On a triangle of land that points out to sea at the mouth of the Swan River is Fremantles heritage district, the West End, renowned for its colonial architecture. Although Fremantle has often been threatened by the demands of redevelopment, today it is recognised as one of the worlds best-preserved examples of a nineteenth-century port city and colonial townscape. Freo, as it is known locally, also has an exceptionally diverse multicultural community, lending a special character that is the legacy of its role as a historical gateway to Australia, the first point of contact for generations of migrants and visitors arriving by sea from Europe. The wide-ranging essays in this book, written by leading historians of Western Australia, offer new insights into the influences that have shaped Fremantles colourful history and heritage since colonial settlement in 1829.
