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Compatible Uses

The effective conservation of Fremantle Prison depends in part on identifying appropriate future uses. Appropriate future uses will also assist the Prison to meet the stated goal in the Australian Convict Sites Strategic Plan 2017–2020: ‘To give the Property a function in the life of the community’.

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During its life as a place of incarceration Fremantle Prison was a multi-use venue where industrial, recreational, educational, religious and agricultural activities were also undertaken. Since the closure of the Prison it has hosted commercial, cultural and educational activities generally without adverse impacts to the place’s heritage values. Therefore, in terms of potential future uses, Fremantle Prison’s values have a high tolerance for diverse uses and those that involve some change, depending on the particular component.


When assessing the potential adverse impacts of proposed future uses, an important consideration will be potential impacts on the fabric and form of the Prison’s built elements and setting.

SPECIFIC POLICY 5: Fremantle Prison will continue to encourage a range of uses to be accommodated at the place, without adversely impacting its heritage values.


SPECIFIC POLICY 6: Proposed future uses should be investigated through a formal masterplanning process, guided by the stated goal in the Australian Convict Sites Strategic Plan 2017–2020: ‘To give the Property a function in the life of the community’.


SPECIFIC POLICY 7: Proposed future uses at Fremantle Prison should be assessed on a case-by-case basis having regard to the potential adverse impacts on the fabric and form of its built elements and setting, among other relevant matters. An important consideration will be the reversibility of physical changes to that fabric and form that any new use may require.


SPECIFIC POLICY 8: It is appropriate for Fremantle Prison to act as a host site for activities and programs that are the result of mutually advantageous commercial collaborations with individuals and private corporations. Future uses of this nature should be compatible with policies 5, 6, and 7.


SPECIFIC POLICY 9: There are generally few constraints on Fremantle Prison utilising unused and suitable spaces for activities that are central to its ongoing operations where those activities involve little or no irreversible change to form or fabric, e.g. storage, exhibitions, office accommodation, non-interpretative commercial activities (gift shop etc).

SPECIFIC ACTION 4: Prepare an updated Masterplan for Fremantle Prison that includes detailed consideration of potential future uses of its component parts.


SPECIFIC ACTION 5: Assess proposed future uses of individual spaces on a case-by-case basis.


SPECIFIC ACTION 6: Where Fremantle Prison leases parts of the site to tenants, the lease agreements should make allowance for the mechanics of maintenance, upgrade and upkeep by tenants. This should include clearly identified responsibilities for individual parties.


SPECIFIC ACTION 7: Monitor any potential impacts that commercial, cultural and educational activities have on the Prison.

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