Perth's "sister city": Fremantle

Fremantle, "Freo", is contrasting to Perth, both cities are complementing each other. We took the train from Subiaco Station on Monday (day pass AUS$ 7/5,60 Euro!) and it took only 20 min. to get to this port city at the mouth of the Swan River. Fremantle was visited by Dutch explorers already in the 1600s, long before the British settlement by colonists in 1829. 

It is named after Captain Charles Fremantle, an English officer who claimed the former New Holland as British territory. It became Australia's primary destination for convicts, the first 75 men came from GB in 1850. End of the 19th century the harbour was deepened for commercial shipping and became a gateway during the gold rushes. During WWII it was the largest submarine base in the Southern Hemisphere.

 

 

 

 

 

Nowadays, the city is proud of well-preserved Victorian and Edwardian buildings and appears in total a bit more "woke" and "gentrified" than Perth. 

 

The Round House (photo below) is the oldest remaining intact building in Western Australia, built as a jail around 1830. As part of the equally important whaling operations, a tunnel was constructed under the Round House to provide whalers with access from the jetty and beach. 

At the Fishing Harbor:

,,, where we had fish&chips and met with Bon Scott from AC/DC, the Australian rock band:

The Sail & Anchor Hotel, The National Hotel and other corner hotels-pubs (photos below), churches, and, finally, the Fremantle Harbour, serving as the main cargo gateway for Perth. It manages the majority of the state's container trade, vehicle imports, bulk cargo and (some) cruise ships. 

For visitors Fremantle offers easy access to Rottnest Island, a favorite beach destination. There are the Fishing Harbour, Bathers Beach and Victoria Quai with the fascinating Maritime Museum. It holds treasures such as the Australia II, winner of the 1983 America's Cup,We got to know there about the whaling and the Australian pearl industry (operated by Japanese and Aboriginals), about fishing and the pastoral industries - all very interesting!

Closeby is the WA Shipwrecks Museum, a leading museum for maritime archaeology. Here are  the reconstructed remains of the VOC ship Batavia, excavated in the 1970s (above). The conservation and restoration of the SS Xantho steam engine (right) through maritime archaeology, marks a historic milestone.

Boutiques and galleries along Market and High Street, the famous Cappuccino Strip (South Terrace) – a vibrant street famed for its concentration of Italian-influenced cafes and restaurants in the heart of "Freo".

Gage Roads Brewery - with good IPAs! - closeby the port of Fremantle - was our last stop:
 

 

Below, dinner "at home": delicious Porterhouse steaks from the grill: