Fremantle for lovers of arts & culture

Fremantle is renowned for its creative culture, spend a day exploring West End galleries, artist collectives and boutiques. The day finishes with drinks on the rooftop with 360 degree views over Fremantle.

Bill Campbell Books

Moore & Moore Cafe West End

INSIDERS TIP

For the best elevated views over the West End stand at the entrance of the Round House.

9 AM | BREAKFAST

Start your day off with breakfast at your choice of cafes and breakfast spots along the Cappuccino Strip or the West End.

Stop and admire a recent work by street artist Fintan Magee in the grounds of the Hougoumont Hotel on Bannister Street. It’s dedicated to six Irish Fenian Prisoners who escaped from the British penal colony of Western Australia and depicts 6 flying geese symbolising each prisoner that escaped.

10 AM | EXPLORING GALLERIES

Make your way West to Pakenham Street – you’re in the heart of the historic West End where warehouses are home to galleries and studios.

Turning right and a 2-minute walk north west you’ll cross High Street. Look up to see the stunning heritage fronted buildings that are synonymous with this heritage precinct. At the corner of Leake Street and Pakenham is PSAS (Pakenham Street Art Space). The downstairs gallery presents a curated program of exhibitions and events by Australian and international artists.

Whitespace is further north along Pakenham Street and another opportunity to see behind the West End facades. A wooden staircase leads to the most extraordinary New York style space hosting regular exhibitions.

12 PM | LUNCH

Heading west along High Street and at New Edition Bookshop turn left down Henry Street. Walk south to find the Moores Building on the left-hand side of the street. It’s a complex of buildings constructed in 1840 as the premises for Fremantle merchant WD Moore and Co (the same family that up until the early 21st century manufactured the Yellowtail Windmill right here in Fremantle). The left entrance is to the Moores Building Contemporary Art Gallery and the right lane entrance leads you into Moore & Moore Cafe and the perfect place to stop for lunch.

1 PM | BOUTIQUES AND GALLERIES

The afternoon is spent exploring boutique stores in the West End where the work of artists, designers, painters and illustrators is represented in shops lining High Street.

New Edition independent bookstore at the corner of Henry and High Streets has an excellent collection of titles from local writers and publishing house Fremantle Press. They are well known for their range of books covering arts, crafts, culture, film and architecture. On High Street Bill Campbell Books is the go-to place for special edition finds.

Look too for Japingka Aboriginal Art Gallery, a foundation member of both Aboriginal Art Association of Australia and Indigenous Art Code. Browse the gallery spaces upstairs and down.

3 PM | ARTISTS COLLECTIVES

You’ll find two artist collective offerings heading east on High Street, Artisan Store on your right and Common Ground on the left are worth a browse. Lining the High Street are more small galleries to explore including David Giles, Bitches Brew, Art Marx, Glenn Cowans Fine Art Underwater Gallery and the Staircase Gallery at the National Hotel.

5 PM | ROOFTOP DRINKS

Still at the National Hotel and at the top of the stairs (or use the lift) finish off your gallery tour with a sunset drink in the rooftop bar. It’s a different take on the rooftops of Fremantle and surrounds.

*Check websites for the current exhibition program.