Round House Tours and Activities

The Round House takes its place in Western Australia’s history as the oldest surviving building in the state.Built just 18 months after the first settlers established the Swan River Colony in Western Australia, the Round House was initially intended to be a small prison, according to the dictates of Australia’s official civil engineer, who designed the building. In later years, the Round House became a police lockup, and for a while, was also the home of Perth’s chief constable.Today, visitors can tour this historic building to discover what conditions were like back in colonial times, as well as to see exhibits that explain the background behind this building of historical importance. There’s also a fully-working historical cannon in the building, which can be seen being fired.The trip to the Perth Round House takes in awe-inspiring views over the Indian Ocean. The building actually sits on top of the Arthur Head peak, and overlooks Bather’s Beach and its surrounding harbours. At around 1 p.m. you can witness the cannon being fired, a tradition that was started to enable local residents and seamen to synchronise their watches and ship’s clocks. One lucky visitor is chosen to be gunner for the day and to fire the cannon.This colonial structure isn’t round as its name suggests. It’s actually comprised of 12 equilateral sides. However, from a distance, it appears to be round.Once inside, you can view the guards’ quarters, the bakery and laundry. There is information available within the Round House about its historical use and plaques dotted around giving information about the prisoners who were incarcerated here and their crimes. Volunteers are always on hand to answer any questions and provide more information.The Round House sits on the coastline of central Fremantle, about 22 kilometres from Perth’s city centre. In the surrounding area, there are art galleries and studios to explore as well as restaurants and cafés. The Round House is open daily from mid-morning to mid-afternoon, and is accessible by car, bus or train from central Perth. The ferry over the Swan River offers the best views.