Backpackers hostel for Fremantle Prison

BACKPACKERS will replace lawbreakers as Fremantle Prison is set to become a hostel with up to 200 beds.

PRISON STAY: Fremantle Prison will soon be home to backpackers. Picture: Supplied

Youth Hostels Australia wants to develop the former women's division of the heritage-listed prison into hostel accommodation.

Women prisoners were first locked up in Fremantle Prison in 1886, but the last inmates were transferred to a new facility in Bandyup in 1970.

The women's division was then used as an education centre before the entire prison was decommissioned in 1991.

YHA would not comment this week, but Fremantle Prison property manager Bill Bowker confirmed prison authorities were in talks with the hostel company, which wanted to lease the women's division.

The plan is still to pass local government and Heritage Council regulations and approvals.

Mr Bowker said the prison leased six of its buildings to other businesses, including the old prison cottages, which had been converted to colonial accommodation.

Each of the 19th century convict-built cottages sleeps four people and were popular with couples on romantic getaways, he said.

The old prison hospital now houses the Fremantle Children's Literature Centre while other former prison buildings house the Business Foundation, University of WA's Neuropsychiatry Research Unit, the Department of Housing's maintenance branch and the Fremantle and Districts Model Railway Club.

Tourism authorities said if the YHA proposal went ahead it would be one of WA's unique accommodation options for travellers and visitors.

The YHA partnership brings together two of WA's major tourism players. Both organisations will be inducted into WA Tourism's hall of fame this year.

Source : The Sunday Times   Brad Elborough  January 6th 2015