Fremantle Doctor

The Fremantle Doctor is a cooling sea breeze which occurs in Western Australia.

During Summer months it consistently blows from the South-West along the southern half of the west coast, starting between between noon and 3 pm. It can penetrate as far inland as 100km, reaching York in the early evening.

The wind is named the 'Doctor' because it brings welcome relief from the Summertime high temperatures, cooling the Perth suburbs by several degrees. Near the coast the wind can be quite strong, often blowing between 15 and 20 knots and making afternoon beach visits unpleasant.

On days when the wind fails the afternoon temperatures of the Perth suburbs are considerably higher, often reaching into the 40s, although this is also atributable to the influence of a strong easterly wind blowing in hot desert air from the arid interior of the state.

The wind is also called the Fremantle Docker because in the old days of sail, ships would lie offshore waiting for the afternoon wind to carry them into the Fremantle Dock. This is not to be confused with the Fremantle Dockers, as the Australian Football League team Fremantle is better known.