75-642: The Fremantle Society is a community-based culture and heritage advocacy group in Fremantle, Western Australia . It was formed in 1972 to prevent demolition of historic buildings in Fremantle and to assist in their development. As the significance of Fremantle's built heritage came to be more widely recognised and respected (by the City , and property owners), the focus of the Fremantle Society has evolved to include more of
150-566: A Mediterranean climate ( Köppen : Csa). The regular sea breeze is known as the Fremantle Doctor , as it provides cooling relief from the summer heat when it arrives between noon and 3pm. Fremantle is generally a few degrees cooler than Perth in summer. The Fremantle state seat was continuously held by the Australian Labor Party from 1924 until 2009, when it was lost at a by-election to Greens candidate Adele Carles . The seat
225-450: A World Sprint Car Championship were held in early January. The cruise ship Achille Lauro was chartered by a private group for the duration of the series, to act as a viewing platform and accommodation for 1,400 visitors. It also housed the international jury which oversaw the races. Other cruise ships which visited the port for the races included Island Princess and several Royal Viking vessels. In January and February 1986,
300-524: A brawl between American and New Zealand servicemen at the National Hotel resulted in many injuries and the death from stab wounds of two Māori soldiers. After Australia won the 1983 America's Cup yacht race, Fremantle hosted Australia's defence of the trophy in 1987. The series was held in Gage Roads and significantly boosted the local economy and tourism. A new Fremantle marina, Challenger Harbour ,
375-421: A community theatre company, Harbour Theatre Inc., which has been performing in the city since 1963. There is also the J Shed situated on Bathers' Beach. J Shed houses four artists studios. Old Customs House , a heritage building just across from the working Fremantle Ports, is home to a not-for-profit artists agency, Artsource, and provides 23 artist studios, and houses several other arts organisations. Known as
450-670: A history of the Society by Ron and Dianne Davidson, was published by Fremantle Press in 2010. It was launched by the Premier of Western Australia , Colin Barnett , in Victoria Hall . The Society has led campaigns to prevent the loss of many significant buildings in Fremantle; not all have been successful. Some examples include: Other projects have also been undertaken, such as the 1978–80 photographic survey of almost every building in Fremantle, and
525-657: A municipality in 1883, and the following decade its harbour was deepened for commercial shipping, transforming the port into a bustling trade centre and gateway at the height of the Western Australian gold rushes . Declared a city in 1929, Fremantle played a key role in World War II as the largest submarine base in the Southern Hemisphere. Post-war immigration from Europe, particularly Italy , helped shape Fremantle's character, and it rapidly gentrified after hosting
600-472: A music hub, Fremantle has given rise to many notable musicians, including AC/DC frontman Bon Scott , who grew up in the city and whose gravesite at Fremantle Cemetery has become a cultural landmark. A statue of Scott was erected in 2009 at the Fishing Boat Harbour. Dom Mariani also grew up in Fremantle, as did James Baker , and in the mid-1970s, fellow punk rock pioneer Kim Salmon resided at
675-574: A pharmacist with a shop in High Street, was admired by all sides of politics for his civic leadership and tireless work for the city, especially during the Second World War, when he is said to have visited every ship that called at the port. He was a leading figure in many civic organisations and his stepson, Roger Dunkley, was medical officer with the 2nd/2nd Independent Company during the Timor campaign in
750-423: A port city with a population of less than 24,000. Private investment and public infrastructure redevelopment commenced on a massive scale in anticipation of a large influx of visitors arriving to watch the event. This expectation proved over-ambitious, but 13 challenging syndicates from six countries and four defence syndicates arrived with a fleet of 29 12-metre yachts. In 1985, an "Office of America's Cup Defence"
825-539: A series styled as the '12-metre world championship' was staged off Fremantle as a precursor to the America's Cup event scheduled for January 1987. A dozen syndicates competed, mainly as a shakedown series to determine their relative competitiveness and to train crews for the anticipated heavy conditions. Strong winds throughout most of the regatta resulted in four 27-metre (90 ft) masts, a dozen booms and numerous sails being destroyed. Five crewmen were washed overboard during
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#1732851342453900-477: A variety and unity of historic buildings and streetscapes. These were often built in locally quarried limestone with ornate façades in a succession of architectural styles. Rapid development following the harbour works gave rise to an Edwardian precinct as merchant and shipping companies built in the west end and on reclaimed land. The Round House , the oldest remaining intact building in Western Australia,
975-473: A wide variety of dining experiences, with a strong emphasis on Italian and Asian cuisine as well as seafood. Various cafés and coffee shops are situated around Fremantle, particularly on the 'Cappuccino Strip', a section of South Terrace known for its al fresco dining culture. The Fishing Boat Harbour has become a tourist precinct, with a mixture of microbreweries , restaurants and some of Australia's largest fish and chip shops. A number of old buildings on
1050-503: Is health care and social assistance – 17.5% of the city's workers are employed in this area, reflecting the important influence of Fremantle Hospital. The transport, postal and warehousing sector employs 12.6% of the workers, followed by retail, employing 10.2%. The Local Gross Product of Fremantle was $ 3,677 million in 2011. Fremantle was served by a Community Newspaper Group paper, The Fremantle - Cockburn Gazette , until 2021 ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_Newspaper_Group ) and
1125-520: Is located in what is now known as Fremantle's West End: a collection of streets characterised by late Victorian and Edwardian architecture . A process of gentrification in the early 1990s was accelerated by the establishment of the University of Notre Dame Australia that occupies, and has restored, many of the buildings in the West End. When the first 75 convicts arrived from Britain in 1850 to support
1200-473: Is the only one not defined by geographical boundaries (the others are mostly representative of a suburb). The work of precinct groups can be supported by financial assistance from the City of up to $ 850 per year (as long as this is not used to support government election campaigning). The overall nature of the Society's work is ongoing due to the inherent pressures from developers and others. Fighting for Fremantle ,
1275-483: The 1987 America's Cup sailing competition. Today, Fremantle is recognised for its well-preserved Victorian and Edwardian streetscapes and convict-era architecture, and is known as a bohemian enclave with a thriving arts and culinary scene. It is also the traditional home of the Fremantle Football Club , one of two Australian Football League teams based in Western Australia. The original inhabitants of
1350-636: The Fremantle Arts Centre , constructed in the 1860s from locally quarried limestone. It is a former lunatic asylum building on Ord Street, 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. The Fremantle Markets opened in 1897, forming a precinct providing handicrafts, specialty foods, dining halls and fish and vegetable markets. The area also hosts buskers and other street performers. The then premier , Sir John Forrest , laid
1425-744: The Fremantle Declaration , a restatement and affirmation of legal and human rights principles in Australia. In 2011, Prime Minister Julia Gillard launched the Commonwealth Youth Forum in Fremantle as part of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2011 , held in Perth 28–30 October. Fremantle is renowned for its well-preserved architectural heritage, including convict-built structures and hundreds of gold rush-era buildings, presenting
1500-470: The Fremantle Technical School , Fremantle Synagogue and Scots Presbyterian Church . Some key historical buildings have been lost to development, while others are only extant thanks to community activism that went against the wishes of developers. For example, the art deco Oriana Cinema on the corner of Queen and High streets was demolished in 1972, after only 34 years of operation. This
1575-675: The Freopedia wikitown project . The group received assistance in the 1970s in the form of green bans organised by the Builders Labourers Federation . Fremantle, Western Australia Fremantle ( / ˈ f r iː m æ n t əl / ) ( Nyungar : Walyalup ) is a port city in Western Australia located at the mouth of the Swan River in the metropolitan area of Perth , the state capital. Fremantle Harbour serves as
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#17328513424531650-531: The Round House prison stands) to Point Marquis was called Manjaree , an important meeting place where bush paths converged and a major trading place for Whadjuk and neighbouring Noongars. Today, Whadjuk and other Noongars continue to gather and meet in Walyalup and at Manjaree . The first Europeans to visit the site of modern-day Fremantle were Dutch explorers captained by Willem de Vlamingh , in 1697. They mapped
1725-642: The Tarantella Night Club , where he made his first public performances. John Butler of the John Butler Trio started his music career busking in Fremantle in the 1990s. Alternative rock and folk groups Little Birdy , The Waifs and Eskimo Joe all have Fremantle connections, and belong to what has been dubbed the 'Freo Sound'. Other notable Fremantle musicians include bassist Martyn P. Casey , psychedelic rock groups Tame Impala and Pond , and indie pop band San Cisco . Songs about Fremantle include
1800-795: The West Coast Blues & Roots Festival , the Fremantle Winter Music Festival , and the St Jerome's Laneway Festival . The Fremantle Eisteddfod, running annually at the Fremantle Town Hall , supports young artists with prizes and concerts. Fremantle has served as the setting for several films. Windrider (1986) was shot in Fremantle and starred Nicole Kidman . In the 2004 film Thunderstruck , four devoted AC/DC fans travel across Australia from Sydney to Fremantle to bury their best friend next to Bon Scott's grave. Shooting for
1875-399: The cultural heritage of the area. Various projects over time have highlighted Fremantle heritage, as well as advocating consideration of heritage in planning schemes. When the City's precinct system was established in the 1990s to provide interaction between the City and groups of residents, the Society became the "umbrella" precinct of the other eleven precincts. It has remained such, and
1950-552: The 2006 film Last Train to Freo took place outside Fremantle railway station , while scenes in the 2010 musical film Bran Nue Dae were shot in Fremantle's West End. Other films shot and/or set in Fremantle include Wind (1992), Teesh and Trude (2003) and Two Fists, One Heart (2008). 1987 America%27s Cup The 1987 America's Cup was the twenty-sixth challenge for the America's Cup . The American challenger Stars & Stripes 87 , sailed by Dennis Conner , beat
2025-569: The Aboriginal people. The suburb of Fremantle is bounded by the Swan River to the north and north-west, the Indian Ocean to the west, South Street to the south, and the suburbs of East Fremantle and White Gum Valley to the east. The central part of the suburb extends eastwards to include Royal Fremantle Golf Club and a suburban area south of Marmion Street and west of Carrington Street. The City of Fremantle local government area also includes
2100-570: The Australian defender Kookaburra III , sailed by Iain Murray , in a four-race sweep in the best of seven series. Conner thus became the first person both to lose the America's Cup and then to win it back. The series was held in Gage Roads off Fremantle, Western Australia during the Australian summer months between October 1986 and February 1987. The Royal Perth Yacht Club was the defending club and
2175-693: The Convict Establishment in the Catalpa rescue of 1876. During this period, notorious South Sea pirate Bully Hayes lived in Fremantle with his fiancée Miss Scott, daughter of the Fremantle Harbour Master. In 1897, Irish-born engineer C. Y. O'Connor deepened Fremantle Harbour and removed the limestone bar and sand shoals across the entrance to the Swan River, thus rendering Fremantle a serviceable port for commercial shipping. This occurred at
2250-544: The Fleet ceremony. Fremantle—along with the inner suburbs Northbridge , Leederville and Subiaco —is one of Perth's major nightlife hubs. It attracts people from all over the metropolitan region for its pubs, bars and nightclubs. There are several major annual festivals in Fremantle. First held in 1906, the Fremantle Festival is Australia's longest running community festival. International street performers converge for
2325-660: The Fremantle Street Arts Festival, held over the Easter holiday period. The Fremantle Heritage Festival celebrates local history with a variety of events, tours, concerts and workshops. Fremantle is also home to several galleries and museums. The Western Australian Museum has two branches in Fremantle: the Shipwreck Galleries , housed in convict-constructed commissariat buildings and known for its artefacts from
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2400-521: The Second World War, and is often described as one of the nation's greatest political leaders. The state's largest university and a major secondary school in Fremantle are named after him, and his statue stands in Kings Square near the Fremantle Town Hall. A long-serving mayor of the town, Sir Frank Gibson (1919–1923 and 1926–1952), was also a Liberal parliamentarian from 1942 to 1956. Gibson,
2475-557: The Second World War. Carmen Lawrence , the first female premier of an Australian state, later represented Fremantle in the federal House of Representatives . Fremantle has seen many industrial conflicts , the most famous of which occurred in 1919 when rioting broke out during the Battle of the Barricades , resulting in one death and many injuries. On 10 November 2006, Australian state and territory attorneys general met in Fremantle to sign
2550-586: The United Kingdom and the United States) competed, bringing 25 boats for the right to challenge. Stars & Stripes 87 was the winner of the 1987 Louis Vuitton Cup and earned the right to sail for the America's Cup . Four syndicates competed for the right to represent the Royal Perth Yacht Club as the defender of the America's Cup. After a series of round robin races, a Defender Finals contest
2625-639: The area and went up the Swan River, and Vlamingh reported that it would be an ideal place for a settlement, although no attempts were made at the time. The area was considered as a site for possible British settlement in 1827, when Captain James Stirling , in HMS ; Success , explored the coastal areas near the Swan River. His favourable report was welcomed by the British Government, who had for some time been suspicious of French colonial intentions towards
2700-486: The challenge and defence elimination trials used other markers in the general vicinity. The orientation of the course was set such that the starting line was square to the prevailing wind 20 minutes before each race start. Races were 24.3 nautical miles (45.0 km) long, consisting of beats into the wind in legs 1, 3, 6 and 8; downwind runs on legs 2 and 7; and reaches on legs 4 and 5. Thirteen syndicates from six countries (Canada, France, Italy, New Zealand,
2775-499: The chief general seaport for Western Australia, though far greater tonnages are exported from the iron-ore ports of the Pilbara . Fremantle lies on a series of limestone hills known by the Nyungar people as Booyeembara ; the sandplain to the east is Gardoo . The original vegetation of the area was mainly Xanthorrhoea and eucalyptus trees, which were traditionally fired annually by
2850-454: The colony on 25 August after providing much assistance to Stirling in setting up the colony. It was then that Stirling decided to name the port settlement "Fremantle". In early September 1829, the merchant vessel Anglesea grounded at Gage Roads , at the mouth of the Swan River . She did not break up, as had been expected, but instead survived to become Western Australia's first prison hulk . Lotus , which arrived on 10 October 1829, became
2925-568: The colony's dwindling population, it became apparent that the Round House was inadequate to house them. The convicts built a new jail, Fremantle Prison , which was completed in the 1850s and continued to be used as Fremantle's prison until 1991. Fremantle Prison was once one of the most notorious prisons in the British Empire . It housed British convicts, local prisoners, military prisoners, enemy aliens and prisoners of war. In 2010, Fremantle Prison
3000-535: The construction of many pubs, hotels, banks, warehouses, import-export businesses and shipping companies throughout Fremantle, and in 1905, the Fremantle tram network opened. In 1919, a deadly clash between striking waterside workers and police took place at Fremantle Harbour. During the Second World War , Fremantle was the home of the largest base for Allied submarines in the Southern Hemisphere , and
3075-522: The first US submarines to arrive in Fremantle, the USS Sargo (SS-188) , was bombed by an Australian Lockheed Hudson , which mistook it for a Japanese vessel. The movements and presence of USS Sturgeon (SS-187) is a good example of such activity. Fremantle was considered a "veritable Shangri-la " among submariners during the war, however tensions between transient American and non-American soldiers often led to alcohol-fuelled violence. On 11 April 1944,
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3150-679: The foundation stone for the markets on Saturday 6 November 1897. Over 150 stalls are housed in the Victorian-era building, which was listed by the National Trust of Australia and the state's Heritage Council in 1980. The Fremantle Markets are adjacent to several other historic buildings, including the Sail and Anchor Hotel (which contains a microbrewery ), the Norfolk Hotel , the Warders Cottages,
3225-497: The harbour have been renovated, including Little Creatures Brewery , which occupies a former boat shed and crocodile farm , and contains a café and art gallery. The harbour's annual Fremantle Sardine Festival on Esplanade Park attracts thousands of seafood lovers every year. Other annual events held at the harbour include Araluen's Fremantle Chilli Festival , the Fremantle Boat Show, and the traditional Italian Blessing of
3300-513: The harbour works of $ 8 million. Vehicle registration plate slogans in Western Australia changed from The Wildflower State and the State of Excitement to W.A. Home of the America's Cup In 1985 and 1986 changes in liquor laws and trading hours regulations were made to expand services for visitors. The Executive Director of the Royal Perth Yacht Club's America's Cup Defence Committee
3375-437: The height of the late 19th-century Western Australian gold rush , transforming Fremantle into a capital of trade and gateway for thousands of gold miners to the inland boom towns of Coolgardie , Kalgoorlie and Southern Cross . Camels and their Afghan drivers were familiar sights, and by-laws regulating the driving of camels through the streets of Fremantle were enacted. The wealth generated during this period resulted in
3450-512: The land on which the city is built are the Whadjuk Noongar people, who called the area Walyalup ("place of the woylie "). To the local Noongar people, Fremantle is a place of ceremonies, significant cultural practices and trading. For millennia the Noongar people met there in spring and autumn to feast on fish and game. Anglesea Point and the limestone hill area at Arthur Head (where
3525-415: The likely location of the defence, with three main candidates potentially under consideration. In the late 1970s, Alan Bond had developed a marina and a large associated housing development north of Yanchep called "Yanchep Sun City" (now known as Two Rocks ), about one hour's drive north of Perth. The marina was built with an expectation of success from earlier America's Cup challenges. The second candidate
3600-486: The organiser of the defence series. Yacht Club Costa Smeralda of Porto Cervo , Sardinia was appointed the challenger of record and hence the organiser of the challenger series. This was the last time that 12-metre class yachts were used in the America's Cup and the first time for 132 years that it had not been defended by the New York Yacht Club . The 1983 America's Cup off Newport, Rhode Island
3675-494: The population had no religion, 19.7% of the population was Catholic , 8.1% Anglican and 7.5% not stated. Fremantle's tertiary education institutions are: The city centre is also home to a major teaching hospital, Fremantle Hospital . Fremantle has a diverse economy, with over 2,000 registered businesses operating across a wide range of sectors. Many of the city's enterprises are small businesses, with 75% employing fewer than five people. Fremantle's biggest employment sector
3750-470: The population, and the largest overseas-born groups come from England (8.5%), Italy (2.3%), New Zealand (2.1%), Scotland (1.2%) and Ireland (1.0%). After English, the most common language spoken at home is Italian (3.2%), followed by French (1.1%), German (1.1%), Spanish (1.0%) and Portuguese (0.8%). As of the 2021 census, Fremantle had an unemployment rate of 5.8%. The city has an above-average proportion of rented dwellings (31.7%, vs 30.6% nationally). 54% of
3825-517: The port of Perth. The Western Australian vernacular diminutive for Fremantle is Freo . Prior to British settlement, the indigenous Noongar people inhabited the area for millennia, and knew it by the name of Walyalup ("place of the woylie "). Visited by Dutch explorers in the 1600s, Fremantle was the first area settled by the Swan River colonists in 1829, and is named after Captain Charles Fremantle , an English naval officer who claimed
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#17328513424533900-551: The races. Gary Jobson, of the 'Heart of America' syndicate declared that the Fremantle waters were "unsuitable for racing." Australia III , the heavy-weather Ben Lexcen designed successor to Australia II won the series comfortably. The New Zealand challenge boat KZ 5 , a fibreglass-hull Bruce Farr design, came in second, with the New York Yacht Club entrant America II third. The Fremantle Fairway Buoy 31°57′9.0″S 115°38′48.12″E / 31.952500°S 115.6467000°E / -31.952500; 115.6467000
3975-566: The second largest in the Pacific War after Pearl Harbor . In the lead-up to and during the war, the port's existing batteries were upgraded and new ones were constructed, forming a coastal defence system referred to as Fremantle Fortress . There were up to 125 US, 31 British and 11 Free Dutch submarines operating out of Fremantle , until the Americans moved forward to the Philippines . One of
4050-518: The second vessel to land immigrants at Fremantle. On 1 June 1850, the first convicts arrived at Fremantle aboard Scindian . The thirty-seventh and last convict ship to dock at Fremantle was Hougoumont on 10 January 1868, signalling the end of penal transportation to Australia. Among the 280 convicts on board were 62 Fenian military and political prisoners—members of the Irish Republican Brotherhood —six of whom managed to escape
4125-520: The suburbs of Beaconsfield , Hilton , North Fremantle , O'Connor , Samson , South Fremantle , and White Gum Valley . East Fremantle has its own town council and is not governed by the City of Fremantle. Fremantle is the end of the Fremantle railway line which runs from Perth to Fremantle, run by the Western Australia's Public Transport Authority . Major highways including Stirling Highway , Canning Highway and Leach Highway have Fremantle as their start point and/or terminus. Fremantle has
4200-585: The title track of Paul Kelly 's 1987 album Under the Sun , The Waifs' 2004 single " Bridal Train ", and much of Eskimo Joe's 2004 album A Song is a City . Fremantle is home to a number of independent labels, including Redline Records , co-run by Jebediah frontman and Fremantle-native Kevin Mitchell , and Jarrah Records , co-founded by the John Butler Trio and The Waifs. Music festivals held in Fremantle include
4275-618: The trophy over 132 years. Most previous challenges had been from the United Kingdom – notably by Scotsman Sir Thomas Lipton who had challenged five times between 1899 and 1930 in his 37-metre (121 ft) Shamrock sloops . Australia mounted its first challenge in 1962 with 12-metre class yachts when Sir Frank Packer and his Gretel were beaten 4–1. Packer made more challenges, with Dame Pattie and Gretel II . Alan Bond mounted his first challenge in 1974 with Southern Cross , followed by Australia in 1977 and 1980 and ultimately had success with Australia II in 1983. It
4350-398: The west coast of New Holland as British territory. The settlement struggled in its first decades, and in 1850, with the advent of penal transportation to the colony , Fremantle became Australia's primary destination for convicts . The convict-built Fremantle Prison operated long after transportation of convicts ended in 1868, and is now a World Heritage Site . Fremantle was charted as
4425-458: The western portion of Australia. As a result of Stirling's report, Captain Charles Fremantle of HMS Challenger , a 603-ton, 28-gun frigate, was instructed to sail to the west coast of Australia to establish a settlement there. On 2 May 1829, Fremantle hoisted the Union Flag in a bay near what is now known as Arthur Head, and in accordance with his instructions, took formal possession "of
4500-663: The whole of the West Coast of New Holland " in the name of Britain's King George IV . Western Australia Day (formerly Foundation Day) is observed on the first Monday in June, although it was actually on 2 June 1829 that Captain James Stirling on Parmelia arrived with Surveyor-General Roe and the first contingent of immigrants to set up the Swan River Colony. The settlement of Perth began on 12 August 1829. Captain Fremantle left
4575-402: The wrecked Dutch East India Company ship Batavia and other 17th-century Dutch ships; and the Maritime Museum on Victoria Quay , which contains exhibits related to maritime trade and the Indian Ocean. The Army Museum of Western Australia is housed in an historic Fremantle artillery barracks. The city has a large arts community, with a number of small art galleries and musical venues and
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#17328513424534650-476: Was Noel Robins , a skipper and crew member in previous America's Cups, and later a Paralympic gold medallist. A Festival of Sport was conducted in late 1986 and early 1987 which included a cricket Test and One Day International tournament , athletics, hockey, basketball, squash, golf, racing, trotting, cycling, football, baseball, fishing (MAAC Blue Water Fishing Classic), lawn bowls, karate and kick-boxing competitions. A heavy-weight boxing title fight and
4725-451: Was almost destroyed by fire on the night of Sunday, 11 March 2007. Though the interior was gutted, the façade was saved and the building has since been fully restored with an additional rooftop bar. In the 2021 Australian census , the local government area of City of Fremantle had a population of 31,930 people. 64.9% of the population was born in Australia, compared with the national average of 67%. Indigenous Australians make up 1.7% of
4800-466: Was built alongside the existing Fishing Boat Harbour. The City of Fremantle introduced several urban renewal projects in 2012, encouraging mixed-use development by increasing the maximum building height on key sites in the CBD, including Kings Square and the inner East End. In January 2013, the City of Fremantle became the first council in Australia to outlaw the use of non-degradable plastic bags within their local area. Fremantle still serves as
4875-402: Was built as a jail between 1830 and 1831. The Round House had eight cells and a jailer's residence, which all opened up into a central courtyard. 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 under the Round House to provide whalers with access to the town from the jetty and beach. The Round House
4950-407: Was done to make way for the widening of High Street, but that project was stopped thanks to the campaigning of the Fremantle Society and other community members, and the buildings along the southern side of High Street were retained. The Fremantle Markets nearly suffered a similar fate in the late 1970s due to another road-widening proposal. The National Hotel, one of the city's historic buildings,
5025-418: Was in this context that the 1987 America's Cup was seen as the best opportunity yet for a successful challenge, as the event was now outside the control of the NYYC and held in a location with strong but variable breezes, unlike the predictable and placid winds off Rhode Island . The regatta therefore attracted enormous additional interest over previous series. Following the 1983 win, there was speculation over
5100-421: Was placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the " Australian Convict Sites ", making it the first built environment in Western Australia to be bestowed this honour. It continues to be accessible to the public for guided tours and as a venue for artistic and cultural activities. Other convict-built buildings in Fremantle include the 1850s Fremantle School building and Commissariat Buildings , and
5175-403: Was renamed the "America's Cup Buoy" for the duration of the event and marked one end of the start and finish lines for each America's Cup race. The buoy is a permanent navigation marker used for shipping in and out of Fremantle harbour and is located 8 nautical miles (15 km) west-north-west of the harbour, in Gage Roads or 5.5 nautical miles (10.2 km) due west of City Beach . Races in
5250-472: Was replaced by PerthNow - Fremantle . The independent local newspaper, the Fremantle Herald , also serves the region. Fremantle also has two radio stations: Radio Fremantle on 107.9FM and 91.3 SportFM . Online reporting and reviews of events and places within Fremantle are comprehensively covered by a group of local designers on their popular blog, known as 'Love Freo', and by a local photographer with his daily updated blog Freo's View. Fremantle offers
5325-528: Was returned to Labor ( Simone McGurk ) in the 2013 state election . The federal electorate has returned Labor members continuously since 1934, including former Prime Minister John Curtin , and is represented by Josh Wilson . The local government of the City of Fremantle consists of a mayor and council. Hannah Fitzhardinge has been the mayor since the 2021 local government elections. Fremantle has been represented by some significant Australian political figures. John Curtin served as Prime Minister during
5400-553: Was sailed between Alan Bond 's Australia IV and Kookaburra III of Kevin Parry 's Taskforce 87 syndicate, with Kookaburra III sweeping the finals five races to nil to win the Defender selection process. In doing so she placed Alan Bond's syndicate on the outside of an America's Cup regatta for the first time in thirteen years. The best-of-seven final series were scheduled to be held between 31 January and 15 February 1987. There being
5475-498: Was set up to coordinate the state government's involvement in the staging of the event. The government embarked on a number of projects such as Hillarys Boat Harbour and extensions to the Perth to Fremantle railway line . A new marina, Challenger Harbour was built alongside the existing Fishing Boat Harbour , and the state government received funding from each defence syndicate, a total of $ 2.3 million, to offset costs associated with
5550-495: Was the most significant America's Cup regatta since the first event off the Isle of Wight. Alan Bond's Australia II pulled off a major upset by winning the series from Conner's Liberty to become the first success in twenty-five challenges for the Cup. The New York Yacht Club had previously built the longest winning streak in international sporting history, having successfully defended
5625-459: Was the town of Mandurah , a coastal township a similar distance south of Perth. The last, and ultimately successful location considered was Fremantle as the required infrastructure at the other two locations were considered inadequate by the Royal Perth Yacht Club as defender. Also, the proximity to the major population centre of Perth and its international airport were seen as an important factor. For most of its life until 1985, Fremantle had been
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