Site Identification

Description of Area

Plans of Fremantle Prison are presented in Figures 4, 5, and 6, showing the place divided according to those zones that have historically been used for management purposes, and with individual buildings identified. This HMP adopts slightly different divisions in the Structures and Spaces Conservation Principles and Actions in Section 7. For example, it separates the Exercise Yards from the Main Cell Block and the West Workshops from the Female Division for management purposes.

Fremantle Prison (originally the ‘Fremantle Convict Establishment’) was established as a convict depot by the British government following a decision to transport convicts to Western Australia. It was designed by the first Comptroller-General, Edmund Henderson, and built in the period 1852 to 1859. When the convict system officially ended in Western Australia in 1868, the Prison was taken over by the colonial government and continued to operate as a state prison until its closure in 1991.

The Prison occupies high ground to the east of old Fremantle. While still elevated, the land was substantially levelled to build the Prison, with the works resulting in terrace formations on the west and east sides (respectively the Terrace outside the Prison, and the East Bank within the Prison). Stone quarried from the excavation was used in the Prison’s construction, with the complex comprising mostly limestone buildings within the confines of the limestone perimeter wall. Outside the wall on the west side, Prison-related buildings are set out to either side of the Prison’s main entry which in turn is centrally located on the Terrace. A convict constructed Ramp, known as the Fairbairn Street Ramp, leads up from lower ground to the west to the Prison’s entry.

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During 136 years of the continuous operations numerous adaptations and extensions were made to the existing buildings, and new structures were built.

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An understanding of the sequence of the development of Fremantle Prison is essential to the management of its co-existing heritage values. Fremantle Prison has been included on the WHL for its OUV relating to the convict era. The conservation of the OUV is a preeminent consideration in the management of Fremantle Prison.

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The convict-built structures are as follows (Figure 6):

• A limestone perimeter wall, generally 6 m high, which bounds the Prison on all four sides.

• The Main Cell Block which is the dominant building located centrally within the complex, being 150 m long and four stories high. Seven separate exercise yards are located to the east side (rear) of the block. The single storey Refractory Block is centrally sited to the east side of the Main Cell Block, with the Chapel (also known as the Anglican or Protestant Chapel) also centrally sited in a prominent projecting wing on the west side of the block.

• The Parade Ground, which acts as a forecourt to the Main Cell Block.

• The Entry Complex set out around the main entrance to the Prison, with the Gatehouse being central and prominent within this group. The Entry Complex also includes military and warders’ guardhouses.

• The Hospital located in the north-east corner of the Prison, on elevated ground on the upper East Bank.

• A group of workshops, known as the East Workshops and incorporating carpenters and blacksmiths workshops, sited in the south-east of the Prison.

• Service buildings including the historic bakehouse and wash house (later incorporated into the Female Division).

• Residences abutting the west perimeter wall on the Terrace, and sited north and south of the Gatehouse and Main Entry. These historically accommodated Prison officers and staff:

  • convict warder’s guardroom (at 2 The Terrace, although the subject building is not the original building)

  • chaplain’s residence (8 The Terrace)

  • superintendent’s residence (10 The Terrace)

  • gatekeeper’s residence (12 The Terrace)

  • deputy superintendent’s residence (14 The Terrace)

  • magistrate’s residence (16 The Terrace)

  • surgeon’s residence (18 The Terrace) and stables

• The Fairbairn Street Ramp, which extends westerly from The Terrace down to Henderson Street.

• Three groups of Warders’ Cottages in Henderson Street.

• The Knowle, a former residence of the Comptroller-General of convicts, located 150 m to the south-west of Fremantle Prison.

Those Prison buildings and structures that post-date the convict era include:

• the Female Division in the north-west corner, which was expanded from the original convict service buildings, and associated exercise yard

• the ‘New Division’ to the north of the Main Cell Block, and associated exercise yard

• West Workshops north of the Entry Complex

• East Workshops extensions

• East Reservoir

• Pump House

• gallows (east side of Main Cell Block)

• kitchen extensions to Main Cell Block and associated boiler room with chimney stack

• Entry Complex additions:

  • prisoner reception

  • armoury (now Convict Café)

• 4 and 6 The Terrace

• helmets, cement industries and showe block (Prison Industries)

• special handling unit (Main Cell Block)

• exercise yard adaptation including shelters

• Watch Towers (guard towers) and associated elevated Walkways (catwalks)

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In addition to the Exercise Yards, there are various open but walled spaces, some of which are known as 'sterile zones'. These include spaces between buildings, and adjacent to the perimeter wall.