Who needs five-star suites with multiple rooms and en-suites when you can experience a night in a nineteenth century cell?
YHA is arresting its guests in Western Australia, with a new property that offers exactly that.
It may seem wacky to some, but to others (*cough* me) it’s a little like living on the edge, without actually living on the edge.
Fremantle Prison YHA opened this week in the World Heritage-listed building that was used over 100 years ago as a jail.
But don’t worry it’s a not all authentic to the 19th century, it has a received a bit of a makeover.
Aside from pulling down the spider webs (eek), the female women’s division of the property was converted into a 200-bed place to stay, where the rooms are actually original cells.
That’s right guests can actually sleep in the same cells as former female prisoners or prison warder.
Through a heritage-sensitive renovation, Fremantle Prison YHA has also been fitted with new built facilities including brand new private rooms and dormitory-style accommodation.
There’s also a self-catering kitchen, large common areas, TV rooms, a laundry and luggage storage.
Just like the original prison, there’s always some on duty – but in this case there’s always some on duty at reception.
Guests also have access to parking, air conditioning, heating, lockers, a pool table, ping pong and Wi-Fi.
Fremantle Prison was originally built in the 1850s for a newly constituted penal settlement.
Originally it was known as the Convict Establishment, with the first convicts occupying the site from 1855, right up until 1991.
When the Old Perth Gaol closed, female inmates were moved to Fremantle Prison in 1889.
The laundry, bakehouse and cookhouse of the prison were sectioned off to accommodate the women.
Extended twice over the years, this women’s prison is what has now become Fremantle Prison YHA.
