North Fremantle, WA.  14th to 12th January 2015

14th January 2014

Our ten weeks of exploring Australia was finally over and sadly we had to pack our bags and say our farewells. Nevertheless we decided to do a last bit of shopping in Fremantle, not that we found what we wanted but it is a quaint town to explore.

We drove around  to Phil's, had a quick drink and then headed off to the airport for a flight to Singapore where we would stay for a few days. A country that Sheila had not previously visited.

13th January 2015

We thought that it was time that we took a look at the region from the Swan River so took a Capt. Cook Cruise from Fremantle to Perth. We drove to within 300m of the North Fremantle station and took a train to Fremantle and headed down to Shed B on the docks. Shortly afterwards the boat came in and we boarded.  The cruise was to take about 1hr 30min and offered a wine tasting session on board.

Sheila about to board

Not long after departing we sailed under the two bridges linking Fremantle with North Fremantle and passed both the Left Bank Restaurant on the south bank of the Swan River and our Pier 21 apartment on the north bank. 

Pier 21

Mike had cycled along part of the north bank a couple of weeks back so knew some of the terrain. We were soon spotting the multi-million dollar accommodation that adorns the river bank, mainly on the north side.  There were also fishermen who had waded out into the river a 50m or more to secure a greater advantage.  

Swan River fishing 

At a couple of points on the south of the river there were a couple of sand spits that jutted out a few hundred yards into the river, one at Point Walter near to where we had played golf. 

Swan River spit

As we approached Pelican Point, where Mike, Phil and Becks had been windsurfing, we saw a "smack" of jelly fish both brown and translucent, not dangerous but quite disconcerting if one swims or windsurfs in the area. Mike had spotted none of these previously and later on learnt from Phil that they are a regular occurrence as the summer develops.

Brown Jellyfish

Moon Jellyfish

Further down the river, on the south bank, we spotted two guys surfing with motorised surf boards. These apparently cost $17,000 each and earlier versions took hours to charge and lasted only about 30min.

As we approached Perth City the famous bell tower came into view. Currently the adjacent land is being developed into a new riverside complex so the surrounding area is not particularly attractive. We took a look inside the Bell Tower but didn’t stay long. 

Perth Bell Tower

Our next port of call was the Perth Museum where there was a special exhibition on historic treasures from Afghanistan. This exhibition has been touring the world, including London, and was next off to Moscow. We were keen to take a look at this unique collection, which was thought to have been destroyed during the last 30 years of conflict within Afghanistan but had been found cased up in the Royal Palace.

We left the museum and strolled around the shopping centre eventually catching the train back to North Fremantle, a very fast, efficient and cheap transport system.

In the evening we went out with Phil and Becks to the Matilda Bay Restaurant, on the north shore of the Swan River.  This would be the last meal together before we departed the following day to Singapore. The restaurant had been a recommendation by a friend of ours and the meal and wine proved to be excellent. 

12th January 2015

Now that were fully settled in our new accommodation in North Fremantle, at Pier 21 on the banks of the River Swan, we decided to take a closer look at Fremantle and in particular the Fremantle Prison.

Pier 21 Apartment View

This prison was built by and housed many British convicts that were transported from the UK to Australia from the 1850s. 

Fremantle Prison

We took “the Doing Time Tour”, which took one from the life of the prisoners from the point when they are led into the prison and strip searched through their day-to-day existence, including whipping punishment, solitary cell confinement and for some the gallows. 

Prison corridor & cells

The prison was finally decommissioned in 1991 and even in this period the cells and conditions were far from the “luxurious” conditions that today’s prisoner’s experience. 

Prison "bird"

After the tour we did a short search for an ATM in Fremantle and then headed back to Pier 21, where we had a snack and then a swim.

In the evening we walked across the Stirling Bridge onto the southern bank of the Swan River to the Left Bank Restaurant for dinner where we watched the sun set across the Fremantle docks. 

Left Bank Restaurant

Anglers were visible around the two bridges, some on the base of the bridge structures and others had waded into the river.  

Sunset Dedication!