Fremantle Long Jetty was constructed in 1873 to replace the smaller South Jetty which had become too small for the large amounts of vessels entering the colony in Western Australia. The jetty lies in Bather's Bay which has been an occupation site since the Swan River Colony was established in 1829. It was a centre of trade and communications that served Fremantle and Perth until Fremantle Harbour was opened. An increased amount of shipping made it necessary to improve the harbouring facilities by the late 1860s. Long Jetty was built as a less expensive alternative to building a harbour at the mouth of the Swan River due to a lack of funds and technological shortcomings.
Fremantle Long Jetty c.1890
Bathers beach today. Remnants of the Long Jetty are just visible in front to the groyne and behind the Old Kerosene Store.
The Municipal Sea Baths between the jetties
The remaining timber piles of the jetty, as seen in December 2009.
Bathers Beach, also known as Whalers Beach, is a section of coastline that has a written history since the European settlement of what is now called Fremantle, Western Australia.
Tall ships off Fremantle Jetty with Bathers Beach in the foreground in 1870.
The jetties and baths prior to the first world war
Image: Bathers Beach, Fremantle 4
