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Fremantle Ports

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Fremantle Ports

Fremantle Ports is a Western Australian Government trading enterprise that strategically manages the Port of Fremantle.

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14/10/2026

to - the Port of Fremantle in 1977.

A selection of general port scenes and events from almost 50 years ago.

Fremantle Chamber of Commerce WA Maritime Museum Shipwrecks & Ships Fremantle Sea Rescue Fremantle Pilots Fremantle History Society Svitzer Australia Victoria Quay Lost Perth Perth Reflects Stella Maris Seafarers' Centre Fremantle Southern Ports Pilbara Ports Mid West Ports Authority The Flying Angel Club Fremantle - Mission to Seafarers Inc Gage Roads Freo

07/10/2026

to - break-bulk handling and harbour scenes from the 1960s and 1970s.

While containerisation was still in the very early stages of development, break-bulk and unitised cargo handling was still very much in vogue at the Port of Fremantle.

The first few photos from 1971 show a hold full of loose goods, scattered dunnage and some interesting deck cargo stowed on the British freighter Laurentic at 5 Berth North Quay.

Shaw Savill’s Laurentic destined for Sydney was carrying two British yachts “Prospect of Whitby” and “Morning Cloud” which were destined to compete in the Southern Cross Cup series. The Cup, modelled on the prestigious Admiral’s Cup in the United Kingdom, was a series of races out of Sydney and included the Sydney - Hobart Race. The 1971 Southern Cross Cup was eventually won by New Zealand.

“Morning Cloud”, owned by the then British Prime Minister Edward Heath and “Prospect of Whitby” had the distinction, along with “Cervantes IV” of winning the 1971 Admiral’s Cup for Great Britain at Cowes on the Isle of Wight earlier that year.

Looking further into the photo we see the British Phosphate Commission’s vessel Triadic behind Laurentic at 4 Berth. She carried phosphate from Christmas Island for discharge at North Quay and loaded cargo for her return trip.

Seen at the old angular 3 Berth North Quay, is British India’s modern unit cargo vessel Manora.

Looking across to A Shed Victoria Quay, a large freighter is handling cargo and directly on her bow at Forrest Landing, is a Fremantle Port Authority harbour ferry, either “Teal” or “Penguin”.

A further selection of cargo handling photos and harbour scenes from the 1960s and 1970s is attached for your enjoyment.

Fremantle Chamber of Commerce WA Maritime Museum Shipwrecks & Ships Fremantle Sea Rescue Fremantle Pilots Fremantle History Society Svitzer Australia Victoria Quay Lost Perth Perth Reflects Southern Ports Pilbara Ports Mid West Ports Authority The Flying Angel Club Fremantle - Mission to Seafarers Inc The Flying Angel Club Fremantle - Mission to Seafarers Inc Gage Roads Freo Stella Maris Seafarers' Centre Fremantle

02/10/2026

Discover the stories behind Victoria Quay’s iconic waterfront architecture! https://fremantledesignweek.com/event_type/walk/

As part of Fremantle Design Week (16–25 October), Fremantle Ports is hosting five free architecture-themed walks, exploring the remarkable buildings that make Victoria Quay one of Western Australia’s most distinctive waterfront destinations.

From heritage-listed timber cargo sheds and Fremantle’s tallest building to the striking WA Maritime Museum, each stop reveals a different chapter in the port’s history.

Whether you’re a local or a visitor to Fremantle, this is a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the design and heritage of Victoria Quay.

This is a free event. Places are limited and bookings are essential. To book, visit https://fremantledesignweek.com/event_type/walk/.

25/09/2026

Going for Purple then and now.

We dug into the archives and found a Fremantle Ports' team photo from 14 years ago. It was only fitting to re-create it today.

There's no shortage of support for the Dockers at Fremantle Ports!

Go FREO ⚓💜

24/09/2026

As a proud investor in community and the arts this collaboration is a must share. Our favourite orchestra and our favourite team!!

Let’s go Freo!!!

23/09/2026

to 1957 - Operations at the Cantonment Hill Signal Station.

Operations are in full swing at the Fremantle Harbour Trust’s Cantonment Hill Signal Station.
A unique view looking from the control room across to the Inner Harbour. To the right, at the eastern end of North Quay, is one of the well-known Norwegian Knutsen Line ‘Bakke” ships, immediately behind her is the yacht like Dutch passenger/cargo vessel Maetsuycker which operated a round service to Singapore, with calls at Penang, Port Swettenham and occasionally Geraldton.

Alongside H Shed is the State Shipping Service passenger/cargo vessel Koolama and mid-harbour the steam tug Wyola is manoeuvring a 12,839-ton Italian Lloyd Triestino migrant liner, either Oceania, Neptunia or Australia. Also in view, directly in front of the Signalman, is the “horseshoe” overhead bridge that ran to James Street from the eastern end of G Berth, Victoria Quay.

Port Signal Station operations moved from the old site at Arthur Head to Cantonment Hill in May 1929. A new three storey Signal Station was built and opened in February 1957. The 1957 Harbour Trust Annual Report stated: “The solidly built new station is an outstanding landmark at the Port, its modern radar and radio equipment and self-recording meteorological instruments making it one of the most up-to-date Signal Stations in Australia.”

Signal Station operations continued at Cantonment Hill until being relocated to the top of the new Fremantle Port Authority Administration Building at Cliff Street in 1964.

Although the Cantonment Hill building was barely 7 years old at the time, it was decided to relocate operations to Cliff Street as the newly constructed grain silos at North Fremantle obstructed a previously uninterrupted view of Gage Roads. It is interesting to note that prior to this, a heliport had been planned to be installed on the roof of the Administration Building where the Signal Station is now situated. The heliport would have been utilised to facilitate pilot transfers.

The old Signal Station at Cantonment Hill is still very much a landmark today with the Fremantle Sea Rescue operating from the site.

Fremantle Sea Rescue is one of Australia's busiest Sea Rescue groups and a volunteer charity that protects life at sea.

Fremantle Chamber of Commerce WA Maritime Museum Fremantle Pilots Fremantle Sea Rescue Fremantle History Society Friends of Cantonment Hill Shipwrecks & Ships Ocean Liner Society - Passenger ships past and present Lost Perth Victoria Quay Svitzer Australia Southern Ports Pilbara Ports Mid West Ports Authority Perth Reflects The Flying Angel Club Fremantle - Mission to Seafarers Inc Stella Maris Seafarers' Centre Fremantle

17/09/2026

The wharfies are with you!

LET’S GO, FREO! 💜💜💜

Fremantle Dockers

15/09/2026

Welcoming MV Baltazar

The newest vessel in the Klaveness Combination Carriers fleet has arrived in Fremantle following its maiden voyage. Featuring innovative wind-assisted propulsion technology and energy-saving design, the vessel is designed to transport liquid cargoes to Australia and return with dry bulk commodities, helping reduce empty voyages and improve efficiency.

Its arrival highlights the important role shipping plays in supporting Western Australian industries, jobs and communities.

14/09/2026

to 23 June 1961 - The 45,270-ton P&O superliner Canberra arrives at Fremantle on her maiden voyage. Slowed down by mechanical problems while crossing the Indian Ocean from Colombo, she arrived some 30 hours behind schedule.

Canberra berthed alongside the F Shed section of the new Overseas Passenger Terminal. The G Shed section of the Terminal was still some 12 months away from being completed.

Huge crowds turned out on Victoria Quay during Canberra’s stay at Fremantle. She sailed at 10.45pm that night destined for Melbourne and Sydney.

The 20,204-ton Shaw Savill liner Southern Cross was berthed behind Canberra at E Shed. Both ships were quite unique in having their engines located aft, which was quite a break with tradition for liners of the day.

Canberra’s “running mate” the 41,915-ton Orient Liner Oriana had made her first visit to Fremantle some months earlier in December 1960. Both liners bought many migrants to Australia in their early years of service.

It is interesting to note that the new two berth Passenger Terminal was designed to simultaneously cater for “superliners” in excess of 40,000 ton, very different from today with some cruise liners now exceeding 150,000 tonnes.

Canberra was to be the last and largest P&O liner built for line voyages from Britain to Australia. She had a service speed of 27 knots and had accommodation for 548 first class and 1650 tourist class passengers. Canberra remained on the Australian trade until the end of 1972 when she was refitted as a cruise ship to carry 1500 one class passengers.

In April 1982 Canberra was requisitioned by the British Government to serve as a troopship during the Falkland Islands conflict. On her first arrival at San Carlos Bay, she came under attack by Argentine aircraft but fortunately suffered no damage. After being away for 94 days and covering some 25,245 nautical miles in that time, Canberra finally returned to Southampton in July 1982.

Following a 2-month refit, Canberra continued cruising mainly out of Southampton. She did undertake a short series of cruise from Sydney in early 1983. Canberra also undertook a very popular annual world cruise, which also included Australian ports.

Her last visit to Australia was made in February 1997. In October of that year the 36-year-old liner sailed to shipbreakers in Pakistan to be broken up.

Fremantle Chamber of Commerce WA Maritime Museum Fremantle Sea Rescue Fremantle Pilots Lost Perth Perth Reflects Victoria Quay The Flying Angel Club Fremantle - Mission to Seafarers Inc Svitzer Australia Stella Maris Seafarers' Centre Fremantle Southern Ports Pilbara Ports Shipwrecks & Ships Ocean Liner Society - Passenger ships past and present Fremantle Shipping News

02/09/2026

flashback to November 1989 - aircraft carrier USS Midway enters Fremantle Ports Inner Harbour for the first time.

USS Midway was one of six US naval vessels carrying over 6,000 service personnel to Fremantle for a week’s R&R leave. At the time, Midway was the biggest ship to ever enter the Inner Harbour, being some 14 metres longer than the Cunard liner Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2), which first visited Fremantle in 1985.

Midway was able to berth because of the Fremantle Port Authority’s $30 million dredging project to deepen the harbour to 13 metres.

On her arrival, Midway had two Fremantle Port Authority pilots aboard and four tugs assisting her to berth at the Fremantle Passenger Terminal which was open for the duration of the fleet’s visit. The downstairs section of F Shed was open 24 hours per day and was the venue for giftshops, tourism/food outlets and for dances on the Friday and Saturday nights.

Other US naval vessels to berth in the Inner Harbour were USS San Jose, USS Bunker Hill, and USS Fife, with USNS Kilauea and USNS Andrew J Higgins berthing at HMAS Stirling, Garden Island.

Midway was commissioned in September 1945 just days after the end of World War II. She served for 47 years, playing a pivotal role during the Cold War, and participated in major operations such as the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm in 1991. USS Midway was the 20th century’s longest serving aircraft carrier.

Midway was decommissioned in 1992 and remained in the inactive ship fleet at Bremerton, Washington, until 2003 when she was donated to the nonprofit San Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum organisation, before opening as the USS Midway Museum in 2004. In 2012 it became the first navy ship museum to host 1 million visitors annually.

Fremantle Chamber of Commerce WA Maritime Museum Fremantle Sea Rescue Fremantle Pilots Svitzer Australia Fremantle History Society Victoria Quay Shipwrecks & Ships Lost Perth Perth Reflects Perth Reflects Southern Ports Pilbara Ports USS Midway Museum USS Midway Museum Gage Roads Freo The Flying Angel Club Fremantle - Mission to Seafarers Inc Stella Maris Seafarers' Centre Fremantle Freo Harbour Bar

Address

1 Cliff Street
Fremantle, WA
6160

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	8am - 5pm
Wednesday	8am - 5pm
Thursday	8am - 5pm
Friday	8am - 5pm

Website

https://www.fremantleports.com.au/

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