Today we are winging our way Down Under to lovely Fremantle, Australia which is nestled up next to Perth on the coast of Western Australia. I’ve not had the pleasure of visiting Western Australia, or any part of Australia :-(, but I know if we show up in town, Sean Kennedy will show us the sights. Fremantle was first settled in 1829 and was declared a city in 1929, and has a population of approximately 25,000. The city is named after Captain Charles Howe Fremantle, the English naval officer who had pronounced possession of Western Australia and who established a camp at the site.
Sean recommended we visit The Fremantle Arts Centre which was constructed in the 1860s by convicts from locally quarried limestone and is said to be one of the most haunted places in Western Australia. Eek. It is a former lunatic asylum (which would explain the hauntings I suppose), and is one of Fremantle’s most significant landmarks. Today the imposing Victorian Gothic building and its historic courtyards are used for art exhibitions and music concerts.
To scare the knickers off us further (we are in Australia after all), it was recommended we visit The Round House. This building, featured in Spirits and Second Chances, was Perth’s first prison, basically built as soon as the convicts stepped on shore. (Which seems rather unfair as soon as you get out of prison.) This is the oldest remaining intact building in Western Australia, and was built between 1830 – 1831. The Round House had eight cells and a gaoler’s residence, which all opened up into a central courtyard. The Round House was too small to hold all of the convicts however, so the Fremantle Prison was built.
In the 1800s, bay whaling was carried out from Bathers Beach below the Round House. As part of the whaling operations, a tunnel was constructed underneath to provide whalers with access to the town from the jetty and beach. The tunnel features in Sean’s story, and they have spectacular ghost tours, especially at night with only the light from your candle to guide you.
Now we need to recover from our fright, and it’s been recommended that for a nice meal of fresh fish and chips we head over to Cicerello’s, right on the harbour. Established in 1903, they serve freshly caught seafood including oysters, mussels, crabs and crayfish in addition to fresh fish. They even have a “Noah’s Ark” aquarium with over 50 species of sea life all found locally, and nary a ghost in sight. I hope. The establishment is so well-known, they were recently featured on an Australia Post stamp celebrating iconic Australian tourist destinations. It looks like a lovely place to relax and regroup.
If we are in the mood for a little after dinner drink, and really, who wouldn’t be? We can hop over to the Sail and Anchor pub for a Redback. For those not in the know, a Redback is a tasty concoction that is half beer and half cider with a shot of grenadine added to it. Hmmm. I’m not sure, but I’ll let those braver than myself give it a whirl.
Thanks Sean for giving us a little taste of Fremantle – which seems to have a spooky side, and I’m sure you’ve captured the interest of all of us, especially the brave who aren’t afraid of ghosts. 🙂
The Fremantle Jail is also a great place to visit – did the night tour there once and it was damned creepy. Also known for its ghosts!
So Australia is so amazing even the dead don’t want to leave? What’s with all the ghosts? LOL
That would be the Fremantle Prison, hun, not jail. And I never, ever go there at night. It is scary as fuck.
You really should have gone to Alcatraz at night. 😀
*sociopathicrainbowtroutstareofdeath*
So great to see pictures of the tunnel and the Round House! I’m loving these armchair vacations Tam!
It was cool to see something that featured in the story Cole. Glad you are enjoying the trips.
We should all just show up on Sean’s doorstep, Tam. 🙂
I’m sure Sean would be happy to put us up for a week or two in his spare room. 🙂
The cats probably wouldn’t like to share, though.
*lol* I come on to post and everyone’s leaving …
This was fascinating, I’ve never been to Australia but would love to. Even if – as Tam says – some places would “scare the knickers off” me :). Lovely to hear that familiar phrase.
Considering I don’t believe in ghosts I still don’t like scary things. 🙂 I would love to go to Australia.