Doing Time in Catering at Fremantle Prison - By: Corwin Smith

Over in the West you don’t have to do the crime to do the time. Fremantle Prison is now a hot tourist destination open to visitors and available for function hire. Currently the Prison is looking for Catering Management Services to the Convict Cafe Located at the Prison via a Request for Tender (RFT).

Fremantle Prison, originally known as the Convict Establishment, was built by convict labour between 1852 and 1859 from limestone quarried on site. Its history, including its convict past, its use as the main place of incarceration for the state, and its current role as an important historic and tourist venue reflects in many ways the history of Western Australia.

By the time transportation ceased in 1868, just over 9,700 convicts had been transported to Western Australia. In 1886, with less than fifty convicts still imprisoned the British government passed control of the Prison to the colonial government and Fremantle Prison then became the Swan River colony’s primary place of incarceration.

The Perth Gaol (built by convicts in the 1850s) was closed and all of its inmates, including the women, were transferred to Fremantle. The original cookhouse, bakehouse and laundry was sectioned off from the rest of the Prison and converted into the colony's only women’s prison. It was extended twice — in the 1890s and in the 1900s. The area continued to serve as the only women's prison in the State until 1970 when a new facility was built on the outskirts of Perth. It was then used as an education facility and assessment centre for new male prisoners.

It was functional as a prison until as recently as 1991 and has since become a major tourist attraction for both locals and visitors. It is a site of exceptional cultural heritage significance and is the most intact of all Australian convict sites.

Currently the prison is showcasing art by current Western Australian prisoners, including a strong representation of Aboriginal art.

Fremantle Prison is regularly hired by corporate and community organizations, social groups and individuals to stage a range of functions including corporate Christmas functions, gala dinners, business socials, jailhouse rock evenings, murder mystery nights, product launches and weddings.

Located in the gatehouse, the Convict Café is a relatively new addition to the facilities. It can be part of the visitors experience with offers such as the Torchlight Dinner, School Tour package or a Function Package. It seats 60 people.

A response to the RFT is required before July 22 2010.

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For more information regarding RFT, please visit http://www.australiantenders.com

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