Fremantle: A Film Friendly City
Fremantle: A Film Friendly City
What makes filming in Fremantle so special? Is it the remarkable heritage architecture? The bustling Cappuccino Strip? The working port, character-filled streets and coastal backdrops? Or perhaps it is the fact that Fremantle has become one of Western Australia's most film-friendly destinations.
Since adopting its Film Friendly City Policy in 2019, the City of Fremantle has actively worked to attract film and television productions through streamlined approvals, dedicated support for filmmakers and opportunities for fee waivers or discounts for eligible productions. The policy is designed to encourage screen production activity while supporting broader economic development and destination marketing outcomes.
A key feature of the policy is the City's "Film Friend" approach, providing productions with a single point of contact to help navigate approvals, identify locations, coordinate logistics and connect with local knowledge and resources.
Fremantle's distinctive character continues to make it a sought-after filming location. Its historic streetscapes, heritage buildings, industrial precincts, waterfront locations and vibrant urban culture provide filmmakers with an extraordinary range of backdrops in one compact and accessible city. Local, national and international production companies have all been inspired by Fremantle's atmosphere and architecture, producing successful documentaries, television series and feature films.
The policy is clearly working.
In the past two years alone, Fremantle has welcomed nine major productions, including Warner Bros. television series RUN (2026), SBS/NITV's Reckless (2025), international feature film Twice Over (2026) and Bruce Beresford's The Travellers. They join a growing list of productions that have chosen Fremantle as their backdrop, including How to Please a Woman (2022), I Met a Girl (2020), Below (2019), Son of a Gun (2014) and Bran Nue Dae (2009).
As a city known for its vibrancy, heritage and unmistakable sense of place, Fremantle is always ready for its next starring role.
Filming in Fremantle
Anyone wishing to film in Fremantle must obtain approval from the City of Fremantle and submit a filming application. Commercial productions are charged an application fee ranging from $150 to $2,000 depending on the scale of the production and its impact on the community and local businesses. Student productions are exempt from filming fees, although an application and approval are still required. Applicants should allow at least five business days for processing.
To find out more about filming in Fremantle, visit the City of Fremantle's filming information page.
Hero Image Credit: David Dare Parker
