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Two "backpackers," (Australian for hostels) sit in Fremantle, West Australia, just minutes from both beach recreation and downtown shopping.

Fremantle is just south of the Western Australia capital of Perth, so close it's nearly a suburb and the nightlife of both towns is within easy distance of a traveler with a car or even a bus-pass.

Known as "Freo" to the locals, Fremantle was named for British naval officer Charles Fremantle, who landed where the Swan River meets the sea and established a camp while he laid claim to the rest of Western Australia. The camp became the city of Fremantle and now 26,000 people call it home.

The history of Fremantle is tied up with its port, so if you're visiting the city, you should take a trip through the Maritime Museum. Located near the mouth of the Harbor, the West Australia Maritime Museum is part of the larger Western Australia Museum, which is spread out over three sites throughout Perth and Fremantle. The largest collection of maritime artifacts is at the harbor in Fremantle. The museum contains exhibits on nearly everything maritime-related, from the America's Cup yacht race to an Oberon class submarine that is available for tours.

Also in Fremantle is the Round House, an eight-cell gaol (or jail) built out of white stone that is the oldest building standing in Western Australia. Jails and Western Australia have a long history together, the Fremantle Prison is another heritage site in the city. The Round House was built in the Panopticon model, where every prisoner could be observed without knowing if they were being watched or not. The Round House remained a prison until 1900 when it became the residence of the chief constable. The building has been open to the public since 1982.

Much more comfortable than an Australian prison, a room in a Fremantle hospital starts at 12 Euros for a shared, dorm-style room. Private rooms are available in Fremantle, but only at "Australia Backpackers," a hostel halfway between the beach and the Central Business District. Private rooms at "Australia Backpackers" are 21 Euros, or 15 Euros a person if you share a room. "Australia Backpackers" is located in a former hotel, complete with a professional style kitchen and licensed bar available without leaving the grounds.

Across the city, "Sundance Backpackers Resort" offers rooms with four, six or ten beds, and a more traditional hostel experience. Although they do not offer private rooms, the hostel is known for the cheap drinks at its own local bar, as well as for offering services that most hostels around the world can't match. Sundance provides entertainment, internet and a bike service located on-site.

If you'd like to leave the hostel to experience the Fremantle nightlife, try the Metropolis club for an action packed evening, or if you want to relax, the Sail & Anchor pub serves up some of the best food in town and continues Fremantle's maritime traditions.

Hostels in Fremantle