Gage Roads Freo Brewery

Custom Playground Design, Fremantle — The Gage Roads Brewery Kid Zone

When Good Drinks Co engaged Van Ryt Industries to design the kid zone at Gage Roads Brewery, A-Shed Fremantle, the brief was as ambitious as the venue itself. With a 1,500-capacity brewery overlooking Victoria Quay and an outdoor courtyard steeped in maritime history, nothing off-the-shelf would do. The client needed a custom playground design that matched the scale, character, and WA coastal spirit of Gage Roads Freo — from concept to the last custom detail.

Opened in 2021 following a major refurbishment of the historic Fremantle Port A-Shed warehouse, Gage Roads Freo has quickly become one of WA's best-loved family-friendly hospitality destinations. VRI designed, fabricated, and installed a fully themed coastal play space in the outdoor courtyard — working around significant infrastructure constraints that made this one of the more technically demanding projects our team has taken on.

The Centrepiece — A 10-Metre Recycled Jarrah Crayfishing Boat

The hero of VRI's custom playground design is a 10-metre recycled Jarrah timber crayfishing boat, salvaged and transformed at our O'Connor WA workshop into a multi-level play structure. Children can peer through the Perspex window over the engine bay, discover the hidden treasure chest below decks, fire down the fireman's pole, scale the climbing walls, or navigate the tunnel through the hull. It is exactly the kind of standout coastal feature that no catalogue product could replicate — and precisely what the waterfront setting demanded.

Engineering Through a Complex Heritage Site

The project brought significant site challenges. The designated play zone sits directly above steel sheet piling that retains the wall of the Swan River. Consequently, no deep excavation was possible — every structural decision needed to protect existing underground concrete slabs and services, while still delivering full compliance with AS 4685.

Working closely with the project structural engineer, VRI developed a bespoke steel cradle system to support the large upper deck of the crayfishing boat — a solution that resolved the structural constraint without compromising the design intent. Transporting a 10-metre vessel to and from our workshop required specialist logistics planning. Additionally, fitting every element — including the required fall zones — within the compact courtyard footprint demanded creative spatial problem-solving at every stage of the build.

Custom Features That Celebrate WA's Coastal Culture

Beyond the boat, every element was purpose-designed to reinforce the maritime theme. A giant wahoo fish — suspended from a set of scales — functions as the custom weighing station climbing wall. It is a feature unique to this installation and consistently the first element children head for. A stainless steel fish cleaning table serves as the custom sand play table, with an etched game inscribed into the surface and tactile features hidden throughout the space. Custom boardwalk jetty sections and feature entry signage complete the coastal setting, giving the kid zone an immersive depth that rewards repeated visits.

The 324-CRY Giant Cray Pot, crafted from locally sourced West Australian Jarrah hardwood, adds a lower-height climbing and seating element with strong maritime character. The 501-CAR Car — a bespoke repurposed vehicle with a custom Jarrah interior fitout — provides an imaginative role-play anchor well suited to younger children. Together, these catalogued pieces support VRI's broader custom playground design to create a layered environment that engages a wide age range within the one themed space.

A Kid Zone Well Loved by Fremantle Families

Since opening, the Gage Roads Freo kid zone has become one of the venue's most celebrated features — earning strong recognition in Fremantle family guides and consistent praise from visiting parents. For VRI, this project demonstrates the full reach of Perth-manufactured custom playground design: a bespoke, coastal-inspired play space that keeps children engaged and gives families the confidence to stay longer, return more often, and bring others. VRI installs throughout WA and supplies Australia-wide with full documentation for your installer.

Thinking about transforming your venue's outdoor space? Contact Van Ryt Industries to discuss your brief.

Featured Equipment

• Custom Crayfishing Boat — 10m recycled Jarrah timber, bespoke item
• Custom 'Weighing Station' Climbing Wall (Wahoo Fish) — bespoke item
• 324-CRY Giant Cray Pot — Jarrah climber and seat
• Custom Sand Play Table — stainless steel, etched game detail
• Custom Boardwalk Jetty — bespoke item
• Custom Feature Entry Signage — bespoke item
• 501-CAR Car — repurposed vehicle play feature with Jarrah interior