Oldest public building in Western Australia turns 190

Western Australia’s oldest public building – the Round House in Fremantle – has turned 190 years old.

Opening on 18 January 1831, the Round House was the first permanent public building to be constructed in the Swan River Colony.

Originally built as a jail, its later uses included a police lock-up, living quarters, and storage facility for Fremantle Port. It was later opened to the public as a tourist attraction.

Held colonial and Aboriginal prisoners

The Round House accommodated both colonial and Aboriginal prisoners, including Nyoongar leader Yagan, and was the site of the colony’s first public execution of a European settler – 15-year-old John Gavin.

It was also used as a lock-up for Aboriginal prisoners from all over the state being transported to Rottnest Island, just off the coast of modern-day Perth.

Fremantle Mayor Brad Pettitt, who had the honour of firing the gun deck cannon at 1pm yesterday (Monday), said the Round House was one of Western Australia’s most significant heritage sites.

An important reminder of state’s past

“Because of its role as a prison and police lock-up, some of the history of the Round House is pretty grim,” Pettitt said. “But it still stands as an important reminder of Fremantle and Western Australia’s past.

“It’s great that the State Government has recently provided matching funding with the City of Fremantle to undertake much-needed work to stabilise the Arthur Head cliffs that surround the Round House.

“We’ll continue to talk with the government about the conservation work required for the Round House itself, because in 10 years’ time we want it to still be here and looking great for its 200^th birthday.”

Designed by colony’s first civil engineer

The Round House was designed by the Swan River Colony’s first civil engineer Henry Willey Reveley and took just five months to build.

The prominent site at Arthur Head was chosen to emphasise the role of law and order in the colony and was intended to physically and psychologically dominate the community.

Following the arrival of convicts in 1851 and the completion of the Fremantle Prison in 1857, the Round House ceased to be used as a jail and was used as a police lock-up until 1900.

The building was saved from demolition in the 1920s and was managed by the state government before it was deeded to the City of Fremantle in 1982.