17th November 2021
Join us to celebrate the opening of Walyalup Koort on Sunday 5 December from 2–5pm.
There’ll be activities for everyone as we gather to mark this important milestone in Fremantle’s history.
Have some fun at the colourful new Walyalup Koort playground inspired by our port city’s industrial history or relax on the Walyalup Civic Centre’s sloping urban lawn.
Explore the state-of-the-art Fremantle Library with free family-friendly activities include drop-in art and craft classes, LEGO making, video games in the gaming zone, the interactive map in the history centre and demonstrations of interactive VR technology and 3D printing.
Come and see your new Walyalup Civic Centre with the welcoming customer service centre, council chamber and bookable community spaces in the library and civic centre.
Witness the inaugural Welcome to Country by Nyoongar Elders Marie Taylor and Richard Walley and the first lighting of a new ceremonial fire vessel in the Koort.
Enjoy performances from the Walyalup Kannajil Community Choir, Madjitil Moorna Choir and more to be announced soon.
For the kids there’ll be a Kids Adventure Scavenger Hunt through the library and playground, and free activities with Buster It’s All About Play.
Plus, have your chance at winning great prizes and giveaways from an inflatable ball pit.
Before Fremantle, there was Walyalup
In the Nyoongar language, the area around modern-day Fremantle is known as Walyalup–meaning place of the Walyo or Woylie, a small brush-tailed bettong or kangaroo rat.
The local Whadjuk people, part of the larger Nyoongar Aboriginal nation, have been its custodians for over 45,000 years.
While some of their sacred meeting places may look very different now, that doesn't lessen the significance these sites still have to local Whadjuk people.
In July 2021, following an extensive community consultation process, Kings Square was officially renamed Walyalup Koort.
Walyalup is the Nyoongar name for an area that includes Fremantle and Koort means heart.
The new name reflects the contribution to this land by the Whadjuk Nyoongar people and is a key milestone in our ongoing journey of reconciliation and recognition.
Bring your family, friends and neighbours into the city for the historic opening of Fremantle’s new heart, Walyalup Koort.
More details coming soon.
Head to Visit Fremantle for more info.
