Story: Esplanade Hotel Fremantle
Episode: 18
Presenter: Chrissy Morrissey
Air Date: 21 June 2026

Chrissy finds the best spot to stay for a holiday escape in Fremantle.

• Located on Marine Terrace in the heart of Fremantle, the hotel sits opposite the historic Esplanade Park and is within walking distance of many of the city's major attractions.
• The site has a remarkable convict-era connection: it was used to house the first 75 British convicts who arrived in Western Australia in 1850 before Fremantle Prison was built.
• The original building on the site began as a private residence known as Cranworth House, constructed in 1875.
• The property was converted into a hotel in the 1890s, receiving its first hotel licence in 1895 before opening as the Esplanade Hotel in 1896.
• A major redesign in 1903 added many of the building's distinctive heritage features, including an ornate corner turret and decorative Federation-era architecture.
• The hotel is listed on Western Australia's State Register of Heritage Places, recognising its historical and architectural significance.
• Extensive expansions were undertaken in the 1980s ahead of Fremantle's hosting of the 1987 America's Cup, helping transform the hotel into a major tourism and conference venue.
• Today the hotel offers around 300 guest rooms and is one of Fremantle's largest accommodation and conference facilities, combining heritage architecture with modern hospitality services.

For more information, head to:
rydges.com