Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Australia Fremantle Tom Edwards Memorial Fountain

Tom Edwards Memorial Fountain

A monument to a working class martyr.

Fremantle, Australia

Added By
Lin Fritschi
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Tom Edwards Memorial Fountain.   Lin Perth / Atlas Obscura User
Tom Edwards’ funeral procession. The hearse is horse-drawn.   The West Australian/Public Domain
Tom Edwards.   Australian Labor Federation/Public Domain
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Though only one man died during the little-known Fremantle Wharf Riot of 1919, his loss inspired workers across Australia.

In 1917, the Fremantle Lumpers Union (an association of dock workers) had refused to load ships they believed to be carrying supplies to Germany, an enemy nation. In response, the shipowners brought in workers from a rival union, the National Waterside Workers Union. The dispute between the two unions continued for over two years and came to a head on May 4, 1919 at the "Battle of the Barricades."

The Lumpers Union blockaded the wharf to prevent the unloading of the SS Dimboola.  In order to evade the blockade, the NWWU arrived at the ship in smaller boats, accompanied by the recently appointed Western Australian Premier, Hal Colebatch. The Lumpers Union started throwing rocks and other missiles at the boats from the wharf, and the police retaliated with batons and bayonets. Tom Edwards, in the Lumpers Union, was struck on the head by a police baton. He died three days later, the only casualty of the wharf riots.

Edwards became a symbol for Western Australia's Labor Party and his funeral procession was attended by thousands. In memory of his sacrifice, a fountain was sculpted by Pietro Porcelli outside the Fremantle Trades Hall. It was moved to Adelaide Street near Town Hall, where it still commemorates "Comrade Tom Edwards, Working Class Martyr."

Related Tags

Monuments Memorials Fountains Unions Wwi

Know Before You Go

The fountain stands in King's Square in central Fremantle, on Adelaide Street.

Community Contributors

Added By

Lin Perth

Edited By

Molly McBride Jacobson

  • Molly McBride Jacobson

Published

January 3, 2017

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1919_Fremantle_Wharf_riot
  • http://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/people/humanitarian/display/60515-tom-edwards
  • https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Fremantle_Wharf_Crisis_of_1919
  • http://freoworkers.org/1919.html
Tom Edwards Memorial Fountain
3 Adelaide St
Fremantle
Australia
-32.053862, 115.747781
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Fremantle Submarine Periscope Memorial

Fremantle, Australia

miles away

Rainbow Sea Container

Fremantle, Australia

miles away

Dingo Flour Sign

North Fremantle, Australia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Fremantle

Fremantle

Australia

Places 3

Nearby Places

Fremantle Submarine Periscope Memorial

Fremantle, Australia

miles away

Rainbow Sea Container

Fremantle, Australia

miles away

Dingo Flour Sign

North Fremantle, Australia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Fremantle

Fremantle

Australia

Places 3

Related Places

  • Monument to the Unknown Hero.

    Beli Potok, Serbia

    Monument to the Unknown Hero

    Near Belgrade, an ancient-looking sarcophagus serves as a World War I monument.

  • The Ashford tank.

    Ashford, England

    Mark IV World War I Tank

    A rare example of this century-old British tank stands near the center of town in Ashford.

  • Amersfoort, Netherlands

    Belgian Monument

    This gigantic monument hidden in the woods was built to thank the Dutch for sheltering Belgian refugees during World War I.

  • The monument in Mbala.

    Mbala, Zambia

    Mbala Surrender Monument

    A memorial in the middle of a roundabout marks the spot where German forces formally surrendered, finally ending World War I in Africa.

  • The Chambeshi Monument.

    Kasama, Zambia

    Chambeshi Monument

    A stone memorial marks the spot where the fighting of World War I finally ceased—three days after the armistice was signed in Europe.

  • The memorial plaque.

    Hartlepool, England

    Heugh Gun Battery Memorial Tablet

    This memorial honors the first British soldier killed by enemy action on home soil during World War I.

  • The annual Blessing of the Fleets ceremony.

    Washington, D.C.

    The Blessing of the Fleets Ceremony

    The fountains of the U.S. Navy Memorial are annually salted with water from the Seven Seas as part of a nautical ritual.

  • The eternal flame.

    Chennai, India

    Perarignar Anna Memorial

    The largest funeral ever held was for one of Tamil's most influential politicians.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.