Fremantle

Freemantle – Perth

22-24^th April 2012

We didn’t really feel there was much to see in Perth that we couldn’t see from Freo so that’s where we stayed, which was a good choice.

Fremantle has a good feel, fantastic old buildings, heaps of heritage and some good museums. The sun was out again which greatly improves the mood of the campers…. well this one anyway. The Shipwreck Galleries chronicles the earliest nautical exploration of Australia by the French and Dutch, mostly in pursuit of the spices from the eastern countries and Batavia - the Dutch East Indies or the VMC or now days – Indonesia. The salvaged remains of the wreck of the Batavia are housed in this museum along with heaps of artefacts from this and other wrecks and heaps of treasure! I learned a lot more from this museum than I was taught about at school.

The west coast of our great land was first pewter plated or chartered by ships in the early 1600’s by ships veering north off the great Southern Ocean current. Early style navigation relied on a sailor calculating the ships speed by feel, wind and experience from time of departure to current time to determine the distance travelled and therefore the longitude. It’s no wonder they miss timed their turn north to the East Indies and found the great south land.

We went to the Fremantle markets, much to Kim’s disappointment as they were not good. The E Shed markets on the water front were even worse.

The WA Maritime museum now houses Australia II, the Americas Cup winner in 1982 which was good to see as I remember those days, watching on TV being really exciting. Alan Bond was nowhere in the display and was mentioned only once. Seems a little odd – perhaps WA have scratched him from the record now he has a criminal record. The rest of the museum was expensively forgettable.

Across the river in Perth we went to the Leon Pericles gallery and exhibition which was excellent, and funny. Very amusing and intriguing work. It feels like this guy’s brain is exploding onto paper with detail and a very quirky view of the world he lives in. We all really enjoyed this. Even the kids were well entertained. www.leonpericles.com.au

We also went to Kings Park, Subiaco and Cottesloe beach to watch the sun set over the water.

When you’re in Fremantle, you go to Rottnest Island. We spent close on a million dollars and took the boat across, hired bikes and had a great day riding, swimming, snorkelling and drinking beer in the beach side beer garden while the kids played with the quokkas. Actually, it was only the second ride Will had done after graduating to two wheels. We went about 12kms up and down hills. “I like it the best going down the hills….cos that when you go really fast” Will always tries his best at everything.

We saw the US Guided Missile frigate and the nuclear aircraft carrier on the way over, and back. Pre ANZAC Day. The fighter planes did a low level fly around the bay where we were swimming in practice for the ANZAC ceremonies the next day. Those ships are enormous. For all of you Top Gun fans....... this is the ship where that famous 'fly by' sent Tom Cruise and Goose into movie land history. The fly scenes were filmed on this ship.

 Little Creatures bar and brewery for…..er...dinner. Time to leave the city now.