FREMANTLE

fremantle, a seaport of swan county, western australia, at the mouth of the swan river, 12 m. by rail s.w. of perth. it is the terminus of the eastern railway, and is a town of some industrial activity, shipbuilding, soap-boiling, saw-milling, smelting, iron-founding, furniture-making, flour-milling, brewing and tanning being its chief industries. the harbour, by the construction of two long moles and the blasting away of the rocks at the bar, has been rendered secure. the english, french and german mail steamers call at the port. fremantle became a municipality in 1871; but there are now three separate municipalities--fremantle, with a population in 1901 of 14,704; fremantle east (2494); and fremantle north (3246). at rottnest island, off the harbour, there are government salt-works and a residence of the governor, also penal and reformatory establishments.