Fremantle Courthouse Precinct
The Fremantle Courthouse Precinct is a mixed-use adaptive reuse project in the heart of Walyalup. Surrounded by Fremantle Prison, the Markets, Fremantle Oval and Walyalup Koort Civic Centre, the project reimagines a once-dormant, institutionally defined site through sensitive design moves that integrate hospitality, residential and public uses, while delivering much-needed green space to the neighbourhood.
Nestled between the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Fremantle Prison, Fremantle Oval, Fremantle Markets, and Walyalup Koort Civic Centre, the new precinct’s landscapes provide much-needed green space for the surrounding neighbourhood.
The precinct retains and adaptively reuses key heritage buildings including the former Courthouse, Police Station and Warders’ Cottages. These are conserved and activated with new commercial tenancies – restaurants, shops and taverns – while a build-to-rent residential component supports the economic viability of the heritage works. This respectful layering of old and new ensures the site’s historical significance remains legible and celebrated.
Permeability and pedestrian experience are central to the design response. Landscaped connections link the city to Fremantle Prison and the Markets, encouraging movement through the site. A network of primary and secondary routes allows for both direct access and quiet meandering, supported by level changes resolved through gentle ramping and considered edge treatments.
Scale, materiality and sight lines are all carefully considered to invite people in, create interest, and support informal gathering.
The new built form acknowledges the heavy, inward-facing masonry character of the existing architecture. In response, the design introduces moments of lightness, transparency and activation – subtly shifting the site’s spatial language to support its new public life. Edges have been opened up or retained depending on their heritage value, ensuring improved street engagement without compromising the site’s character.
The landscape offers a welcoming garden setting that frames and supports the historic architecture. Mature trees and limestone walls have been retained and enhanced, with additional planting introduced to offer shade and soften hard surfaces.
Key entry points – such as the Barrack Square and Parry Street approaches – provide clear, intuitive access to and through the site.
The Fremantle Courthouse and Police Station Precinct is a carefully balanced reinvention of a significant heritage place. Through adaptive reuse, layered public landscapes, and sensitive new development, it restores civic relevance to a long-underutilised site – creating a cohesive, connected destination for locals and visitors alike.
Details:
Client: Silverleaf
Aboriginal Country: Whadjuk Noongar Country
Location: Walyalup (Fremantle), WA
Dates: 2018 - 2024
Landscape Architect: UDLA
Collaborators: Matthew Crawford Architects, Meyer Shircore Architects
