At Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour in Perth, “To the Fishermen” is a memorial to the people who built Western Australia’s fishing industry. Two life-size bronze figures show fishermen at work, while 12 timber columns carry the names of early fishers. A map of traditional fishing grounds and an on-site history help place the memorial in the harbour’s working past. Stop to look closely at the sculptures and inscriptions, or pause here before exploring the harbour.
A memorial at the harbour
The memorial stands at Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour, on the site of an earlier jetty that was used to unload catches. Its 14-metre structure recalls that working place and its role in the harbour’s fishing history.
The memorial honours the people who helped establish Western Australia’s fishing industry. Its story is closely tied to the migrant families who worked in the trade, including Italian and other Southern European communities whose contributions became part of Fremantle’s identity.
Figures and names
Sculptor Greg James created the two life-size bronze figures. They depict fishermen handling fish and lobster pots, bringing the work of the industry into view rather than presenting it only through text.
Twelve timber columns bear 608 names drawn from fishing licences issued before 1947. The inscriptions remember early fishers and the families connected to the harbour. Take time to look along the columns; the names give the memorial a personal dimension alongside its account of the wider industry.
The fishing story on site
A map marks traditional fishing grounds, and a short history explains the port’s development. Together, these displays help connect the memorial’s sculptures and names to the work that took place around the jetty.
The tribute was created by local people whose fathers worked as fishermen. It also acknowledges the hardship and perseverance of fishing families, and the culture they built around the trade. The Blessing of the Fleet is another point of connection: the memorial recognises a tradition associated with the fishing community and its remembrance of those lost at sea.
Preguntas frecuentes
Where is the To the Fishermen memorial?
It is at Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour in Perth, on Mews Road.
What can you see at the memorial?
There are two life-size bronze fishermen, 12 timber columns inscribed with 608 early fishers’ names, a map of traditional fishing grounds and a short history of the industry.
Is the memorial accessible?
The listed amenities include a wheelchair-accessible entrance and parking.
When is a quieter time to visit?
Weekday mornings are suggested for a more peaceful visit.
