Thursday 16 May 2013

POSTCARD FROM FREMANTLE

“If a man knows not what harbour he seeks, any wind is the right wind.” - Lucius Annaeus Seneca
 
Fremantle, in Western Australia, is a remarkable city. In the past decade, especially, Fremantle has become one of the great tourist attractions in the Perth area, boasting many interesting historic buildings, gracious hotels, extensive seaside parks and enough tourist attractions to make it the ideal day-out destination. It is a perfect place for having a picnic in a park by the seaside, or a meal in one of Fremantle’s excellent restaurants. One may visit the museums, gaze at the conspicuous wealth of the Fremantle Yacht Club, explore the five heritage trails, investigate the Fremantle markets or go fishing at North Mole.
 
The city is located at the mouth of the Swan River and Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle was the first area settled by the Swan River colonists in 1829. It 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. The city contains well-preserved 19th-century buildings and other heritage features. The Western Australian vernacular diminutive for Fremantle is "Freo".

1 comment:

  1. Spouse and I lived in Perth for a few years and loved it. But my memories of Freo were that families were struggling a bit.

    I hope that once all of Fremantle's Victorian beauty and heritage was preserved and celebrated that wealthy families didn't buy up all the land for their themselves, pushing working families out. Like Williamstown in Melbourne.

    ReplyDelete