Fremantle History Centre

Fremantle History Centre is a source of historical information on Fremantle and East Fremantle. The collection includes biographical files, newspapers, council minutes and agendas, publications and maps and plans.

The History Centre at Fremantle Library is open Monday to Friday.

If you have a query, please use this form and fill in as much detail as possible to help us answer your question.

Capturing our community - Are you a Fremantle local history advocate?

We are looking to form local history interest groups within Fremantle to actively engage the community and educate on the importance of community heritage. The purpose of these interest groups is to capture and collect present-day happenings, developments, and stories through various mediums (e.g., photographs, video, sound recording, text, etc.) to build our local history collection within the respective wards. To be part of this exciting initiative the City is looking for willing residents to volunteer to become Local History Advocates. To register your interest and learn more about this exciting project, please complete the online form here.

Photograph collection

Search for historic Fremantle images through our online archive.
Search for books and oral histories from the collection

Contact the Fremantle History Centre regarding usage or view the application for use policy.

Looking for people?

State Library - Family history guide – Passenger lists and other publications, plus details of eresources available to State Library members.
Post Office Directories - Lists people by locality, individual surname, government service, and by trade or profession. Covers 1893-1949.
State Records Office - Includes hospital and health records, births deaths and marriages, prison and gaol records.
Western Australian Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages – Search the online indexes for births deaths and marriages as follows, Births (1841-1932), Deaths (1841-1971) and Marriages (1841-1936).
Metropolitan Cemeteries Board – Looking for where someone may be buried? Search the Metropolitan Cemeteries Board for Fremantle, Karrakatta, Guildford, and Midland Cemetery, as well as Pinnaroo Valley and Rockingham Regional Memorial Park.
East Perth Cemeteries – Search for burials at the East Perth Cemetery.
National Archives of Australia – Search a range of Australian government records from 1901 to present.
Australian War Memorial – Records regarding Australian service personnel.

Looking for properties?

Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage – Search the State register of historical sites. City of Fremantle has a local heritage list.
Post Office Directories – Great to discover who lived in your house over the years from 1893 to 1949.
Australian Heritage Photographic Library – Find images and information about heritage sites in your local area.
City of Fremantle Applications and Open Data Hub can give you heritage information about your property in the Fremantle area.

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