History · Perth · Australia
6 historic sites to see in Perth
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Calistemon, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Fremantle Prison, WA Museum Boola Bardip and Fremantle Markets. Together the 6 picks below take roughly 8–11 hours across 3 areas; 3 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 6
- Free entry
- 3
- Time to see them all
- 8–11 hours
- Areas
- Fremantle, Northbridge and Perth CBD
Historic sites in Perth
Historic site · Fremantle
1.Fremantle Prison
Guided tours cover the cell blocks and gallows, while the Tunnels Tour descends 20 metres to paddle through flooded passages by boat.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Iconic
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Museum · Northbridge
2.WA Museum Boola Bardip
Galleries cover Aboriginal cultures, WA's wildlife and geology, and the state's history, with a blue whale skeleton suspended in the main hall.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Rainy day
- History
Market · Fremantle
3.Fremantle Markets
A Victorian market hall opened in 1897 on the corner of South Terrace and Henderson Street, with around 150 stalls of produce, crafts, food and buskers on Friday to Sunday and public holidays.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- History
Museum · Fremantle
4.WA Maritime Museum
Tours of the submarine HMAS Ovens run from outside.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Kids
- Rainy day
Historic site · Fremantle
5.Round House
It overlooks Bathers Beach, and a tunnel cut by whalers in the 1830s runs underneath it to the shore.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Views
Museum · Perth CBD
6.The Perth Mint
The visitor experience covers the gold rush and includes a live gold pour in the original melting house.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Fremantle | Fremantle Prison, Fremantle Markets, WA Maritime Museum and Round House | 1.5–2.5 hours + 1–1.5 hours + 2 hours + 30 minutes |
| Northbridge | WA Museum Boola Bardip | 2–3 hours |
| Perth CBD | The Perth Mint | 1–1.5 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 6, 3 free, 3 mid-priced. Book ahead for Fremantle Prison. The longest visit is WA Museum Boola Bardip; group the rest by area to save travel time.
- Fremantle Prison: Tunnels and night tours are limited and often sell out; reserve online.
How to fit them into 3 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Fremantle): Fremantle Prison → Fremantle Markets, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Fremantle): WA Maritime Museum → Round House, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Northbridge and Perth CBD): WA Museum Boola Bardip → The Perth Mint, at least 3 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- May: highs of 22°C (72°F), about 9 rainy days, quiet crowds. Pleasant days and the first winter rains; quieter and good value.
- June: highs of 19°C (66°F), about 13 rainy days, quiet crowds. Winter brings rain fronts and cool nights between clear, sunny days; truffle season begins.
- August: highs of 19°C (66°F), about 13 rainy days, quiet crowds. Still wintry and showery, but the first wildflowers appear in Kings Park.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Northbridge — Bars, small restaurants and the Perth Cultural Centre just north of the railway
- Fremantle — Port city of Victorian streetscapes, markets, breweries and the convict-built prison
More of Perth
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Perth?
Fremantle Prison. Built by convicts in the 1850s and used as a prison until 1991, this is part of the UNESCO-listed Australian Convict Sites.
+Which of these are free in Perth?
WA Museum Boola Bardip, Fremantle Markets and Round House.