Fremantle Time Ball and Time Gun

The Fremantle Time Ball and Time Gun are operated by the Fremantle Volunteer Heritage Guides Association.

(contact fvhga@iinet.net.au)
 
Pictured on the right is Heritage Guide Roy Sankey. 

The Guides fire the Time Gun and drop the Time Ball each day at 1 p.m.  The whole operation takes place in  the precincts of the Round House, close by the port area. 

The Time Gun uses a small bore cartridge that is loaded and electronically fired. Local regulations insist that  nobody must be within 8 metres of the gun when fired.  

The project is supported by the Fremantle Chamber of Commerce, Western Australia Maritime Museum and the  Ron Berry Engraving Company. 

The Gun is owned by the Fremantle Football Club ( known as the Fremantle Dockers) and is on loan to Fremantle Volunteer Heritage Guides.

The Dockers cannon, constructed by Tom Talbot, is a replica of one salvaged from the sailing ship ‘Salve’.  This ship was beached at Port Augusta, just east of Cape Leeuwin W.A.  on the 25th October 1878.  The original cannon is now in Bunbury, a small city south of Fremantle.

The Volunteer Guides welcome visitors to the firing, no charge to see the daily Firing and if you are lucky – you can get to trigger the shot and become a  Honorary Gunnery Officer.

The National Flags flown alongside the black Time Ball are a courtesy to the vessels as they enter the Port of Fremantle.

Information and photographs – courtesy of Rob Romano, Whitehaven - October 2006