Location

The City of Fremantle is located south-west of Perth, about 20 kilometres from the Perth GPO. The City of Fremantle is bounded by the Town of Mosman Park and the Swan River in the north, the Town of East Fremantle and the City of Melville in the east, the City of Cockburn in the south, and the Indian Ocean in the west.

Included Areas

The City of Fremantle includes the suburbs of Beaconsfield, Fremantle, Hilton, North Fremantle, O'Connor, Samson, South Fremantle and White Gum Valley.

Land Use

The City of Fremantle is a predominantly residential area, with substantial maritime and industrial areas, and some commercial and tourist land use. The City includes Western Australia's major commercial port, and handles the majority of the State's imports and exports. The City encompasses a total land area of about 19 square kilometres, including significant river foreshore and coastline.

Name Origin

Fremantle is named after Charles Howe Fremantle, Captain of the HMS Challenger which arrived in the area in 1829.

Indigenous Meaning

The original inhabitants of the Fremantle area were the Nyoongar Aboriginal people.

Settlement

European settlement dates from 1829 when the port was established for the Swan River Colony, with the township established soon after. The main industries were shipping, fishing and farming. Gradual growth took place during the mid 1800s. More rapid growth took place during the 1890s and early 1900s, spurred by the opening of the railway line from Perth in 1881, the opening of the Inner Harbour in 1897, and the gold rush. The City had a population of under 19,000 in the 1911, growing to about 22,000 in 1933, then to about 31,000 in 1954. Significant development occurred from the 1950s into the early 1970s, particularly in the southern and eastern suburbs. The population declined during the late 1970s and early 1980s. The population of the City then increased marginally, rising from nearly 24,000 in 1991 to about 25,000 in 2006. Growth continued from 2006, with the population rising to about 27,000 in 2011.

Major Features

Major features of the City include the Port of Fremantle (Inner Harbour), Victoria Quay, Fishing Boat Harbour, Fremantle Harbour, Challenger Harbour, Success Harbour, Fremantle Central Business District, Fremantle Markets, Army Museum of Western Australia, Fremantle Arts Centre, Kidogo Arthouse, Old Fremantle Prison, The Roundhouse, Fremantle Oval, Fremantle Town Hall, Western Australia Maritime Museum, Challenger Institute of Technology (Fremantle Beaconsfield Campus and Fremantle Maritime), The University of Notre Dame Australia (Fremantle Campus), Fremantle Hospital, Arthur Head Reserve, Booyeembara Park, Fremantle Park, Sir Frederick Samson Park, Fremantle Public Golf Course, Royal Fremantle Golf Club, Royal Perth Yacht Club, various beaches and the Swan River.

Transport

The City of Fremantle is served by the Canning Highway, the Stirling Highway, High Street, Queen Victoria Street, Stock Road, Tydeman Road, the Port of Fremantle and the Fremantle-Perth railway line.