Two Perth places in nation’s top 10 tourist sites

• Fremantle Prison and State War Memorial in Kings Park voted best landmarks

For the fourth year running, world heritage-listed Fremantle Prison and the Kings Park State War Memorial have been named as two of the best landmarks in Australia by travel website TripAdvisor in its 2016 Travellers’ Choice Awards.

Environment and Heritage Minister Albert Jacob said Fremantle Prison was one of only two Western Australian sites in the exclusive list and came in as the seventh highest ranked landmark attraction in Australia.  The State War Memorial was the other site, coming in at eighth on the TripAdvisor list.

“This is visitor feedback at its simplest and purest form, because the top 10 landmarks are determined based on reviews submitted by travellers to the TripAdvisor website over the past 12 months,” Mr Jacob said.

“For Fremantle Prison to rank so well is a tribute to the dedication of the prison’s staff and the wonderful work they do in offering programs and tours to engage visitors and provide them with enriching and entertaining experiences.

“I was also pleased to see the State War Memorial on the list for the fourth year in a row.  Its location overlooking the city from Kings Park makes it one of the most poignant and striking memorials in Australia and it deserves this high ranking.”

The Minister said the State Heritage Office was exploring opportunities for expanded uses and new visitor experiences at the prison.

“We need to consider innovative ways to promote the use and sustainability of this wonderful heritage asset for future generations,” he said.

Fremantle Prison was recognised at the Perth Airport WA Tourism Awards in November 2015, winning gold medals in both the Major Tourist Attractions and Cultural Tourism categories.

The prison opened to the public in 1992 and welcomes more than 190,000 visitors through the gates each year.

TripAdvisor’s 2016 top 10 landmarks are the Australian War Memorial in Canberra; Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge; Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne; Block Arcade in Melbourne; Port Arthur Historic Site in Tasmania; Fremantle Prison; State War Memorial in Kings Park; Australian Parliament House in Canberra; and Queen Victoria Building in Sydney.

Fact File

• Fremantle Prison, along with the Port Arthur Historic Site in Tasmania, is one of 11 sites that make up the World Heritage Australian Convict Sites
• The State War Memorial opened in 1929, with various enhancements including the Court of Contemplation in 1952 and the Flame of Remembrance in 2000