A NEW interactive treasure hunt is set to bring visitors back into Fremantle as part of the city’s annual heritage festival, offering a mix of history, puzzles and the chance to win $1,000 in gold coins.

The event, created by local “experience curators” Fictional Reality, will run from April 18 to May 18.

Participants download an app with a digital treasure map to guide them through key locations across the port city.

Players follow clues by locating “beacons” hidden in public areas and inside local businesses. 

Scanning each beacon reveals hints, helping participants solve puzzles and head to the next destination. 

Those who successfully complete the map are entered into a draw to win a $1,000 prize, presented as a treasure chest filled with $1 coins.

Event organiser James Meggitt said the initiative was designed to attract people to Fremantle during quieter periods and school holidays while encouraging them to engage with its rich history. “We wanted to create something free and accessible that gives people a reason to come into Fremantle and explore,” he said.

The treasure hunt follows a fictional storyline involving time-travelling professor Montgomery Spatchweed who has become lost in time. Participants must solve clues to repair his broken time machine, uncovering historical facts along the way. 

Locations featured in the game include popular spots such as the Fremantle Markets, cafes, museums and historical places within a two kilometre radius.

Local businesses are also playing a key role by hosting some of the hidden beacons, helping to increase their foot traffic and support the local economy.

Organisers are aiming to attract up to 10,000 participants, with families and young people identified as the main target audience. 

The free entry is expected to make the event accessible to a wide range of people looking for low-cost activities.

“If we see a strong response, we would love to run this again and potentially expand it to other locations,” James said.

by SEMHAR ESTIFANOS