Fremantle Round House and Whalers Tunnel

Firing the cannon each day at 1pm. The Round House is the oldest public building in the State of Western Australia. Opened on 18 January 1831 originally as a gaol, just 18 months after settlement, it was built to hold any person convicted of a crime in the settlement and was used until 1886. It has commanding views of the Indian Ocean. Later uses included a police lock-up, living quarters and storage facility. It accommodated colonial and Aboriginal prisoners. In 1837 the Fremantle Whaling Company requested a tunnel be cut through to provide access between the beach and town.