Round House, Heritage prison in Fremantle, Australia.
The Round House is an early prison building in Fremantle with a circular design, eight cells, and a central courtyard, constructed from local limestone with two floors above ground. The structure demonstrates how colonial authorities organized space to control and monitor prisoners.
The building was erected in 1830 as Western Australia's first prison and served the colonial administration as a detention facility. After closing in 1886, it was later repurposed as a police lock-up, making it a remnant of the region's early justice system.
The building displays early colonial construction methods and served as a prison, now offering visitors insight into daily conditions and law enforcement from that era. Its location within Arthur Head Reserve allows exploration of multiple historical sites together.
The site is accessible to visitors year-round, with guided tours explaining how the building functioned and changed across different periods. It is best to arrive early to explore the site without crowds and fully appreciate the construction details.
A tunnel beneath the building connected Bathers Beach directly to Fremantle town during the 1800s whaling period. This hidden passage allowed whalers to move quickly between their coastal operations and the town center.
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