Fremantle Prison, Historic prison compound in Fremantle, Australia
The limestone fortress contains cellblocks, tunnels, a gatehouse, perimeter walls, and administrative buildings spread across six hectares of land.
Between 1850 and 1868, the facility housed nearly 10,000 British convicts transported to Western Australia to address labor shortages in the region.
The site preserves thousands of prisoner artworks on cell walls, including Aboriginal paintings that reflect incarceration experiences throughout different periods.
The facility operates daily guided tours through cell blocks, underground tunnels, and execution chambers, with advance reservations required for specialized experiences.
The prison functioned as Western Australia's primary maximum-security institution for 140 years until its closure in 1991, maintaining original 1850s structures.
Location: City of Fremantle
Inception: 1855
Architectural style: Neoclassical architecture
Made from material: limestone
Part of: Australian Convict Sites
Address: 1 1 The Terrace, Fremantle WA 6160 6160
Phone: +61893369200
Email: info@fremantleprison.com.au
Website: https://fremantleprison.com.au
GPS coordinates: -32.05504,115.75318
Latest update: May 26, 2025 21:08
This collection brings together penal institutions that have marked the history of incarceration worldwide through their architecture, detention conditions, or roles in major historical events. From the Guantanamo Bay naval base in Cuba, established in 2002 for holding individuals suspected of terrorism, to high-security facilities like Red Onion in Wise County, Virginia, these sites document the evolution of penal systems across continents. Among the institutions transformed into memorial sites, Diyarbakır Prison in Turkey stands out for its conversion into a cultural center and museum since 2019. Its 24 dormitories spread over two floors, its cells, and corridors allow visitors to explore this chapter of Turkish penal history. In Argentina, Mendoza Prison, built in the early 20th century, reflects the prison practices of that era and the development of the regional judicial system. Other facilities remain operational and raise questions about prisoners' rights and incarceration conditions. Gldani Prison in Tbilisi caused national protests in 2012 after images exposing systemic abuses were released, leading to major reforms in the Georgian penal system. Ciudad Barrios Prison in El Salvador continues to function as a correctional center in the eastern region of the country. These sites, spread across multiple continents, provide documented insights into penal practices in various political and social contexts. From Rwanda to North Korea, passing through Colombia and the United States, they help understand the evolution of judicial and correctional systems while raising current issues related to detention and rehabilitation.
Fremantle Police Station complex
282 m
Artillery Drill Hall
207 m
Crown Theatre
84 m
8 Stirling Street, Fremantle
316 m
Duplex, 22 Ord Street
274 m
The Knowle
301 m
Duplex, 12 Knutsford Street
296 m
House, 14 Knutsford Street
306 m
Warders' Terrace
190 m
House, 14 Ord Street
323 m
Holdsworth House
319 m
11 Stirling Street, Fremantle
210 m
Duplex, 20 Ord Street
284 m
Seven Terrace Houses
191 m
Terrace of Six Houses at 19-29 Holdsworth Street
190 m
House, 10 Ord Street
350 m
Church of Christ, Fremantle
263 m
Magistrate's House
57 m
Duplex for Superintendent & Gatekeeper, 12 The Terrace
52 m
House, 3 Bateman Street
331 m
House, 24 Ord Street
260 m
House, 18 Ord Street
297 m
Fothergill Street sewer vent
127 m
House, 16 Ord Street
310 m
House, 12 Ord Street
337 m
Duplex, 8 Knutsford Street
291 m
House, 5 Bateman Street
344 m
House, 7 Knutsford Street
313 mReviews
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