Fremantle Ports" Portfolio Newsletter December 2023

The future of the Fremantle | Walyalup Inner Harbour port precinct is a step closer with the release by the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage of an emerging long-term vision and three scenarios for public comment.  Attend an in person workshop on 12 December in North Fremantle or complete an online survey now.

The financial year 2022-23 saw record container trade for Fremantle Ports in containers, reaching an impressive 809,709 TEU (twenty foot equivalent units), the largest number ever recorded.

This is just one of many strong measures of corporate performance for the year, including:

• an operating profit of $67 million,
• $46 billion in trade facilitated (total value),
• $100 million re-invested in our business,
• 31.3 million tonnes of cargo handled, and
• recordable safety incidents halved.

To see Our Year in Review and find out how Fremantle Ports delivered on its purpose of facilitating trade for a more prosperous Western Australia, click here. 

And to read our results in more depth, download our 2022-23 Annual Report here.

The cruise tourism industry is surging back as the warmer weather herald a fresh season of new arrivals into Fremantle Port, bringing with it inbound visitors, delivering economic stimulus and vibrancy to the port city. ?Pictured here is the Crystal Symphony that arrived today - thank you to Fremantle Shipping News for this image.

During the month of November, the Fremantle Biennale returned, with these year's theme of Signals delivering an immersive and vibrant range of events, including ones supported by and hosted at Fremantle Ports' facilities.

The launch was held at historic C Shed, a building that Fremantle Ports invested $6 million into this year to make it ready for a future use. 
 

As Principal Partner for the Festival, we hosted many events at our faciltiies, including:

• Victoria Quay featured a vibrant sound installation, Ports Call, that was synched to ship movements in and out of our inner harbour.
   
• C Shed came to life with music and dance during Cease/Fire (pictured left) featuring a new dance work by two rising choreographers May Greenberg and Zee Zunnur.
   
• Fremantle Passenger Terminal: host to American soul/blues poet aja monet performing when the poems do what they do, and then the end of festival celebration, Cobalt.
   
• Bathers Beach and our port waters were the setting for a stunning drone light show First Lights - Kooranup designed and performed by Yabini Kickett, Ilona McGuire, Tyrown Waigana and Cass Lynch, telling the ancient story of ancestral beings and an epic battle that shaped our coastline.

If you missed these amazing experiences, you can relive them online by viewing this video.

Recently Victoria Quay has hosted several high-profile events, including the WA Good Food Guide Awards night that took centre stage at our stunning and historic Fremantle Passenger Terminal (pictured left).  This was mere days after the same venue hosted performances by the Fremantle Biennale.

One of the many promotional opportunities available to us at Fremantle Ports is to illuminate the side of our administration building.  A mid-century masterpiece built in the mid-1960s, it is the tallest built structure in Fremantle, with a white gleaming surface covered in purpose-designed marine tile that makes for a great canvas.

As well as promoting events supported by Fremantle Ports, we accept applications to shine images, video, animation and graphics that illuminate community causes.

Do you have something visually striking to share with our community? Get in touch.

Fremantle Ports is a major employer both near to our inner harbour facilities and in Kwinana.  We are always looking for skilled and energetic people who can live and work within our values of collaboration, accountability, respect and excellence - together they spell out how we CARE about each other and the work we do.

At our website you can see all the opportunities now emerging in our team.  Come aboard!

Support for the Friends of Cantonment Hill by Fremantle Ports has created a wonderful resource for children to improve their numeracy amid reflections of local scenes, including of the port.  The ideal Christmas gift, the book's proceeds support the valuable work of these diligent volunteers to preserve the natural environment at Cantonment Hill.

Community groups close to Fremantle Ports' heart and its physical operations near Fremantle and Kwinana are thriving with the help of the latest round of community investment funding.

One group of recipients, Cockburn Masters Swimming Club, were brimming with excitement at news that Fremantle Ports was again supporting this premiere local event.

"The Christmas 10K is a cracker of a swim and WA's best 10km qualifier for all Rottnest Channel swim crossings.  We are thrilled to welcome Fremantle Ports as the 10km Challenge naming rights sponsor and we acknowledge their continued support of this festive community event," said event manager, Nick Wyatt.

Three outstanding artworks in the Castaways Sculpture Awards exhibition have been selected by the community as the winners of the Fremantle Ports People's Choice Awards for 2023.

Castaways is the City of Rockingham's signature arts and culture event and provides both emerging and professional artists with a chance to showcase their creative skills in an exhibition that highlights sculptures made from recycled and repurposed materials.

Planning a Summer trip to Rotto via Victoria Quay, or a visit to Gage Roads Brew Co, the WA Maritime Museum or E Shed Markets?  Be sure to plan ahead and travel safely and sustainably at this busy time.  Walk or cycle, use bus, train or rideshare and avoid the parking hassle.

There is still time to register for the Harbour Master Classic when it returns to Victoria Quay on Sunday 5 May 2024.  Fremantle Ports is proud to present this popular event in partnership with the Western Australian Marathon Club.  Choose your distance (5 or 10km), register yourself or gather your workmates, family, neighbours, friends and get a squad together, choose a team name and start training.  Entries open now at the link below.

Re-live Australia II's historic victory of the 1983 America's Cup.
On 26 September 1983, the yacht Australia II made global history when the oldest sporting trophy in the world, the America's Cup, was wrested from the Americans after 132 years.

Sail back in time to the 1980s, a time when the famous boxing kangaroo and big hair were all the rage! Discover the untold stories and memorable moments that lead to the incredible Cup victory, continuing in 1987 when Fremantle hosted the Cup defence, hoisting the port city onto the world stage.

Get an intimate look at the grit and perseverance of the Australian crew led by John Bertrand, as they set new standards in elite sport with a revolutionary keel design shrouded in secrecy.

This exhibition is ON NOW until Sunday 4 February 2024.  
Click on the link below to find out more.

Keen to know more about our vibrant port? Stroll with us around Victoria Quay and listen as port experts talk about different aspects of Fremantle Inner Harbour. These walks are typically 60-75 minutes and include topics of history, landside logistics, trade, port engineering, shipping and the environment.

Port Walks start at the CY O'Connor statue outside the Fremantle Ports Administration Building on Victoria Quay. Our address is 1 Cliff Street which is only 600 metres from the Fremantle Train Station. Perfect if you're arriving via public transport.

Bookings are available for individuals and small groups, as well as tours for schools and tertiary education groups. To book, please call 9430 3555 or click on the link below for more information.

It's the first week of December and that means... Christmas is right around the corner! ??

??SANTA?? is at E Shed Markets across 3 days! 11:30am - 2:30pm on the 22nd, 23rd and 24th of December!

??TINSEL TONES?? is a Musical Christmas Act bringing the most festive of Christmas Carols to life at E Shed on Christmas Eve, Sunday 24 December from 10:30am - 12:30pm! ??