History
The original Fremantle railway station was constructed in 1881 next to Cliff Street. Following the extension of the Eastern Railway to Kalgoorlie in 1896, the station was an important hub for gold miners arriving in Western Australia via ship and then travelling to the Yilgarn and Eastern Goldfields.
In 1907 the station and marshalling yards were established at the present location to better service the newly constructed Fremantle Harbour. The site was the location of the Railway Workshops, prior to their relocation to Midland Junction in 1904.
The station was designed by William Dartnell, Chief Engineer of Existing Lines of the Railway Department in 1905. The construction contract, at an estimated cost of ₤80,000, was awarded in May 1906 to S.B. Alexander and completed on 20 April 1907, with the official opening on 1 July 1907.
Originally the station had a 500' by 35' island platform opposite the main 500' by 40' platform, with a subway passenger connection to the station. These have not survived.
The Fremantle railway line was closed by the Court Liberal Government in September 1979. Following much public outcry and a change of government it was re-opened in July 1983.
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