Brian's Reflection

Even though my time thus far in Freo has been short (only 3 months), it is nonetheless a place I have come to take pride in to be able to call it my home. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about and acclimating myself with the history of this great town. I truly will now always remember all the sites and locations that give Fremantle such a rich history and still make it such a special place today. One site in particular, the Welcome Walls, really impressed me and stood out among the other sites. There is much to be said about a town that takes the time to commemorate and pay tribute to all the people that have contributed to its history like the Welcome Wall does. The Walls is just one of the many reasons for why I have come to value and admire Fremantle so much during my short time here.

Pat's Experience

This group project was truly an eye-opening experience for me. It enabled me to understand the foundations upon which the city of Fremantle was built, and why it holds such a significant place in the hearts of so many. Upon the discovery of the history of Fremantle, I find it difficult to understand the reasons behind many of the plans that will be enacted to "better" the city for many, but in the process take away what makes it so special. I hope that these future developments (i.e. housing projects, residences) do not make people forget the rich history that makes Fremantle unique.

James' Reflection

My personal experience with walking tours is highlighted by those that feature colorful stories. I love history, but I would rather hear about a murder, haunting, or unabashed prostitution ring than anything else. While researching in the Fremantle library (which is great), I found lots of interesting personal accounts. I plan on returning to pass an afternoon studying the history of this lively port town.

Reflection on George Johnson's Store

For me the most interesting part of this project was coming across George Johnson’s store during preliminary research for tour sites. Having spent time on the Pinjarra Massacre during tutorial, it was interesting to trace backwards in history through the events that culminated in that unfortunate historical moment. Additionally, I think the fact that there is no public marker for George Johnson’s store is indicative that many of the sore spots in Australian History have yet to be fully discussed in mainstream society. However, the fact that so much public discussion is being given to these issues is a tremendously positive step forward towards a healthier society. Finally, studying these dark areas of Australian History and Society, has made me think more about the ugly patches and inequalities of American History and Society.
-Dan Wilcox

Jeff's Reflection

In the course of researching for this assignment, I discovered a lot about Fremantle. The fact that I can now walk the streets of Fremantle and appreciate the significance of many of its sites is very rewarding. I especially enjoyed learning about the Noongar people that originally lived in the Fremantle area. It is disappointing, however, that there is a lack of information about the Noongar after the arrival of European settlers. This lack of information makes it easy to forget that the history of the Noongar in the Fremantle region is much longer than that of the European settlers. So, my one regret on this assignment was that I could not committ more time to giving a fuller history of the Noongar people.

-Jeff Tate

Eric Raver - Why I chose Cantonment Hill

Cantonment Hill is an amazing site in Fremantle. It's incredible to visit a sight where Europeans and Aborigines first interacted almost 200 years ago. With some of the best views in the city, it's also a great place to visit even if you are not a history buff.

General History of Fremantle

For thousands of years, humans have inhabited the land that Fremantle sits on. Fremantle could also be called Walyalup, the name used by the Noongar people that originally lived in the area. While the Noongar people would set up camp near Arthur Head, this was only a temporary campsite due to a limited food supply in the area. Very near to the aboriginal camping areas is Bathers Bay, where Captain Charles H. Fremantle first came ashore on 2 May 1829. Although Captain Fremantle was admired for leading the settlement of Fremantle, he had a questionable past. When Captain Fremantle was sent to colonise Western Australia he was facing charges of rape in Britain.
In 1831, Surveyor-General J.S. Roe created a basic plan for the city of Fremantle that established High Street as the main street in town. High Street was built to run north-east from Arthur Head, leading to the public square. That same year the Round House was built on Arthur Head out of local limestone. The Round House was Fremantle’s first prison and served mainly to hold indentured servants who had not fulfilled their contracts. Aborigines were routinely executed for alleged crimes during the early years of settlement, however it was not until 1844 that a white man was executed in Western Australia. This hanging took place on the Round House grounds.
The early interactions between the settlers and Noongar were tense and often violent, as the settlers took advantage of the traditional Noongar food supplies, but did not share their own supplies of sheep, cattle and pigs. Despite violent interactions with the Noongar, Fremantle’s location at the mouth of the river allowed it to become a landing site for new settlers, as well as the distribution hub for the area. Fremantle experienced its first boom when the Fremantle Whaling Company was established at Bathers Bay in 1837. This was the start of a steady whaling industry that operated out of Fremantle, exporting whale oil and bone.
During its early years, Fremantle was dominated by several merchant families that ran import and export businesses. These families had substantial control over the Fremantle Town Trust, which was established in 1848 as the first ruling body of Fremantle. In 1849, Lionel Samson, a Fremantle merchant, led the movement to introduce convict labour to Fremantle. Samson got his wish when 75 convicts arrived in Fremantle on 1 June 1850 aboard the Scindian, paving the way for construction of an array of public projects. One of the first jobs completed by the convicts was the construction of a prison to hold them, on the limestone ridge that overlooked Fremantle.
Fremantle’s role as a port town led to another boom in the 1860s as the pearling industry was established in north-western Australia. As the amount of cargo being brought into Fremantle increased, a new jetty was built in 1873 to keep up with demand. This jetty was further improved in 1887 to a length of 920 metres and became known as Long Jetty. In 1883, Barrington Clarke Wood was elected as the first Mayor of Fremantle. This ushered in an era of improvements in the city including construction of a Town Hall in 1887 that towered over the surrounding landscape.
It was not until the discovery of gold in 1890 at Yilgarn and Southern Cross, however, that Fremantle truly became an industrial city. The population of Fremantle tripled between 1890 and 1900 as a result of the gold boom. During this final decade of the nineteenth century, the Engineer-in-Chief of Western Australia, Charles Yelverton O’Connor, took up the issue of Fremantle’s port. He designed a new port that would be situated at the mouth of the Swan River. In order to build this design, the sandbar at the mouth of the river had to be blasted out, allowing for the arrival of the first ship, the Sultan, into Fremantle Harbour on 4 May 1897.
For Fremantle, the early 1900s were a continuation of the success experienced during the 1890s. The city bustled with newly arrived miners getting ready as they prepared for the long trek to the goldfields. During these years, businesses boomed and the port generated more activity than ever before. In addition, a multitude of banks opened branches in Fremantle, many new shop fronts appeared, and by 1908, the town’s business area had taken on the appearance that it was to retain for the next 50 years.
The decision in 1905 to construct a new railway station served not only the interests of the new harbour, but also of the town, which was steadily spreading eastward. The effect of the new rail station at the end of Market Street was the complete alteration of the centre of gravity for business in Fremantle. That part of town, unlike most Australian cities, still contains many interesting traces of the early days of Fremantle’s history.
On 4 August 1914, Australia entered its first major world conflict, and Fremantle’s citizens, in conjunction with their fellow Australians, responded to the call to arms in a way that gave practical demonstration of their loyalty to the British Empire. This reaction is aligned with the idea that Australia rarely shies away from conflict when called upon. In order to commemorate those Australian citizens who gave up their lives in World War I, Monument Hill was unveiled on Anzac Day, 1928.
An effect of World War One was the strengthening of the bargaining power and solidarity of the labour movement for the following decades. The attempted unloading of a ship by non-union labour in April 1919, before it had been properly quarantined for the Spanish flu, triggered an inevitable confrontation. The subsequent battle on the wharf, known as Bloody Sunday, resulted in the death of lumper Tom Edwards, who was later given the longest procession seen in Fremantle, even to this day. One of the most defining moments in Fremantle history was 3 June 1929 the day that Fremantle was proclaimed a city, a hundred years after the arrival of the first colonists in Western Australia.
In October 1941, just before the Japanese struck at Pearl Harbour, John Curtin became Prime Minister of Australia. He had to grapple with formerly unheard-of problems, extraordinary difficulties, and the evil genius of a remorseless enemy throughout these trying years. Yet Australia remained standing, stronger than ever.
For Australia, John Curtin is the man who by sheer strength of character, foresight, organizing genius and ruthless drive, answered the call in his nation’s hour of direst need.
In 1991, the Fremantle Prison was decommissioned, finally ending Fremantle’s convict presence. Though Fremantle has a rich history of prominent figures, legendary events, and significant locations, historical developments continue. In recent years, a number of events, including the hosting of America’s Cup, have put Fremantle on the map. Even though it is being recognized as a great area to reside, its historical character is threatened. For example, a residential village on Challenger Harbour and extensive parklands linking it with Fremantle’s centre are being considered as part of a plan to transform the city’s boat harbour precinct. This 30-year plan has generated much debate, as many believe these development projects are leading to gentrification by eliminating Fremantle’s rich history and social character. Regardless of future developments, Fremantle is a city of great importance in Western Australia, one with a rich history that will surely continue to be established for years to come.

Fremantle Prison

No building dominates the city of Fremantle more than the Fremantle Prison, with both its architectural superiority and traditional prowess. Built from 1851 to 1858 out of limestone by convict labour, the Fremantle Prison has emanated feelings of sheer awe and trepidation upon all its onlookers and guests over the last century and a half. Beginning in 1855, the Prison commenced housing convicts from England, a practice that would continue for the following three decades before the Prison was transferred to colonial control in 1886. Over the next 100 years, the Fremantle Prison experienced a myriad of events, including 47 executions, childbirth, the internment of some 10,000 convicts, and a riot in 1988. Although health clearance advised for housing no more than 220 prisoners at one time, there were times when up to 630 individuals called Fremantle Prison their home at once. Most cells are inhumanely tiny within Fremantle Prison, where an eerie smell of decay forever lingers throughout its grounds. In 1991, the Prison was finally decommissioned, and the old building was emptied of its inmates for good. Today, Fremantle Prison still stands, functioning as a tourist attraction and public museum. It still remains as easily one of Fremantle’s oldest and most famous structures.

Fremantle Markets

Perhaps the centre of Fremantle culture and society every weekend, the Fremantle Markets remain one of the city’s most prominent and popular attractions, for tourists and locals alike, well over a century after its establishment. Located on a block of land at the corner of South Terrace and Henderson St., The Markets have provided people with anything from fruits and vegetables to clothing and souvenirs since the foundation stone (which still can be seen on the South Terrace frontage) was first laid on November 6, 1897. Although plans were initially formulated for a market to be built in 1889, it was not until almost a decade later that the structure designed by Charles Oldham and J. Herbert Eales was finally ready for business. The Markets placed within reach the commodities necessary to accommodate the thousands continuously arriving in Fremantle via the harbor, and still provide the city with this service today. Restorations over the years have helped to maintain the hallowed one story building marked by ornate stone arches, heavy iron gates, and a high roof supported by wooden pillars. Although trading gradually declined in the 1950’s and 1960’s to the point where demolition of the building even was considered, the Fremantle Markets persevered and have prospered since. As Shannon and Otterman point out, “The history of Fremantle Markets cannot be separated from the development of Fremantle itself.”

Town Hall

Fremantle’s Town Hall is a triangular two story structure found at the opposite end of High St. from the Round House. The building was commissioned in 1881 with the support of Edward Higham, who originally proposed that it be built on the block bordered by South Terrace, Essex St. and Collie St. Higham’s suggestion was voted down, and construction began in the spring of 1885. Partway through construction, the decision was made to increase the height of the tower and to add a bell. The addition cost 800 pounds and had to be manufactured and shipped from England. The Town Hall, ultimately costing 11,000 pounds, was finished in the winter of 1887 and officially opened June 22nd on Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee.
A ball, hosted by the town council, was held in the Town Hall on the day after it opened. During the ball, a group of unruly men led by local hotel owner William Conroy sought and was denied admittance by the organisers of the party, including Councillor Snook. Conroy missed the dancing but returned during the Mayor’s dinner toast and confronted Snook in the courtyard. A shot was then heard, Conroy had fired on and mortally wounded Snook. This notorious beginning of Fremantle’s Town Hall provided the fodder, William Conroy, for the final hanging at the Old Perth Gaol.

Bannister Street

Bannister Street now looks like any other respectable street in the commercial district, but it once was in the centre of Fremantle’s red-light district. Fremantle had always had its fair share of prostitution because it was the major port in Western Australia. Prior to WWII, prostitution was common knowledge, but policing it was difficult because brothels would be disguised as bakeries, grocers, watchmakers, boot dealers, tobacconists, or confectioners situated next to legitimate businesses.
With the coming of the Second World War, and the large number of American sailors, prostitution increased and became more blatant. Fremantle’s richest woman, Madame Mary Anne Collins, owned a brothel on Bannister Street that drew crowds stretching around the block. Australian youths spent hours acting as place-keepers for sailors who preferred to wait in the bar for their turn. Its proximity to the harbour meant easy access for the sailors, and the increased traffic meant booming business for nearby bars.

George Johnson's Store

It was here at the corner of Cliff Street and Croke Lane, now a parking lot for the University of Notre Dame, that relations between white Colonists and Aborigines dramatically entered a downward spiral. While violence was implicit from the start of white settlement in Australia, the root of the systematic violence that took place in Western Australia during the colonial era can be traced to events that started here. In April 1833, several sacks of flour were stolen from George Johnson’s store. An aborigine was shot dead over the theft. In revenge, Midgegooroo and other aboriginal warriors then killed two white servants travelling from Fremantle to Maddington. The colonial authorities then stepped up their use of broad and disproportion violence. Midgegooroo was captured and executed by a firing squad at Perth. His son, Yagan was betrayed and shot by pastoralists seeking a reward from the government. The violence reached its peak at the bloody massacre of the Murray River people at Pinjarra in 1834. After this point, the nasty little war in the Fremantle area ended. This series of events is only a small part of the violence of settlement, or, dispossession. It also illustrates the misunderstandings that resulted in state sanctioned and directed violence, or war, against Aboriginal People.

Native School

At what is now the railway crossing at the end of Marine Terrace there once stood the Native School, the first Aboriginal mission school in Western Australia. An examination of this mission gives insight into how early Europeans viewed and treated the Aborigines they encountered. In 1841, the Reverend George King established the school under the Church of England in a house loaned to him by the government. Its purpose was to educate the Aboriginal children of the region. King believed that he had a moral obligation to save the children from the “degrading habits of their bush life” so that they could become citizens in the new colonial society. While the students learned reading, writing, and trades, the main effect of the Native School was to disrupt their traditional way of life. Eighteen children were taken from their parents in the bush to be baptized into the Anglican Church and into a European way of life. Despite a severe lack of funds, the mission continued to operate until 1851. After ten years, the students were transferred to Perth to get away from the convict population which had been recently established.

Round House

While convicts did not arrive until 1850, the first permanent building in the Swan River colony was a jail, the Round House. The Round House was designed in 1830 by Henry Willey Revely, the colony’s chief civil engineer, and completed under contract by Richard Lewis in January 1831. Its design may have been inspired by Jeremy Bentham’s model prison, the ‘Panopticon’ in which all prisoners could be observed at all times from a central point. The Round House was built with eight cells, toilets, a well, and a two-storey section for the entrance and warder’s residence, as well as a bakehouse and laundry near the entrance. In 1835 a courthouse was built beside the Round House.
The only known public execution to take place beside the Round House was of John Galvin, a boy who had been sent to Australia from the Parkhurt Reformatory on the Isle of Wight. He was hung on the 24th of February 1844 after confessing to murdering his employer’s son near Dandalup. The stocks, on which Gavin was hung, remained near the Round House until 1849 as a stark reminder of the importance attached to the maintenance of social order. Aborigines and white prisoners alike were imprisoned in the Round House in small cramped conditions, with as many as forty-three prisoners at one time. Daily rations were one and a half pounds of bread with a half a pound of salt meat; but this was only for those who served hard labour. The early construction of the Round House in arguably the most prominent location in Fremantle speaks to the desire of colonial elites to perpetuate a rigid social order, as well as, a desire for strict law and order only further fuelled by the early colonists’ real and imagined insecurity following arrival. Today, the Round House is probably the oldest existing building in Western Australia and is an important tourism site.

South Mole

The lack of a suitable port in Fremantle posed a serious threat to the development of not only Fremantle, but also Western Australia. The task of building a port, however, was not an easy one. A rock bar and shallows blocked the entrance to the Swan River, and seemingly any aspirations for a safe harbour and a thriving state. C. Y. O’Connor had the vision of a harbour for Fremantle at the mouth of the Swan River, which was an ideal location. And this vision brought O’Connor into conflict with the press and leading engineering experts of the day. To build a harbour in the mouth of the Swan, O’Connor estimated a cost of £560,000 to dredge the rock bar, build breakwaters to the north and south of the river mouth and a wharf 1,173 meters long. Work began on the North Mole first on November 16th 1892 and by mid-1894 was near enough complete to provide enough protection to start the construction on the South Mole, as well as, the dredging of the bars. The South Mole was completed to the planned length of 1,173 meters in August 1897. In 1902, the far end portion of 46 meters was topped with granite in preparation for a permanent light tower. O’Connor’s design has been so successful that serious maintenance has not been necessary. Fremantle’s Port has grown into the primary port for all of Western Australia. The location of the port in Fremantle has and continues to be instrumental in the economic, ascetic and cultural development of Fremantle.

Welcome Walls

Located adjacent to the Western Australia Maritime Museum, the Migrant Welcome Walls serve as a lasting tribute to the thousands of migrants who have come to Western Australia to make a new life for themselves and their families. In February of 2004, as part of the celebrations of the 175th anniversary of European settlement, the State Government announced plans to concretely recognize all those who have contributed to Western Australia culture and society throughout its history. Now, over three years later, a total of 16,794 names can be found on the Welcome Walls. These extraordinary engraved structures record the name of the migrant, the ship of passage, and the year of arrival of all those individuals who have entered Western Australia through Fremantle Port from as far back as the 1820’s. Families can come to the Welcome Walls to trace their heritage back to people who were among the first to embark on the difficult voyage to this country years ago, whether it be in the form of a convict, a gold rush treasure seeker, or simply one looking for a new life in an unfamiliar country. The Welcome Walls stand as an indelible reminder of these migrants, a thank you for their priceless contributions to the community of Fremantle and Western Australia as a whole.

Maritime Museum

As one of the most famous recent landmarks in Fremantle, the Maritime Museum provides a glimpse into the past while leading the city into the future. This museum showcases the impact that maritime history has had on Australia. The two most popular items are the Australia II, the yacht that won the America’s Cup in 1983, and the Parry Endeavour, the yacht sailed by Jon Sanders on the first triple circumnavigation of the world. Also on display is a handmade raft crafted by Aborigines from the Kimberley region. Just outside of the museum, tours are given of the submarine Ovens, which highlights the importance of Fremantle as an Allied naval base. The building’s design is just as impressive as its interior. Besides its historical and architectural significance, it also serves another important purpose. The beauty of the building and the popularity of the exhibits make the Maritime Museum a popular tourist destination that contributes heavily to the local economy. Within one year of its opening, over 425,000 people had paid to tour the Museum.

Victoria Quay

First constructed in 1892 to act as Fremantle’s main quay, Victoria’s Quay covers 28 hectares. It has 1.6 km of harbour side and is approximately 100 m wide, bordered by the railroad tracks to the south and the river to the north. The shoreline was originally much further back- where Slip St. and Phillimore St. are now was once a beach. The end of Cliff St. once ran into the ocean and formed the first jetty before Victoria Quay was built. C.Y. O’Connor was the civil engineer who headed the massive quay project. He is immortalised in a metal, granite and concrete statue that rises over 10 meters high in front of the Fremantle Port Authority building. The statue itself was named a ‘Significant Piece of Engineering’ by the Institute of Engineering, Australia.
Victoria’s Quay is now primarily used as a passenger terminal for ships departing for Rottnest Island and Perth. It once thrived as the base of employment in Fremantle before mechanisation replaced most manual labour in the 1960s. Recently, though, the quay has been targeted for reinvestment and reinvigoration. Proposed to be built alongside the sleek, new Maritime Museum is a $200 million commercial and retail complex including a car park, which will supposedly add $81 million to Fremantle’s annual economy. Despite earmarking $12 million for historic preservation, this project is facing community opposition due to Victoria Quay’s significance in Fremantle’s history.

Cantonment Hill

Cantonment Hill has maintained its significance even to the present day, from its earliest use as an Aboriginal camp. The native Noongar people knew it as Dwerda Weeardinup, which means ‘place of the dingo spirit.’ This ancestral dingo protected the people by keeping the crocodile Yondock out of the Swan River. In addition to the Hill’s spiritual importance, it was an important source of food and water since it contained zamia nuts and a natural spring. Cantonment Hill also served as a place of early interaction between the Aborigines and Europeans. Captain Fremantle located the spring upon his arrival in 1829 and traded goods with the people during the first month of settlement. The lack of awareness of the local environment by the Europeans was made clear when Fremantle fell very ill from mistakenly eating unprocessed zamia nuts. The elevation and location of the Hill near the river made Cantonment Hill a popular destination for both the military and sightseers. Spectators used the Hill to view the Fremantle Regatta and the passing of the Great White Fleet of the United States Navy in 1908, and the military built a barracks on the Hill in 1910. Today, the historic barracks serves as the Army Museum of Western Australia, while the Hill is still a popular recreation area and vantage point of Fremantle.