Round House

The Round House sits above Bathers Beach at Arthur Head, and it is a small building with an outsized place in Western Australian history. It opened in 1831 as the Swan River Colony's first permanent public building and served as Fremantle's gaol until 1886. The cells and central courtyard are compact, so the visit is short, but the position explains early Fremantle immediately: prison above, port below, and the West End running inland. Entry is free. Volunteers fire the time gun at 1pm most days. Views over Bathers Beach remain accessible even if the building is closed.