Round House

The Round House is the oldest remaining public building in Western Australia, located on Arthur Head in Fremantle. Built in 1830-1831 to a design by Henry Willey Reveley, this twelve-sided limestone prison is the first permanent structure of the Swan River Colony. Perched above Bathers Beach with views to the Indian Ocean, it later served as a police lock-up and quarters, and is now a heritage attraction managed by volunteers.

Visitors can expect a small, twelve-sided limestone building on the high point of Arthur Head overlooking Bathers Beach and the Indian Ocean. Inside is a central courtyard with eight small cells and a former warder's residence. The site includes interpretive displays about convict and colonial history, a tunnel beneath the building, and an upper level with panoramic coastal views. Volunteer guides provide historical context, and the surrounding reserve offers grassed areas and lookouts.