Exploration time
Located just south of Perth is the history rich city of Freemantle, or “Freeo” as the locals call it. We headed this way for a day trip and a look around but had no idea that Freemantle would find a soft spot within all of us. The entire streetscape of whatever path you walk is like stepping back in time as all the old buildings and wharf structures are still in place and mostly still in operation. Old style European architecture and cobbled roads have given way to nothing more than a modern person who lives amongst them. English and Irish style pubs wrap themselves around every corner, probably to act as a beacon of familiarity for the thousands of people who stepped ashore here as early immigrants from all parts of the world.
Freemantle has the feel of a city moving forward with the determination to never forget it’s past and is definitely a whole other personality to it’s larger brother Perth just up the road. Not only is early British and Australian history preserved here but also the very early Dutch history and its connection to Australia’s west coast from its earliest contact by Dirk Hartog in the Shark Bay region. Not giving you a history lesson here but the Dutch landed at Turtle Bay in 1616 and have been wrecking ships and losing lives along Australia’s west coast long before Cook ever sailed up the east coast. Freemantle’s Maritime Museum and Ship Wreck Gallery have all the history and interpretative information on everything seafaring and sealife related to Australia. It took us a day and a half to take it all in.
Also a quick mention of all the street performing action, market food and micro breweries any hungry person in need of entertainment and boutique beer could ever want. Good on you Freeo and thanks for a couple of fulfilling days in your care!
