Round House (Western Australia) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Round House |
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The Round House from the east
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| General information | |
| Type | Prison |
| Architectural style | Panopticon |
| Address | Arthur Head |
| Town or city | Fremantle, Western Australia |
| Country | Australia |
| Coordinates | Lua error in Module:Coordinates at line 614: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). |
| 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 building in Fremantle. It was the first permanent building constructed in the Swan River Colony. Built in late 1830 and opened in 1831, it is the second oldest European building still standing in Western Australia. Only the Wiebbe Hayes Stone Fort is older.
You can find the Round House at Arthur Head in Fremantle. This area was sometimes called Gaol Hill in the past. Today, the Round House and Arthur Head are important historical sites.
Contents
Building the Round House
The Round House was designed by Henry Willey Reveley. Its construction began in 1830 and finished on January 18, 1831. It was built to be a prison. The building had eight cells and a home for the jailer. All these rooms opened onto a central courtyard.
The design was inspired by the Panopticon. This was a special type of prison layout. It allowed one guard to watch many prisoners without them knowing they were being watched.
Construction Details
Richard Lewis, along with W Manning and J H Duffield, built the Round House. It cost about £1603/10/0, which was a lot of money back then. The builders saved money by using local limestone.
In 1833, a well was dug in the central courtyard. It was about 45 feet (13.7 meters) deep. This provided water for the building.
The Tunnel Through Arthur Head
In 1837, the Fremantle Whaling Company asked for a tunnel to be dug. This tunnel would go through Arthur Head to High Street. The company paid for the tunnel and a breakwater to protect ships. Henry Reveley also oversaw this project.
The tunnel was 57 meters (187 feet) long when it was first built. It connected the Bathers Beach Whaling Station to High Street. It was finished quickly, in just five months, by January 1838. Prisoners from the Round House helped dig the tunnel. The rock was strong but easy to dig with tools. Today, the tunnel is a bit shorter, about 45 meters (148 feet) long.
What the Round House Was Used For
The Round House served as a prison for many years. It held both colonial and Aboriginal prisoners. This continued until 1886. After that, a larger prison, now called Fremantle Prison, took over.
From 1886 to 1900, the Round House was used as a police lockup. Later, it became the home for the chief police officer and his family.
Saving a Historic Building
Over the years, some people suggested tearing down the Round House. They wanted to use the land for other things. However, these ideas were never carried out.
In 1936, the Fremantle Harbour Trust took charge of the building. They wanted to protect it. There were plans to turn it into a museum. But these plans were put on hold because of World War II.
In 1966, the Port Authority opened the Round House 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. Since then, it has been open to visitors every day.
Notable People Associated with the Round House
- Yagan was an important Aboriginal leader. He was held at the Round House for a time.
A Place of History
The Round House has a long and sometimes difficult history. It was the site of the first official execution in colonial Western Australia. This event happened on April 6, 1844.
Keeping History Alive
In 1929, a special plaque was placed on the Round House. This was part of celebrating 100 years of Western Australia. However, in the 1940s and 1950s, the building was used for storage. This caused some worries about its condition.
Visiting the Round House Today
The Fremantle City Council took over the Round House in 1982. Soon after, it was opened to the public.
Today, friendly volunteers called the Fremantle Volunteer Heritage Guides run the site. Visitors can enter by making a donation. If groups want to hold special events there, there might be a cost.
See also
In Spanish: Casa Redonda para niños
