The Swan River Colony: A Fremantle Walking Tour

(9 reviews)

Fremantle audio tour: The Swan River Colony: A Fremantle Walking Tour

This is a 1.9mi walking tour

It takes an average of 75 mins to complete.

Fremantle

Australia

$9.99

Access all 33 locations offline with the VoiceMap app

Buy for a Group

Reviews

About the Tour

Dutch explorers once marveled at black swans near the mouth of the Swan River, in the area that later became Fremantle. On this walking tour, you’ll explore the historic port town that became Western Australia’s gateway to the world. You’ll also find out how Fremantle went from a struggling colonial outpost to a bustling gold rush hub.

This tour starts as soon as you exit the train at the Fremantle Railway Station, once the beginning of WA’s first urban train line. You’ll walk through the heart of the colony, following Market Street and the High Street mall with its stunning examples of Australian colonial architecture. Along the way, you’ll discover how the first settlers struggled against harsh conditions, why convict labor ultimately saved the settlement, and how the gold rush transformed Fremantle into a boom town.

You’ll hear tales of bushrangers who escaped the notorious Fremantle Prison, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed site that was built by the very convicts who would be imprisoned within its walls. The tour ends at Arthur Head, where Captain Charles Fremantle first planted the Union Jack in 1829, claiming the land for Britain and establishing what would become the Swan River Colony.

On this 75-minute tour that covers about three kilometers, you’ll have a chance to:

Explore the historic Fremantle Markets, once a 1900s supermarket complete with stables and chicken pens
Discover how the arrival of Italian immigrants transformed South Terrace into the vibrant ”Cappuccino Strip”
Pay tribute to AC/DC’s legendary frontman, Bon Scott, at his memorial statue in the Fishing Boat Harbour
Visit the WA Shipwrecks museum... learn about the tragic Batavia shipwreck of 1629 and how it led to Australia’s first European settlers
Hear the story of the Whadjuk Noongar people and their complex relationship with European settlers
Stand at the site where the Swan River Colony was officially established in 1829
See the National Hotel, at the heart of the newly-formed colony
Admire Esplanade Park, nothing more than swampy foreshore before it was colonised
Hear the story of St John’s Anglican Church
Visit the iconic Round House, WA’s oldest standing public building

By the end of this journey through Fremantle’s colorful past, you’ll have discovered how this resilient port town evolved from harsh beginnings into the vibrant cultural hub it is today.

Tour Producer

WA Tours

3 tours

The best way to experience Western Australia’s vibrant regions is through immersive tours, whether by foot or vehicle. It’s not just about the iconic destinations, it’s the journey itself. These tours reveal hidden gems: breathtaking coastal vistas, historic streets, cultural landmarks, and the stories of locals that bring the region to life.

Western Australia’s history stretches back tens of thousands of years, rooted in rich Aboriginal culture and shaped by colonialism and settlers’ struggles. Your host, John, will guide you through this layered past, from ancient traditions to tales of resilience and local folklore. Expect a blend of profound history and quirky anecdotes that make each tour unforgettable.

These tours take you to must-see tourist sites, but also uncover lesser-known spots: scenic lookouts, historic structures, and hidden corners perfect for photos. John shares captivating stories of Indigenous heritage, colonial challenges, and peculiar local legends that echo through the region’s streets and landscapes.

Preview Location

Location 12

Fremantle Prison - 2

It opened for business in 1859 and only closed in 1991 — the longest continuously operated prison in Australia. As a museum, it’s in WA’s top five most visited attractions, pulling in 150,000 people a year, and it’s a UNESCO World Heritage site — you don’t get to visit one of ... It opened for business in 1859 and only closed in 1991 — the longest continuously operated prison in Australia. As a museum, it’s in WA’s top five most visited attractions, pulling in 150,000 people a year, and it’s a UNESCO World Heritage site — you don’t get to visit one of those every day.

I “really” wouldn’t have wanted to be a convict here. It was maximum security, they had to endure hard labor and rotten conditions with brutal officers. The main cell block could fit 1,000 inmates, four stories tall, one of the largest in Australia. Some locked up here were only ever going to leave feet first. This was death penalty central. Forty-three men stepped up to the gallows over the years, so there are a few restless souls inside. Martha Rendell was the only woman who got the noose for poisoning her three stepkids with acid. She sounds nice.

Now, you’ll be shocked to learn that I have another convict in my family history, from down south near Denmark. I know, someone as sweet as me descended from criminals? It’s unbelievable. A hundred-odd years ago, my great-great-grandfather was convicted of murdering my grandmother in a jealous rage, Her death certificate says she was “throttled until dead.” Great-great-grandpa might not have been the sharpest tool in the box; his defense was, “I didn’t do it, sir; she throttled herself.” Nailed it. Surely now he'd be found innocent. But shockingly, he got the death penalty and was sent here.

We don’t know what happened next; records go cold, but we do know that thirteen years on, he showed up again at home. He might have been pardoned or maybe escaped, but he absolutely came back home, and our fine family line continued towards greatness. So proud.

Some people did bust out, though. One of them was Joseph Johns, who got three years of hard labor for stealing a horse but served 10 because of all of his escapes. He hated it here and got out three times, almost four, but he was rumbled. In one of his successful attempts, he used his rock-breaking tools to chip away at his cell wall until he could push through it at night. Once he was out, he went on the run for almost two years and became famous as a bushranger called Moondyne Joe, stealing to survive. Moondyne is a Whadjuk name; it’s where he had his hideout.

He planned to steal enough supplies to keep him going when he hightailed it to Adelaide. He didn’t quite make it that far, though, only to a winery near the Swan River, trying to steal some booze. well, y’know, he was Welsh... getting the necessities. The police were already at the winery “drinking on duty” with the owner. That's some bad luck there. When Joe burst out of the cellar, half-cut, he bumped straight into the cops. He got thrown back in here with an extra four years, in a reinforced cell, wearing leg irons. Read More

View locations and route

How VoiceMap Works

Focus on your surroundings, not the screen

The VoiceMap app uses GPS to play audio automatically, at the right time and place, so you can focus on your surroundings, not the screen.

Follow a route with turn-by-turn-directions

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a fixed starting point. That lets us give turn-by-turn directions and use context to tell a better story.

Resume playback to go at your own pace

If you'd like to stop for a drink or go into a museum, end your tour then use the Resume feature to pick up exactly where you left off.

Listen as many times as you like

You can listen to your tours as often as you like using both the VoiceMap app and website.

Take virtual tours anywhere, like a podcast

Select Virtual mode in the VoiceMap app to listen to tours like a podcast - at home or in transit.

Buy for less on voicemap.me and sync

Once you've purchased a tour, it's added to your VoiceMap library. To access it in the app, just sign in using the same account.

Do tours without paying for data

Tours work offline, so you don't have to pay roaming fees. Just download them over WiFi before you get started.

Major Landmarks

Fremantle Station Car Park 1
National Hotel
Fremantle Town Hall Clock Tower
St John's Anglican Church
Old Courthouse Fremantle
Fremantle Prison
South Fremantle Football Club
Fremantle Markets
Esplanade Park
Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour
WA Shipwrecks Museum
The Round House

View all

Getting There

Route Overview

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a set starting point. It’s how we give turn-by-turn directions and tell a story greater than the sum of its parts.

Start location
Fremantle WA 6160, Australia
Total distance

3km
Final location
15 Captains Ln, Fremantle WA 6160, Australia
Distance back to start location

602.46m

Directions to Starting Point

The tour begins straight off the train from Perth, at Fremantle Train Station.

The train leaves every 20 minutes from Perth Station, platform 7. It takes about 30 minutes.

Alternatively, the bus leaves from St George's Tce, stand 14, every 15 minutes, for a 55-minute journey.

The tour ends at The Roundhouse, very close to the station again, so easy to get home.

Show Directions

Gift vouchers

Buy tours for friends and family who delight in discovery

Buy Now

Buy for a group

Get 15% to 50% off when you buy for a group

Buy Now

License this tour

Adapt this tour to use your brand and suit your guests

Find out more

Tips

Places to stop along the way

All are stops along the way...

The National Hotel (food available)
St John's Anglican Church.
The Old Courthouse (now a restaurant).
Fremantle Prison, a museum of our convict past.
The Fremantle Market (shopping, food)
The Cappuccino Strip (Cafes)
The Esplanade Hotel (Bars and food)
The Fishing Boat Harbour (Seafood restaurants and bars)
WA Shipwrecks Museum.
The Roundhouse.

Best time of day

Weekends (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) are particularly enjoyable because Fremantle offers many attractions, including Fremantle Markets, the Boat Harbour, Fremantle Prison, and numerous bars, restaurants, and cafes. Weekdays are still great, but there's a definite vibe on weekends.

Any time from 10 am to 4pm, when the attractions are open.

Precautions

It's hot in summer, so wear a hat, summer clothes, and bring a bottle of water. There's plenty of shade en route (trees and verandas), plus there are cafes and restaurants all the way along. They'll be pointed out along the way.

Fremantle is a safe town, but always keep your valuables tucked into your backpack and hold on tight to it, just to be sure.

Get The App

Download tours to use them offline

Listen hands-free with GPS playback

Get turn-by-turn directions

Scan the QR Code

“This app has become my go-to app for audio tours. I pretty much use it for every trip and it works wonderfully. I highly recommend VoiceMap for travelers to truly experience cities.”

App Store Review

“Great app. walk around at your own pace, stop where you want, move on or speed up when you want. Read the script before you go or during the commentary, speed it up or replay it. Repeat the tour whenever you like.”