Walyalup Fremantle Arts Centre brings exhibitions, art courses, music and a shop into a historic limestone complex at 1 Finnerty Street. Gallery admission is free, and the exhibitions open daily from 10am to 5pm.
It sits apart from the galleries around High Street and Henry Street, so allow for a separate leg of your Fremantle visit. If you are booking a class, check access before paying: the centre's upper levels currently have no wheelchair access.
Visitor information checked on 25 September 2026.
| Detail | Visitor information |
|---|---|
| Address | 1 Finnerty Street, Fremantle WA 6160 |
| Gallery hours | Daily, 10am to 5pm |
| Gallery entry | Free; courses and individual events have their own booking conditions |
| Shop | Daily, 9am to 5pm |
| Plated Café | Daily, 8am to 3pm; kitchen closes at 2pm |
| Access | No wheelchair access to upper levels; accessible toilets are available |
| Contact | 08 9432 9555 |
| Visit details | Plan a visit to Walyalup Fremantle Arts Centre |
What to see at the arts centre
The exhibition programme is a good starting point for a first visit. Shows change throughout the year, so look up the current programme rather than expecting the same works on every visit. Free gallery entry also makes it possible to return and spend more time with a show that interests you.
The centre's other activities have their own timetables. An exhibition visit does not automatically include a class or concert, and a concert ticket should not be treated as a booking for a daytime workshop. Read the venue, date and admission details attached to each listing.
The building itself has a long history. It was formerly used as an asylum, and the arts centre opened in 1973. The official history gives more background for visitors interested in how the site changed over time.
Current and upcoming exhibitions
The exhibition information is worth reading before visiting, particularly for the artists' accounts of materials and processes. It gives a more useful introduction than assuming that every woven or fibre-based work has the same purpose or cultural meaning.
The centre's exhibition programme also lists Net of Time, featuring Helen Britton and Justine McKnight, from 14 November 2026 to 24 January 2027. Check the separate event listing if you want to attend an opening or associated talk; an event date may differ from the exhibition's first day.
The café, shop and grounds
Plated Café is at the arts centre. Its current advertised hours are 8am to 3pm daily, with the kitchen closing at 2pm. A late-afternoon exhibition visit therefore needs a different food plan from a morning or lunchtime visit.
The WFAC Shop opens from 9am to 5pm. If you are interested in a particular maker or item, check directly with the shop before travelling, since stock can change.
The grounds provide another part of the visit, but event arrangements can alter how spaces are used. Follow current signs and staff directions rather than relying on an older photograph as a map of entrances or seating.
Art courses, concerts and family visits
The centre advertises art courses and a changing events programme through its official website. Choose a course by its age group, experience level, dates and materials information. Check what is included in the fee and what participants need to bring.
For concerts, use the instructions attached to the event you book. Arrival times, entry rules and seating arrangements may differ between events. Do not assume that a regular music series runs every Sunday throughout the year.
Families can start with the free exhibition programme and add a booked activity if its age range and timing suit. A parent change room is listed in the visitor information. Ask before touching artworks, and follow any notices about sound, lighting or sensitive exhibition content.
Accessibility: check the level before booking
The centre's access information states that there is no wheelchair access to the upper levels. The Wardarn Room and all art courses except ceramics are on the first floor. If you are considering a course, confirm the room and route with staff before booking.
Accessible toilets are available. The centre also lists two ACROD parking bays on Finnerty Street near the entrance. Check availability and current access arrangements for the day you intend to attend, especially during an event.
Quiet visits between 9am and 10am can be arranged by request. This is separate from the normal 10am gallery opening. The centre also offers access tours with DADAA and Auslan support by arrangement; bookings and availability need to be checked in advance.
Contact 08 9432 9555 or artscentre@fremantle.wa.gov.au to discuss your requirements. Assistance dogs are welcome under the centre's published visitor information.
Getting to Finnerty Street
The centre gives its distance from Fremantle Station as 1.2 kilometres. Decide whether to walk or use another transport option based on your route, mobility and the conditions on the day. Use Transperth's JourneyPlanner for current services.
The official visitor page lists free street parking on Finnerty, Ord and Vale streets. Check the signs for restrictions and allow time to find a suitable bay; a listing of parking streets is not a guarantee of a space.
If you are also visiting Moores Building Art Space, remember that it is at 46 Henry Street in the West End. Although the arts centre manages Moores, it has a separate address and earlier gallery closing time. Our Fremantle art galleries guide can help you put the two areas into one day.
Taking photographs
The published visitor information welcomes non-commercial photography inside the centre and around the grounds. Still follow any restrictions attached to a particular work or event. For commercial photography, contact the centre in advance rather than assuming ordinary visitor permission covers a shoot.
