hero named Magi
Convinced everyone in the horizontal position to drink coffee
Soon even the Gnomes became thick as a brick
And buildings were built with style rather quick
And Magi became a hero and a statue was constructed
However, it was in the horizontal position as instructed
Thankfully maidens swam out to see Magi on beer can ship
And let just say they stayed out of the water for a dip
So generations of Magi's were born and just so you'll know
Started the OZ culinary society making vegemite dishes Bob now loves
Fantastic photographs. I like the market and the historic building.
Is that Ex PM John Howard in the black leather coat?