Fremantle - Sunny and warm 25C

After a trip to the hairdressers to try and rejunvenate my neglected hair, we ventured into Freemantle again. This time we visited the Fremantle Prison which was built of local limestone by convicts in 1850.  The timber roof was built of jarrah know locally as Swan River Mahogany.  West Australia was the only part of the colony that actually requested that convicts be sent to the area because they needed labour to build first the jail and then other buildings.  This prison was still operating until 1991 when a riot by prisoners brought the bad conditions to the notice of the general public via the media reports of the riot.  The last prisoner to be hung there was in 1964.  There are a lot of ghost stories concerning former inmates at the jail and there is an evening tour which covers this. Unfortunately we won't be able to do this tour - maybe next time!

Entry to Fremantle Prison

Inside the Prison

The two lower floors of cells
with suicide net

The ceiling in the Chapek -
made from Jarrah (Swan River Mahogany)
all crafted by prisoners

A typical cell - very small

Where the Hangings took place
the last one was in 1964

Afterwards we walked once again around the city of Fremantle which has a lot of character.

Stone Cottages in Fremantle town

Cottage Mew

Statues at the beach



 



In Fremantle in the afternoons, a wind comes up most days and the locals call it the Fremantle Doctor.