Walyalup Fremantle Arts Centre (WFAC) is a multi-disciplinary contemporary arts hub situated in Walyalup | Fremantle on Whadjuk Nyoongar Boodjar. One of the longest running arts centres in Australia, WFAC is housed in an extraordinary Neo-Gothic heritage building and lush leafy grounds. WFAC’s annual program includes curated contemporary visual arts exhibitions, live music, performance, discourse, creative learning classes and a unique artist studios and residency program.
What’s more, you can pick up stunning, locally made wears at the WFAC design store and stay for a coffee in their garden café, Plated.
Explore Perth’s unique history, food, culture, and art on the city’s original and best walking tour with Two Feet and a Heartbeat. From themed walking tours, arcades and laneways to our delicious fromage tour, you will get a unique perspective on the people, culture, food, history and arts of Western Australia.
At the heart of the experience is a team of highly qualified, local guides who host in a professional yet relaxed manner, on award-winning itineraries. They accommodate any group size in Perth and Western Australia and it’s their local knowledge, established community connections and ability to think outside the box that sets them apart. Two Feet was voted the best tour in Perth three years in a row.
Get 15% off Two Feet & a Heartbeat‘s regularly scheduled walking tours when you book online using the code: helloperth. See the Hello Perth Exclusive Discounts page for more details on this discount.
The Fremantle Roundhouse is the oldest public building in the state of Western Australia. Opened in January 1831, it was built to hold any person convicted of a crime in the settlement until 1886. Since then it’s been a Police Lock up, accommodation for the Water Police, and a storage facility for the Fremantle Ports. Today it’s a popular historical tourist attraction, with sweeping views over the city, Fishing Boat Harbour and the Indian Ocean.
The Fremantle Roundhouse is open between 10.30am and 3.30pm every day except Christmas Day and Good Friday. The ‘Fremantle Volunteer Heritage Guides’ office is also manned every week day between 10am and 3.30pm. The cannon is fired daily at 1pm. If you attend you may even be able to trigger the shot!
At the heart of Fremantle, the beautifully restored National Hotel is serving quality food and premium beverages seven days a week for lunch and dinner. The ground floor comprises a traditional style pub, with a 60 seat alfresco area on High Street, a 4 metre high bar display with an extensive selection of premium spirits, cocktails and wines complimented by a lengthy array of tap beers. They also offer innovative promotional nights such as live comedy, open mic or see some of the finest live music Fremantle has to offer.
The National Hotel has 12 boutique rooms aimed at the more discerning traveller, featuring private ensuites and individual heritage styling with all mod cons. 6 rooms have verandahs overlooking the streets of Fremantle and 6 are tucked away in the eaves of the building featuring Parisian style views across the rooftops of the port city. Some rooms feature hand made beds by local woodworkers, local artwork on the walls and of course the convenience of having Fremantle’s best bar and restaurant downstairs.
The sensational National Hotel rooftop bar is the jewel in the crown and offers stunning 360 degree views of Fremantle, the port and even out to Rottnest. A perfect spot for a function, a special event, or just pop in any day from midday for a drink or bite to eat. There’s nothing quite like this rooftop so make sure you bring a camera!
Fremantle Prison is Western Australia’s only World Heritage listed building. Built by convicts in the 1850s, Fremantle Prison was used as a place of incarceration for 136 years. Decommissioned as a maximum security gaol in 1991, the prison is a monument to a system of punishment that is uncomfortably recent. Step inside and do time with Fremantle Prison’s experienced guides on a Prison Day Tour, Tunnels Tour adventure or spooky Torchlight Tour. Fremantle Prison is open 7 days a week and the Prison Gatehouse is open from 9.00am to 5.00pm daily, and later on Wednesday and Friday evenings.
Heirisson Island, over which the causeway runs, is thought to have been named after a crew member sailing with the French navigator-explorer, Captain Hamelin, in 1801. It occupies an area of 285,600 m2 (3,074,000 sq ft), and is connected to the two foreshores by the Causeway.
Today, Heirisson Island is the home to a colony of Western Grey Kangaroos, which can be seen in the enclosed southern part of the island. The statue of Nyoongar leader Yagan is also located on the island, which was a significant hunting ground for indigenous people. Yagan was a Noongar leader and resistance fighter during the early years of the Swan River Colony.
Known to the Nyoongar as Matagarup, meaning ‘leg deep’, it lends its name to the nearby pedestrian bridge.
Heirisson Island is roughly a 10-15 minute walk from the city centre and you can enjoy a picnic by the water’s edge at the many picnic tables, or simply enjoy a peaceful walk around the island.
Discover London Court, a world-renowned architectural treasure offering a truly unique retail experience. Embark on a magical journey to explore quaint boutiques, jewellers, eateries, and fashion, all within the old-world charm of this iconic Perth landmark. Built in 1937, London Court stands as a beautifully preserved Tudor-style arcade, nestled in the heart of Perth CBD, conveniently located between the bustling Hay Street Mall and St Georges Terrace. Immerse yourself in the rich history and timeless elegance of this must-see destination.
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King Street has a very European feel with its early 20th century, low rise architecture and restored facades. Commonly known locally as the ‘West End’, King Street specialises mainly in designer stores and trendy cafes and bars making it one of the most exclusive addresses in the city.
Named after King William IV, King Street is both an architectural and shopper’s delight. Once an area characterised by workers cottages, coal yards and blacksmiths, this heritage listed street is now lined with high end boutiques such as Prada, Gucci, Bally and TAG Heuer. Great for a stroll, shop, or lunch at one of the many surrounding restaurants, King Street is only a five-minute walk west from the CBD.
Perth Town Hall is unlike any other Australian town hall. Governor Hampton made the decision to build a Town Hall for the citizens of Perth in 1866, as part of a public works program using the skills of the convict population. The Hall was officially opened on July 1, 1870 and is the only town hall in Australia to be built by convicts. An award-winning restoration, completed in 2005, made this stunning heritage building a well-equipped venue for performances, banquets, cocktail receptions, forums, weddings and community events and exhibitions. Open from 10am to 4pm.
St Mary’s Cathedral is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Perth. The cathedral as it now stands was constructed in three main phases, with the first phase completed in 1865. Plans were drawn up for the replacement of the cathedral in the 1920s with a larger Perpendicular Gothic edifice. However, construction was interrupted by the onset of the Great Depression.
After 70 years incomplete, funds were eventually raised in the late 1990s and early 2000s for the completion of the expansion. This stunning cathedral is in Victoria Square, opposite the Royal Perth Hospital, less than a ten minute walk east of the CBD.
