A Walk Around Freo 1

I spent four days of last week a long way from home attending the Institute of Australian Geographers (IAG) conference in Perth. That's roughly 3800 km (2375 miles) from here by plane. Having freed myself from conference sessions on the last day, I decided to make best use of my remaining time there in two ways. First, I met up with old friend of mine who now works for the WA Department of Planning for a long breakfast - two hours in fact in a fancy eatery. There we discussed professional themes concerning the development of small regional communities and secondly the problems with current approaches to strategic metropolitan planning. We had a great time together and, better still, I might get an invitation to go back to Perth to talk to his department. This time I'd take Dot who bravely missed out on this trip.

The second element of my day was a trip to Freo. Freo is the affectionate name for the most attractive part of Perth ... Freemantle. This is where the city started in 1829 - the port on the coast. And it is a constellation of interesting architecture, scenic and historical attractions, and cosmopolitan culture and lifestyle. This and the next two posts chart my walk around this delightful place starting here with the roundhouse on Arthur Head completed in 1831. The day was beautiful (about 18C and bright sunshine, not bad for mid-winter.)

No! Just before that I'll start with the railway running alongside. Notice anything strange about it? Train buffs might interpret this correctly. The line has two different gauges: standard 4' 8.5" (the transcontinental line) and WA's local narrow gauge. So the port of Freemantle can be serviced by two completely separate operating systems.

Now to the roundhouse, probably WA's oldest building. It is in fact a fort with a gun emplacement, but I cannot imagine a shot fired in anger.

The view from the top of Arthur Head is good, though the mound itself is not high.

And here's the pop-gun in question.

The fort, if one can call it that, is now surrounded by modern and up-market residential apartments.

And on the other side is the Indian Ocean and the local yacht club crammed with expensive craft.

However, the harbour at the mouth of the Swan River is still a working one with a large fishing fleet. The commemorative wall on the left of this picture contains the names of sailors who worked the waters off-shore over the many decades of the last two centuries. And the two sculptures show fishermen in typical pursuits.

Most pleasure craft are white ... but not this one.

The water-front reminded me of a scaled-down Embarcadero with jetties and restaurants or entertainment on them - a real life-style precinct with at least two businesses claiming that they made the best fish and chips in WA.

Nearby I saw my first double-deck boat parking lot with all vessels quite clear of the water. And in the background there was the four-wheeled contraption that did the heavy lifting and unloading.

My amazement at that was soon dwarfed by this 3-4 level monster!

And close by there was, of all things, a Norwegian consulate with its flag flying. This seems a rather attractive  posting for a diplomat.

AS