Round House (Western Australia) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Round House |
|
|---|---|
The Round House from the east
|
|
| General information | |
| Type | Prison |
| Architectural style | Panopticon |
| Address | Arthur Head |
| Town or city | Fremantle, Western Australia |
| Country | Australia |
| Coordinates | 32°3′22″S 115°44′29″E / 32.05611°S 115.74139°E |
| Construction started | August 1830 |
| Completed | 18 January 1831 |
| Cost | £1603/10/0 |
| Owner | City of Fremantle |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 2 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Henry Willey Reveley |
| Main contractor | Richard Lewis, W Manning and I Duffield |
| Other information | |
| Number of rooms | 8 cells + other rooms |
| Type | State Registered Place |
| Designated | 13 November 1993 |
| Reference no. | 896 |
The Round House is a very old and important building in Fremantle, Western Australia. It was the first permanent building ever built in the Swan River Colony, which was the first European settlement in this part of Australia.
It was built in late 1830 and opened in 1831, making it the oldest building still standing in Western Australia. You can find it at Arthur Head in Fremantle, right by the ocean.
Contents
Building the Round House
The Round House was designed by an architect named Henry Willey Reveley. Building started in 1830 and finished on January 18, 1831. It was planned to be a prison.
The building had eight cells and a place for the jailer to live. All these rooms opened onto a central courtyard. Its design was based on something called a Panopticon. This was a special type of prison designed by a philosopher named Jeremy Bentham. The idea was that a single guard could see all the prisoners from a central point.
The Round House was built by Richard Lewis, working with W Manning and J H Duffield. It cost about £1603. The builders could find the limestone they needed right nearby, which helped keep the cost down.
The Tunnel at Arthur Head
In 1833, a well was dug in the central courtyard of the Round House. It was about 45 feet deep!
Later, in 1837, a company called the Fremantle Whaling Company asked for a tunnel to be dug. This tunnel would go through Arthur Head to High Street. As part of the deal, they also built a wall in the water to protect ships.
The tunnel was 57 meters long and connected the Bathers Beach Whaling Station to High Street. It was built very quickly, in just five months, finishing in January 1838. This was possible because prisoners from the Round House helped dig it. The rock was strong but easy to dig with tools. Today, the tunnel is a bit shorter, about 45 meters long.
What the Round House Was Used For
The Round House was used as a prison for both colonial and Aboriginal prisoners until 1886. After that, a bigger prison called Fremantle Prison took over.
From 1886 until 1900, the Round House was used as a police lockup. Then, it became a home for the chief police officer and his family.
People even suggested tearing down the Round House in 1903 and again in 1929, but luckily, it was saved.
In 1936, the Fremantle Port Authority took charge of the building to protect it. There were ideas to turn it into a museum, but these plans were put on hold because of World War II.
In 1966, the Port Authority started opening the building to the public for a few hours each day. Later, the Western Australian Historical Society helped manage it. In 1982, the building was given to the City of Fremantle, and it has been open to visitors every day since then.
Keeping the Round House Safe
A special plaque was placed on the Round House in 1929 by the Royal Western Australian Historical Society. This was part of a celebration for the 100th birthday of Western Australia.
However, in the 1940s and 1950s, the Round House was used to store things. This made people worried about its condition. Luckily, it has been well looked after since then.
Visiting the Round House Today
The Fremantle City Council took over the Round House in 1982. Soon after, it was opened to everyone.
Today, friendly volunteers from the Fremantle Volunteer Heritage Guides help run the site. You can visit the Round House by making a donation. If you want to hold a special event there, there might be a cost.
See also
In Spanish: Casa Redonda para niños
