Western Australia · Attraction
The Round House
Western Australia's oldest building
schedule 1 min read / Updated Jun 2026
Perched on Arthur Head overlooking the Indian Ocean at the foot of High Street, the Round House is the oldest surviving building in Western Australia. Completed in 1831 to house Swan River Colony prisoners, this 12-sided limestone structure predates Fremantle Prison by more than two decades and offers sweeping views across the harbour and the heritage West End streetscape below.
Designed by colonial engineer Henry Willey Reveley, the Round House originally held eight cells and served as the colony's first gaol. After Fremantle Prison opened, it became a police lock-up before being decommissioned around 1900. Reveley also supervised construction of the Whalers Tunnel in 1838, a limestone passage cut beneath Arthur Head that connected the beach to the town and is open to explore as part of a visit.
Fremantle Volunteer Heritage Guides staff the site daily, providing free interpretation and guided context for visitors. The daily time ball and cannon signal, a 19th-century time signal for ships in the harbour, is still performed each day at 1pm by volunteers in period costume.
Entry is by gold coin donation. The building is compact but the views from the headland are among the finest in Fremantle, taking in Bathers Beach directly below and the vast sweep of the Indian Ocean beyond.
Scenic views
Lookouts near The Round House.
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