EST. 1831 WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Step Inside
History at
WA's Oldest
Public Building
The Fremantle Roundhouse is a twelve-sided limestone
gaol built in 1830, overlooking the Indian Ocean. Kept alive
by passionate volunteer heritage guides.
JL
MR
SK
100,000+ visitors yearly
Entry by donation.
195+
Years of heritage
Fremantle Gaol (also known as the Round House)
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
1pm Cannon Firing and Time Ball
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Photo Gallery
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
195+
Years of
History
ABOUT US
WA's oldest surviving public building
The Fremantle Roundhouse stands atop Arthur Head as a powerful
reminder of Western Australia’s colonial beginnings. Constructed
in 1830 under Surveyor General John Septimus Roe, this
remarkable twelve-sided limestone structure was the colony’s first public building.
Today, it is lovingly maintained and operated by our dedicated
team of volunteer heritage guides, who share its remarkable
stories with visitors from around the world.
- Daily cannon firing at 1pm
- Informative guides
- Panoramic views of the Fremantle coastline
1831
Year Established
12
Original prison cells
100K+
Visitors per year
100%
Volunteer Operated
History of Settlement
History of Settlement
From the thunderous 1pm cannon to guided colonial tours, discover all the ways
to engage with Fremantle’s oldest landmark.
Pre-Colonisation
Donec est arcu, mattis in interdum a, placerat a nulla. Proin dictum, magna eu suscipit accumsan, ligula magna aliquam leo, at lobortis sapien ipsum ac nunc. Sed lacinia risus vehicula tellus pharetra, porttitor posuere lorem ornare.
Colonisation
Donec est arcu, mattis in interdum a, placerat a nulla. Proin dictum, magna eu suscipit accumsan, ligula magna aliquam leo, at lobortis sapien ipsum ac nunc. Sed lacinia risus vehicula tellus pharetra, porttitor posuere lorem ornare.
Fremantle
Donec est arcu, mattis in interdum a, placerat a nulla. Proin dictum, magna eu suscipit accumsan, ligula magna aliquam leo, at lobortis sapien ipsum ac nunc. Sed lacinia risus vehicula tellus pharetra, porttitor posuere lorem ornare.
Visitor Reviews
“An absolutely stunning piece of history. The volunteer guide knew every detail about each cell — our family was captivated from start to finish. The cannon firing was the highlight of our Fremantle trip!”
SB
Sarah B.
Perth, WA
“Great place for a bit of history about the first public building in the state. Guides are really friendly and knowledgeable.”
TM
Phil W.
Perth, WA
“A must-visit if you’re in Fremantle. The guides were passionate and incredibly knowledgeable. It genuinely felt like stepping back to 1831. The 12-sided design is unlike anything we’d seen before.”
AK
Andrea K.
Visit us, we’d love to welcome you to the Round House
Drop in during our opening hours and chat to our friendly volunteer guides, who are always ready to share the story of the Round House. If you are in a group of ten or more, please book your visit in advance. This will ensure one of our guides are available to talk to your group
- 10 Captain’s Lane, Fremantle WA 6160
-
Open daily 10.30am to 3.30pm
(Closed Good Friday and Christmas Day) - 08 9336 6897
- enquiries@fremantleroundhouse.com.au
Send us a message
LATEST NEWS
From the Round House
May 27, 2026
Volunteer
News Article # 3
May 27, 2026
Experience
News Article 2
