This impressive home was built in 1888 for Michael Samson, who, after a life of adventure – and often misadventure! – went on to become an active member of local Fremantle politics and, ultimately, Mayor of Fremantle from 1905 to 1907.
Michael was the son of Lionel Samson, who arrived in Western Australia aboard the Calista in 1829 with his brother, William. This earlier generation of Samson brothers established a liquor import-export that continues today.
The young architect Michael commissioned to design Samson House, JJ Talbot Hobbs, also designed the Western Australian War Memorial in King's Park.
Hobbs was later knighted in acknowledgement of his contributions to architecture and his designs are well-known landmarks, including this house, which is a rare and fine example of his early work in Western Australia.
Samson House at Walyalup is located in Walyalup (Fremantle). Volunteers open the house the first Sunday and third Wednesday of every month. Refer to our website for opening hours.
Housed in a gothic heritage building in Fremantle’s east end, Fremantle Arts Centre (FAC) is the City of Fremantle’s premier arts service and one of the leading arts organisations in Australia.
FAC presents contemporary visual art exhibitions and a varied program of concerts and events from local, national and international artists. With a wide range of art courses for adults and kids, an Artist in Residence program, FOUND Shop which sells the largest range of Western Australian-designed wares, and a quaint café and beautiful leafy grounds, there are always plenty of reasons to visit.
FAC’s commitment to supporting local artists is at the heart of all of the centre’s programming and activities.
The West End is distinctly Fremantle's heritage district, with its exceptionally well-preserved nineteenth-century port-city townscape and architecture and has recently been included in Western Australia's State Register of Heritage Places.
At the top of the West End, you'll find the exquisitely restored National Hotel with its beautiful balconies. It's a great place to stop and enjoy the atmosphere of Fremantle. Don't miss the rooftop bar for 360 degree views.
Take your time to wander down High Street and explore some of the boutiques, galleries and gift stores. Vintage shops, bookstores, boutiques and the wonderful Japingka Aboriginal Art Gallery are just a few of the places to stop and visit along the way. You'll also find a variety of cafes, bars and restaurants.
Steps up to the Round House, Western Australia's oldest building dating back to 1831 when it was built as a jail, reveal the most amazing view of Fremantle and the Indian Ocean and lead you to explore the Bather's Beach Art Precinct along Captain's Lane, Fleet Street and Bather's Beach - Fremantle's secret beach.
The West End precinct is a short walk from Fremantle bus and train station.
The Army Museum of Western Australia provides visitors with an opportunity to explore an extensive collection of army history. Housed in the impressive turn of the century Artillery Barracks in Fremantle, you should allow at least a couple of hours to see the museum.
The Army display focuses on the armed forces role in the great wars of history including World War I and II, Vietnam War, the Korean War and later peacekeeping and Middle Eastern war theatres. It also looks more specifically at Western Australian soldiers and their involvement in each war. View the numerous displays of photographs, documentation, uniforms, weapons and vehicles, which together form the second largest collection of its kind in Australia.
Admire the three Victoria Crosses which were awarded to Western Australian soldiers along with other military medals of significance.
The Barracks are also worth investigating. Built in the early 1900s, they played a significant role during World War II when Fremantle was home to the largest submarine fleet in the Southern Hemisphere.
The museum has an extensive schedule of school group tours and always welcome groups from clubs and similar organizations. Refer to the website for details of tour bookings. Come Hear Our Stories
Marcus Canning’s ‘Rainbow’ was installed between the bridges at Beach Reserve overlooking the Fremantle port in 2016. At nine-metres high and19-metres long, and tipping the scales at 66 tonnes Rainbow is not your average public art piece.
The sculpture by prominent Perth artist Marcus Canning is constructed from nine recycled sea containers joined to form an arch.
Canning’s artwork now welcomes visitors to Fremantle whether they’re arriving by train, car or boat. It overlooks the Swan River as well as the container port from which it draws part of its inspiration as a universal symbol of hope and acknowledgement of Fremantle’s artistic as well as maritime heritage.
See it for yourself at Beach Reserve adjacent to Canning Highway, overlooking the Swan River and the port. It's 1.6 kilometres from Fremantle bus and train station. There’s plenty of parking at East Street Jetty on Beach Street. It’s a short walk up the ramp behind the café or you can hire a free bike from Fremantle Visitor Centre in the Town Hall.
Port Beach is conveniently located near the popular tourist hub of Fremantle. With attractive views out to Rottnest Island and a popular café adjacent to an enclosed playground, you will easily see why it is a favourite with Perth locals.
Laze on the soft white sandy beach and soak up the sun, take a dip between the flags of the patrolled swimming beach or snorkel in the calm clear waters of the Indian Ocean. Stay in the late afternoon to watch the famous Western Australian sunset or arrive early to miss the crowds.
The beach does become quite crowded during the summer months, especially on weekends and school holidays. Sandtrax is a popular surf spot in the winter months. Limited parking is available or alternatively, the local bus service stops right at the beach.
Port Beach is a five-minute drive from Fremantle and a 30 minute drive south of Perth.
With rolling green lawns and towering Norfolk Island Pine trees, South Beach is where the locals head on a hot summer's day.
Plenty of public barbecues cater for the great Aussie tradition of an outdoor barbecue when the best place to be is close to the ocean.
South Beach is perfect for families and inexperience swimmers - the water is a little calmer than Leighton or Port Beach. A full-size outdoor basketball court, playground area for the kids, cafes and stand-up paddle boarding provide everything you need.
Cafes, restaurants and the historic South Beach Hotel are a 2 minute walk across Wilson Park .
South Beach is a 5 minute drive from Fremantle - there's plenty of parking with overflow parking available at Wilson Park on hot days. Hire a bike to ride south along the train line or the blue Fremantle CAT service stops right at South Beach.
Didgeridoo Breath is specialty didgeridoo store. Their staff are passionate and knowledgeable didgeridoo players.
Head in-home gallery store by appointment to purchase a didgeridoo or one of the many didgeridoo accessories. They offer private lessons from beginners to advanced players, and incursion lessons are available for schools to corporate events.
See the finest quality didgeridoos from only the best instrument makers in the country. You will find the highest quality of termite-eaten Eucalyptus didgeridoos, bags, beeswax mouthpieces and a full range of accessories.
Making its debut in Perth, and the first of its kind in Australia, Glowing Rooms is the 3D Mini Golf sensation that is taking America, Europe, and Asia by storm.
Their artists spent 1,300 hours painting the 800 square metres of walls and floors in the Golf Rooms, by hand, using a special colour and a secret technique. Wearing their magical 3D glasses transforms a game of ordinary mini golf into a glow-in-the-dark, out-of-this-world experience. Golf balls appear to hover above the ground, the animals come to life, and characters seem to almost reach out and touch you.
As you travel through the course, explore space and the far-flung corners of the universe. Journey under the waves to a world inhabited by sea creatures. Wander past some of Australia’s most iconic landmarks and get up close and personal with some of your favourite superheroes!
Just five minutes south of Fremantle, with free onsite parking, Glowing Rooms is designed to provide you with an unrivalled experience. Play through a Mini Golf course like no other, surrounded by intense colours, all in air-conditioned comfort.
So, whether it’s a corporate team-building event, a date night, a family outing, or an after-work treat with your mates, the Glowing Rooms venue is the choice second to none.
Leighton Beach is a popular beach just north of Fremantle offering lovely snorkelling, swimming or just an easily accessible spot for enjoying a trip to the beach. With low wave conditions, it is suitable for young children. Laze on the soft white sandy beach and observe the skilled wind and kite surfers tackling the winds off the shore.
Cool off in the refreshing waters of the Indian Ocean and try your hand at body surfing. On a calm day ensure you have a snorkel to observe the marine life under the water. For the more active, take advantage of the flat water to join some of the locals who swim daily along the coast. Complete a perfect day at the beach with the stunning Western Australian sunset against the backdrop of Rottnest Island.
To the northern end of Leighton is an animal exercise area, so even the family pet can enjoy a day down at the beach.
Parking is plentiful at Leighton, or alternatively, the North Fremantle train station is an 800-metre walk away. Leighton is a 5-minute drive north of Fremantle and 30 minutes south of Perth.
The fully protected nature reserve of Carnac Island is an important habitat for the rare Australian sea lion.
Located south of Fremantle, Carnac Island is also known as a breeding area for many seabirds including a variety of Tern species, Little Penguins and many other local seabirds.
On a cruise near the island you're also likely to see pods of wild bottlenose dolphins which are common in the area.
Carnac is a well-known and popular spot for fishing, especially on the eastern side of the island where there's a sheltered bay to drop anchor.
Tourists are advised to check for alerts and road/park closures before commencing their travel on www.emergency.wa.gov.au and https://alerts.dbca.wa.gov.au.
