Bathers Beach Arts Fremantle

Arthur Head Reserve A Class - Fremantle/Australia

Situated directly on the historic Arthur Head reserve - Fremantle (Australia) is a number of established Fremantle Artists. It has been operating as a productive art space since 1992.

Joan Campbell is the original Bathers Beach Artist. She open her studio in the Old Kerosene Store building (today Kidogo Arthouse Fremantle) near the ruins of the original Fremantle Jetty in 1975.

Facebook page Bathers Beach Arts - Fremantle

Bathers Beach is the jewel in Fremantle's crown, not many cities can boast a beautiful calm beach within walking distance of the town centre. It is an area that is evolving into a vibrant arts precinct which is rapidly being recognised worldwide for its beauty, heritage and the talent of the artists within it.

This active art community at Bathers Beach includes highly respected sculptors, painters, photographers, ceramic artists and designers. The Bathers Beach Artists has a close working relationship with Western Australian indigenous artists (Sandra Hill with J Shed Art Studio), often engaging in collaborative public art projects. There are also galleries which display the works of local artists.

Bathers Beach (or Noongar Aboriginal name Manjaree) - Fremantle/Australia

Fremantle-South Mole(J Shed/Australia) Photo by Peter Zuvela

Some of the Original Studios and Artists

Greg James Sculpture Studio Gallery (at J Shed)
J Shed Art Studio (at J Shed)
Glen Cowans - Underwater Photographer
Jenny Dawson Ceramic Artist (at J Shed)
Peter Zuvela Photographer at (at J Shed)
Roel Loopers Photographer
Kidogo Arthouse

Address

Bathers Beach, off Mews Road or Fleet Street - Fremantle, Australia

History

Walyalup is the Wadjuk-Noongar Aboriginal name for Fremantle and the Bathers Beach area is of historical significance to indigenous Australians in that Fremantle sits at the mouth of the Swan River. In Aboriginal beliefs known as Dreamtime, the Wadjuk-Noongar people consider the river to be evidence left behind of the existence of the winding path of the Rainbow Serpent, known as the Wagyl. The beach area is known as Manjarree

In 1829 British settlers claimed the land and in 1831 built Western Australia’s oldest public building, the Round House jail, on the natural promontory of Arthur Head. The Roundhouse, the Whaler's Tunnel which runs underneath it and the other historic and natural features of the area make for a wonderful journey through history, nature, culture and art.

The Round House jail was the first building to imprison Indigenous peoples of this land. Bathers Bay to Wadjemup further states:

"It was from this site [Round House] that Aboriginal prisoners were taken to Wadjemup [Rottnest Island]. For nearly a century, Wadjemup served as a prison for around 3700 male Aboriginals from Western Australia. Many were warriors and leaders who had borne the brunt of settlement frontier conflict. It is reported that 369 Aboriginal prisoners died between 1838 and 1931. They are currently buried in an Aboriginal cemetery within the Thomson Bay Settlement." (taken & referenced from Manjarree Trial p1.)