Alex on Camel, Egypt
Butchers in Moshi, Tanzania
Remarkable Rocks, Kangaroo Island
Summer Palace, China
Dorota on Brighton Beach

Fremantle Prison, Perth, Australia

Fremantle Prison, Perth, Australia - feature photo

Fremantle is possibly the nicest city on the west coast of Australia. It’s at the mouth of the Swan River, which is about 10 miles southwest from Perth.

Established as part of the Swan River Colony in 1829 by British settlers and named after Admiral Sir Charles Howe Fremantle. Captain of the Royal Navy ship HMS Challenger, it was this 26 gun frigate which was the first ship to arrive from a fleet of 3 from Britain to establish a colony at the Swan River. Fremantle, aka Freo as it is known by the locals received city status in 1929 and now has a population of around 25,000.

Fremantle Prison was built by convicts in the 1850s, it was used as a jail by the colonial government in 1886. It has only relatively recently closed down, in 1991. Fremantle Prison was then reopened as a public museum for all to see. One of the most interesting features of the prison is the preservation of the prisoners graffiti on the walls I can especially remember James Walsh`s.

It was extremely interesting to see the prison as I could still remember the riot in 1988 as a boy when 70 prisoners took over half the prison including taking 15 prison officers hostage. I don’t blame them at the time they were locked inside with temperatures of 52.2°C!!! Having air conditioning fitted would have saved the government nearly 2 million Australian Dollars!

Freemantle Travel Photos

There Are 35 Responses So Far. »

  1. We have both served in the British Prison Service for over 14 years and are looking to emmigrate. Can you let us know if we would have to be sponsored in order to transfer to an Australian Prison or would we have to join as a direct entrant and is there a fast track process. Thank you. I look forward to hearing from you.

  2. We have both served in the British Prison Service for over 14 years and are looking to emmigrate. Can you let us know if we would have to be sponsored in order to transfer to an Australian Prison or would we have to join as a direct entrant and is there a fast track process. Thank you. I look forward to hearing from you.

  3. Have a look at http://www.liveinaustralia.com/, i think you would maybe have to get Sponsorship as i don’t think you would qualify for Skilled Migration to Australia.

  4. Have a look at http://www.liveinaustralia.com/, i think you would maybe have to get Sponsorship as i don’t think you would qualify for Skilled Migration to Australia.

  5. Interesting to know this prison was closed – does it mean there were no prisoners anymore to justify the cost of running it? ;O)

    BTW, Alex, you have the same text written twice in this article…;)

  6. Interesting to know this prison was closed – does it mean there were no prisoners anymore to justify the cost of running it? ;O)

    BTW, Alex, you have the same text written twice in this article…;)

  7. Well noticed Adeliq! Not sure what went wrong there, thanks 😉

    The prisoners here were moved to a newer one i believe.

  8. Well noticed Adeliq! Not sure what went wrong there, thanks 😉

    The prisoners here were moved to a newer one i believe.

  9. In reply to Tim and Michelle, I’m a servinng prison officer and I have treid on rep[eated occassions to join the NSW Corrections service. Austraia doesn’t want to know unless you have residency first. You can’t normally get that unless you have a job offer first. here’s teh catch, you can’t get a job offer as a prison officer unless you have residency.
    NZ corrections is a better bet. If you contact me I’ll give you info about NZ
    [email protected]

  10. In reply to Tim and Michelle, I’m a servinng prison officer and I have treid on rep[eated occassions to join the NSW Corrections service. Austraia doesn’t want to know unless you have residency first. You can’t normally get that unless you have a job offer first. here’s teh catch, you can’t get a job offer as a prison officer unless you have residency.
    NZ corrections is a better bet. If you contact me I’ll give you info about NZ
    [email protected]

  11. I am a qualified registered nurse in the UK currently working for a local prison. I am interested in working in an Australian prison. Can you please advise me on securing employment. I visited Perth before and loved it. I am seriously considering to live and work there.

  12. I am a qualified registered nurse in the UK currently working for a local prison. I am interested in working in an Australian prison. Can you please advise me on securing employment. I visited Perth before and loved it. I am seriously considering to live and work there.

  13. My first husband was the pharmacist in Freo prison in 1972. I have 2 paintings by Ernie Shaw and beautiful they are ! Any info on Ernie would be greatly appreciated.Thanks.

  14. My first husband was the pharmacist in Freo prison in 1972. I have 2 paintings by Ernie Shaw and beautiful they are ! Any info on Ernie would be greatly appreciated.Thanks.

  15. Just to clarify, the prisoners were not locked inside on the day of the riot. They were outside in the excercise yards. The temperature outside was 42, inside it was closer to 52. And I think that installing toilets would have been a higher priority than air condidtioning. I’m not in prison and I dont even have airconditioning!! 🙂

  16. Just to clarify, the prisoners were not locked inside on the day of the riot. They were outside in the excercise yards. The temperature outside was 42, inside it was closer to 52. And I think that installing toilets would have been a higher priority than air condidtioning. I’m not in prison and I dont even have airconditioning!! 🙂

  17. I am a british prison officer,do australia need prison officers.

  18. I am a british prison officer,do australia need prison officers.

  19. i’ve researched this, and apparently Australia have enough recruits for there various states prisons services. The best way to emmigrate with the job is to approach New Zealand Corrections service. They are rather disorganised but if your going on holiday there, arrange interviews and assessments before you go.

  20. i’ve researched this, and apparently Australia have enough recruits for there various states prisons services. The best way to emmigrate with the job is to approach New Zealand Corrections service. They are rather disorganised but if your going on holiday there, arrange interviews and assessments before you go.

  21. Hi,

    anyone with any information regarding the prison riots would be greatly appreciated. I’m looking at researching the events that took place for a documentary.

  22. Hi,

    anyone with any information regarding the prison riots would be greatly appreciated. I’m looking at researching the events that took place for a documentary.

  23. Hi i am currently working as a substance Misuse nurse in a prison in the UK. I am in the early stages of my visa. I wonder if anyone knows what opportunities are available for RGN in this area in OZ??

  24. Hi i am currently working as a substance Misuse nurse in a prison in the UK. I am in the early stages of my visa. I wonder if anyone knows what opportunities are available for RGN in this area in OZ??

  25. I agree that freo is one of the best places going, however reading the above i have to say your all idiots. This is a travel blog, as far as i am lead to believe not the flipping “I work in a UK prison can i please get a job at a prison in fremantle with now prisoners in it, homepage!” Try the Australian Governments websites that actually have information on such things.

    Much Love! XXOOxxoxoxoxXOXX

  26. I agree that freo is one of the best places going, however reading the above i have to say your all idiots. This is a travel blog, as far as i am lead to believe not the flipping “I work in a UK prison can i please get a job at a prison in fremantle with now prisoners in it, homepage!” Try the Australian Governments websites that actually have information on such things.

    Much Love! XXOOxxoxoxoxXOXX

  27. What do you want to know about the riots? I was one of approximately 130 prisoners in the yard who had no control of the situation and saw the stupidity of others who thought they were in control. It was a case of wrong place, wrong part of town. We spent the night under the stars watching the cell block burn.

  28. What do you want to know about the riots? I was one of approximately 130 prisoners in the yard who had no control of the situation and saw the stupidity of others who thought they were in control. It was a case of wrong place, wrong part of town. We spent the night under the stars watching the cell block burn.

  29. Hi Rob
    I am the only hostage from the Fremantle riots that is still working with the Department. If you wish to make contact I would be pleased to help you.

  30. Hi Rob
    I am the only hostage from the Fremantle riots that is still working with the Department. If you wish to make contact I would be pleased to help you.

  31. I joined the NZ prison service after serving almost 20 years in a high security prison in the UK and I can tell you it bares little resemblance to UK prison. I came over as part of a huge overseas recruitment drive, a large majority left within the fisrt year myself included. If you are considering it you need to see where you are going to work. NZ is a lovely country to live in.

  32. I joined the NZ prison service after serving almost 20 years in a high security prison in the UK and I can tell you it bares little resemblance to UK prison. I came over as part of a huge overseas recruitment drive, a large majority left within the fisrt year myself included. If you are considering it you need to see where you are going to work. NZ is a lovely country to live in.

  33. Im a CO in NZ and wanna work in a prison in Western Australia, anyone know best place to contact or person. Much appreciated

  34. Im a CO in NZ and wanna work in a prison in Western Australia, anyone know best place to contact or person. Much appreciated

  35. Fremantle is a lovely place, although i didnt go to the prison. Thanks for the info though, brings back good memories, with Perth being one of my favourite places

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