Fremantle Arts Centre
1 Finnerty St., Fremantle, Perth, Western Australia, 6160
Set inside an old heritage-listed psychiatric hospital, the Fremantle Arts Centre looks quite traditional from the outside. But inside, its rooms are home to an ever-changing roster of innovative, expressive, and thought-provoking exhibitions created by resident artists using different media.
The basics
With no formal route through the building, you’re free to explore Fremantle Arts Centre in whatever order you like. The current program of the arts center and your interests will influence how long you spend there. Besides exploring each of the temporary exhibitions, it’s also worth spending time popping out to its courtyards to admire its colonial-era buildings. Continue your self-guided tour of Fremantle by walking up to the Fremantle War Memorial for its views or over to the Fremantle Prison, another famous local colonial landmark.
Things to know before you go
Admission to the Fremantle Arts Centre is free for everyone.
Because Fremantle Arts Centre is inside a heritage-listed building, there’s only wheelchair access to the ground floor of the building.
Amenities include accessible toilets, a café, and free Wi-Fi.
A variety of art courses for adults and children are offered at the Fremantle Arts Centre; find the calendar of classes on its website.
How to get there
Taking a local bus is the easiest way to get to the Fremantle Arts Centre on the northern side of Fremantle. You can board the 107, 910, or 998 bus from Fremantle Station or the Queen Street bus stop and alight at the Queen Victoria St. After Parry St. stop near the arts center. Alternatively, it takes roughly 15–20 minutes to walk to the Fremantle Arts Centre from the center of Fremantle.
When to get there
The Fremantle Arts Centre is open daily during regular business hours but is closed on certain public holidays. On Sunday afternoons, the arts center hosts free live music which tends to draw a small crowd, so avoid coming at this time if you just want to see its art exhibits. In the lead-up to Christmas, the arts center hosts Bazaar, a Christmas market focused on handicrafts.
How to experience Fremantle’s art scene
While Fremantle may not have the most popular art gallery in Perth—the Art Gallery of Western Australia in the Perth CBD—it does have a very healthy local art scene that extends beyond the Fremantle Arts Centre. In the center of Fremantle, you’ll find many local art galleries, including the Japingka Aboriginal Art Gallery and the Moores Building Art Space.
Travel Like an Expert with AAA and Trip Canvas
Get Ideas from the Pros
As one of the largest travel agencies in North America, we have a wealth of recommendations to share! Browse our articles and videos for inspiration, or dive right in with preplanned AAA Road Trips, cruises and vacation tours.
Build and Research Your Options
Save and organize every aspect of your trip including cruises, hotels, activities, transportation and more. Book hotels confidently using our AAA Diamond Designations and verified reviews.
Book Everything in One Place
From cruises to day tours, buy all parts of your vacation in one transaction, or work with our nationwide network of AAA Travel Agents to secure the trip of your dreams!