Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour

Fishing boats in Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour; Kailis fish & chips in the background

Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour is a commercial marina in Fremantle, Western Australia adjacent to the more recently constructed Challenger Harbour. It provides large sheltered mooring areas, wharf space for vessels up to 60 metres, refuelling facilities and support services to the Fremantle fishing industry.

History

City of Fremantle with Challenger Harbour in the foreground and Fishing Boat Harbour behind.

The harbour was built in 1919 when a 300-metre breakwater was constructed to provide an anchorage for fishing vessels. South Jetty was immediately adjacent and included a fish market, which was removed in 1929.[1]

A southern breakwater was constructed in 1962 and land reclaimed to house fishing companies and service industries. Between 1969 and 1972, up to 120 fishing boats were housed in the harbour and in 1982, construction of a boat lifting facility commenced.[2][3]

Tourism

Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour is now surrounded by a well established tourism precinct, and over a dozen restaurants and a brewery are immediately adjacent.

Blessing of the Fleet

Many of the fishing enterprises housed at Fremantle are descended from the Italian towns of Molfetta on the Adriatic Sea, and Capo d'Orlando in Sicily. Each year, a ceremony known as the Blessing of the Fleet occurs in the harbour where a procession of the fishermen and their families walk through the streets of Fremantle to the harbour carrying two statues.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Stella, Leonie; Stella Research (2001), The first 120 years : European development of the Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour, 1829-1949, Stella Research, retrieved 10 March 2015
  2. ↑ "Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour". Department of Planning and Infrastructure. Retrieved 2008-03-24.
  3. ↑ Hutchison, D. E. (David Eric), 1927-; Lombardo's Fishing Boat Harbour; Lombardo's (Firm) (1986), Lombardo's Fishing Boat Harbour Fremantle : guide to Fremantle, Lombardo's Fishing Boat Harbour, retrieved 10 March 2015
  4. ↑ "The Blessing of the Fleet". Retrieved 2008-03-24.


Coordinates: 32°3′43.31″S 115°44′44.97″E / 32.0620306°S 115.7458250°E / -32.0620306; 115.7458250

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