Fremantle as long been a destination for passenger ships and the era of the great liners is one that holds fond memories for many West Australian's.

The famous liners of shipping companies such as P&O, Orient, Shaw Savill, Lloyd Triestino and Flotta Lauro called regularly at Fremantle on the Europe-Australia route. There were mail ships migrant ships and the means of travel for people wanting to see the world. Ships such as Himalaya, Orcades, Southern Cross, Iberia and Galileo were household names.

Fremantle Passenger Terminal was constructed in time for the Empire (Commonwealth) Games in 1962, but by the late 60s, with the Suez Canal closed and the cost of air travel coming within reach, the days of the mail ship were numbered.

By the mid 1970s, many of the migration ships had also disappeared from the route.