Old Courthouse Fremantle

Old Courthouse Fremantle brings together food, drinks, events and a substantial piece of Fremantle history in a heritage-listed building on Henderson Street. The courthouse and police station complex began as a group of buildings constructed in the 1850s, before being renovated by Public Works Department chief architect John Grainger and opened for use in 1899. Its Federation Academic Classical design, Fremantle limestone and Cottesloe stonework remain central to the venue’s identity, with the building officially registered as a permanent heritage building in 2003.

The menu covers familiar pub-style fare alongside more substantial plates. For sharing, there are house-marinated olives, porcini mushroom arancini, grilled smoked chorizo, calamari, wagyu bresaola and a four-cheese board. Larger options include slow-cooked osso bucco ragu, crispy-skin barramundi, wild truffle mushroom lasagne and steaks from the grill, while the pub classics include a steak sandwich and Italian parmi. Burgers, salads and sides round out the selection. Pizza is available all day from Thursday to Sunday, with choices including Margherita, spicy pepperoni, prosciutto, garlic prawn and chorizo, and truffle mushroom. The Sunday roast is offered for lunch and dinner each Sunday.

There is enough variety here for different kinds of visits. The kids’ menu includes pasta Bolognese, battered fish and chips, nuggets and chips, and children’s pizza options, making it suitable for families as well as casual meals with friends. The sharing dishes and broad main menu also work for groups, while the historic setting gives a date or solo meal more of a sense of place than a standard pub stop. The website also promotes live music and other events, although specific performances are listed separately.

For larger gatherings, Old Courthouse Fremantle caters for weddings, corporate functions and social occasions. Its connection to the former courthouse adds genuine historical interest: the site was linked to the original 1851 land grant for the Fremantle Convict Establishment and remained part of Fremantle’s legal system until the current justice complex was completed in 2001. It is a venue suited to visitors who want a relaxed meal or function in a building with a clearly documented connection to the city’s past.