A new hotel has arrived in Fremantle, giving travellers the perfect excuse to linger longer in this port city.
There are plenty of reasons to visit Fremantle. This port city just outside of Perth offers maritime history, Victorian architecture and the UNESCO Heritage-listed Fremantle Prison, famed for its underground tunnels and torchlight tours. Then there’s the delicious food and a bustling seaside brewery. Accommodation options, however, have been limited. Until the Owston Hotel, that is.
About the Owston Hotel
Owston Hotel is the new kid on a historic block. (Credit: Jenna French)
Just 11 rooms, each one unique, can be found at this boutique hotel tucked into the restored Owston’s Buildings at 17 High Street. This is one of the most historic corners in Fremantle (for decades it was home to a local institution, Roma Restaurant).
It’s a place that wants to fit in with its surroundings, founded on a philosophy driven by “providing genuine neighbourhood hospitality". But also to stand out, with beautifully designed interiors, tied to 1950s Italy and hospitality that goes beyond the norm – think pre-arrival planning, local itinerary creation and neighbourhood walk recommendations to make guests feel like locals.
“Owston is our take on a contemporary locanda. We want guests to feel like they’ve been welcomed into the hospitality of the West End, not just checked into a room," said project lead Nina Trimboli.
In Italy, a locanda was traditionally a small, family-run guesthouse that combines homely accommodation with authentic, local dining. And Owston successfully channels the original concept’s charm. It’s a taste of Italian hospitality in Fremantle.
The design
Unique design details can be found throughout. (Credit: Jenna French)
Pastel-coloured rainbow curtains frame the entry to the hotel. (Credit: Jenna French)
The hotel expertly balances blank space with smaller design details. (Credit: Jenna French)
The reception to the Owston Hotel. (Credit: Jenna French)
A warm and clean colour palette is used throughout the hotel. (Credit: Jenna French)
Owston Hotel’s design was inspired by the history of the building, which started life in the 1950s as a Federation shop house during a wave of Italian immigration that shaped so much of Fremantle’s modern character.
Restoration was a careful process, with many original characteristics and heritage details preserved. Modern comforts have been integrated, but with a subtle touch.
“The design honours the building’s layered history. Warm finishes, soft tones and playful moments give it a really nostalgic, personal feel," explained Zenifa Bowring of Rezen Studio which designed the hotel.
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The rooms
Each room has its own personal touch. (Credit: Jenna French)
Every room may have its very own flair, but some things remain the same. Like soft linens, locally crafted amenities and small details that nod to the building’s history.
Rooms facing the south will enjoy a view over the Fremantle cityscape, with an accessible option. Rooms facing High Street are generous in size, with a king bed and open views over Fremantle’s historic West End.
While The Corner Room is the largest at Owston Hotel, with a king bed, bathtub, double vanity and western-facing windows that catch the glorious sunset.
The details
Check in for local insights and hospitality. (Credit: Jenna French)
Address: 17 High Street, Fremantle Opening: Monday 16 March, 2026 Dining: Fresh breakfast at Common Bakery and priority reservations at Vin Populi Bookings: Visit the Owston Hotel website.
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Kassia Byrnes is the Native Content Editor for Australian Traveller and International Traveller. She's come a long way since writing in her diary about family trips to Grandma's. After graduating a BA of Communication from University of Technology Sydney, she has been writing about her travels (and more) professionally for over 10 years for titles like AWOL, News.com.au, Pedestrian.TV, Body + Soul and Punkee. She's addicted to travel but has a terrible sense of direction, so you can usually find her getting lost somewhere new around the world. Luckily, she loves to explore and have new adventures – whether that’s exploring the backstreets, bungee jumping off a bridge or hiking for days. You can follow her adventures on Instagram @probably_kassia.
With unhurried mornings, long, sun-filled afternoons, evenings shaped around sunset, this iconic beach offers an all-day experience (and it’s about to get even better).
As the sun slowly rises over the languid waves and fine sand of Broome’s Cable Beach, the morning colours shift from rich apricot to pale gold and frosty pearl. Remnants of life reveal themselves in the subtle shadows – crab claw marks, towel impressions, footprints. Life here is unhurried, but don’t be fooled. This town is continually shifting like the desert dunes that surround it.
And with a $75 million upgrade – offering easier and more inclusive access for people of all abilities – it’s getting even better.
Discover the Cable Beach redevelopment.
The addition of comfortable and welcoming spaces has begun (and will continue). This means visitors will be able to spend longer enjoying this beautiful environment, while knowing that the upgrade will create a more environmentally protected setting that preserves the natural character visitors come for. Come sunset, soak it in all the better thanks to the already improved foreshore areas, made for lingering while the light changes. And for the kids, a new splash park and accessible dry playground will make it easy to while away the hours.
Think you know what a day at this beach is like? Think again.
Morning colours
Cable Beach comes alive after sunrise. (Credit: Tourism WA)
As the sun colours the sky, Cable Beach shows signs of life (and not just the aquatic kind). Locals and visitors alike float in the cool water as it laps the shore, landlubbers explore the coast on foot, runners pace and beachside yoga classes bring quiet movement to the day.
When the sky is blue and the sun is firmly in position, head down to the well-known Cable Beach House for a long, slow breakfast overlooking the ocean. Think fresh tropical fruit, eggs cooked your way and strong coffee in the warm morning breeze.
Afternoon adventures
Join a camel train at sunset. (Credit: C J Maddock)
When you’re ready to explore, carve a path along the Minyirr Park Trail – a gentle 1.5-2km track through coastal bushland with spectacular views of the dunes. Refuel at the nearby Spinifex Brewery for lunch with its low-key, outdoor beer garden. There’s even an outdoor playground if you’re travelling with young humans.
Walk off your lazy lunch by watching (or joining) one of the beach soccer or volleyball games, or even try Silent Beats Broome – a silent walking disco through the dunes. Or book a spot on the famous camel trains, watching the sun drop below the horizon along the way. They’re a constant reminder of the fascinating history, landscape and cultural mix in this part of the country.
Evening degustation
Stop into the Cable Beach Club. (Credit: Tourism WA)
As the day closes, watch the world-famous Cable Beach sunset from the appropriately named Sunset Grill at Cable Beach Club. This open-air terraced dining spot overlooking the beach is the kind of place where the view takes centre stage.
While you sip on a lychee, lime & lemonade mocktail or a local beer, enjoy the bustle of life and nature outside as the day comes to an end.
For dinner, nab a table at the Bali Hai Cafe, where they offer pan-fried crispy barramundi, Abrolhos Island scallops and deep-sea snow crab. When you’re ready for bed, check in to Pinctada Hotel Broome – a lush, tropical resort with palm-dotted gardens and a large, lagoon-style pool to cool off in.
Beyond the beach
Beyond the wide, open beach and never-ending sky of Cable Beach, there are many more reasons to visit North West Australia. These are just a few.
Unmatched experiences
Join Shinju Matsuri Festival’s popular Long Table Dinner. (Credit: Tourism WA)
Engage with the history of the land and its people on an Indigenous cultural tour exploring everything from the local wildlife to the tastes of bush tucker. To understand the importance of pearling to this town, take a tour of Chinatown, or head outside of town to the live pearl harvests at Willie Creek or Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm, one of Australia’s oldest pearl farms.
Learn why Japanese pearlers were central to Broome’s pearling success and visit the largest Japanese cemetery in Australia, where 900 Japanese pearlers were buried – a testament to the risks and rewards of this dangerous profession.
And book ahead every spring for when communal tables, freshly cooked local fare and festoon lighting fill the beach for the extremely popular Long Table Dinner on Cable Beach. It’s a highlight of the Shinju Matsuri Festival, along with the Floating Lanterns Matsuri, where you can personalise a lantern and gently release it into the sea to honour those you love.
Dining discoveries
Settle in for Matso’s famous ginger or mango beer. (Credit: Tourism WA)
Further your culinary adventure at the laid-back Sunday Sesh at Matso’s Broome Brewery. Chow down on smoked crocodile or Aussie barramundi while kicking back to a local DJ as the heat of the day fades.
For more tunes, the beautiful outdoor Bay Club at the Mangrove Hotel is a great choice for dinner with live music, DJs or an event that stretches on into the early hours. Still hungry? Pop by Johnny Sausage for Italian-influenced meals paired with impeccable wines.
Natural beauties
Experience the striking colours of Gantheaume Point. (Credit: Tourism WA)
Avoid the crowds and head to Town Beach for a quieter vantage point to see the phenomenal Staircase to the Moon – a natural illusion where the rising full moon is reflected on the tidal flats, creating a shimmering ‘staircase’ stretching up to the sky.
Just south of Cable Beach are the deep red cliffs and dramatic ocean views of Gantheaume Point, where 130-million-year-old dinosaur footprints can be seen, revealed at low tide. Or head to Roebuck Bay to visit the internationally significant wetlands, where vast tidal flats are home to shorebirds and coastal fauna.
Between October and March, watch turtles nesting and hatchlings emerge from the sand. You’ll be holding your breath as they make their way down to the shoreline, ready to start their life in one of Australia’s most beautiful landscapes.
