SHU Meeting Room

Located at the rear of Fremantle Prison, the Special Handling Unit (SHU) Meeting Room is an ideal venue for meetings or small conferences, with capacity ranging from 18 to 50 depending on the layout.

Refurbished in early 2025, the space features adaptable seating layouts and an adjoining courtyard, ideal for breakout sessions

Facilities include:

• Adjustable tables and chairs
• Reverse-cycle air conditioning
• Whiteboard and 85” 4K flatscreen TV with HDMI input for presentations
• Modern kitchenette with full-size fridge, dishwasher, microwave, tea and coffee facilities, filtered water tap, crockery/cutlery and accessible sink

Amenities:

• Two adjacent toilets (one accessible) plus two additional toilets in the courtyard

Availability:

• Hire available 7 days a week, 8:00am–5:30pm (subject to availability)
• Not available Wednesday or Friday evenings 

Bookings:

• Please refer to our Bookings and Conditions

History of the SHU

The area now known as the SHU (Special Handling Unit), was originally an open exercise yard. It was separated from the Division 4 exercise yard by a wall constructed in 1907/8, possibly as part of moves to segregate prisoners.

 By 1957, this area was one complete roofed space with its own yard. It was likely the roof was put on after the Second World War as a result of the growth in prison inmate numbers.

From the 1950s it was used as a workshop for juveniles - who could still be found in Fremantle Prison until the early 1970s. Although they were housed in Division 1, they would work here, segregated from the adult prison population.

In the 70s, the area became a canteen where prisoners could spend their meagre earnings on luxuries like sweets, extra food and cigarettes. Items from the canteen were purchased through spend slips. The prisoners were taken in groups from the main cell block area or the yards to collect their spends.

On 4 January 1988, a riot involving 70 prisoners and five hostages caused $1.8 million in damage and thwarted a planned escape. In its aftermath, Fremantle Prison established the Special Handling Unit (SHU) to isolate the riot’s instigators—known as “The Dirty Dozen”—and other high-risk inmates. Located away from the main prison, the SHU operated as a secure workshop producing textiles for the prison as well as Geraldton and Albany hospitals.

These prisoners were also isolated from the general population outside of workshop hours. They were housed in former death row cells in New Division, following WA’s abolition of capital punishment in 1984. The SHU remained in use until the prison closed in 1991.