We arrived in Perth looking forward to again meeting up with The Beer family we met in Broome. Jason, Michelle and their 3 boys Ashleigh, Lachie and Nathan are also from Melbourne and travelling around Australia. The boys hit it off in Broome and were looking forward to seeing their friends again.
We drove all along the Perth foreshore checking out the beaches all the way to Cottesloe. This was a lovely drive, but not quite warm enough for us to jump in for a swim!
We took a trip to Fremantle to visit the prison and have a look around. I was amazed at how big the Fremantle Prison was, there was buildings everywhere! It was interesting to learn that the WA government leased out some of the prison for public use. The former prison hospital is leased out for 99 years so not open for the public to view on the prison tour. Another part of the prison is being upgraded to become a backpackers hostel! Probably the strangest is that some of the actual prison cells have been leased to small business for use. A physiologist showed us her room which was once a cell! The businesses were varied such as, Finance Brokers and Legal Aid! These were also former death row cells.
We did two tours of the prison the first was called "Doin Time". This tour showed you the main parts of the prison, the cells, kitchen, exercise yard and church. Initially the cells were very small and after a few years legislation was passed that the cells must be larger. A wall between every two cells was then taken down which doubled the size. There was some impressive artwork in some of the cells. A few prisoners were allowed to paint art on their walls if it was found to be therapeutic for them.
The prison was shut in 1991 and still to that day the prisoners used buckets in their cells for toilets! The prison was shut because it was found unsafe when the prisoners started a fire in Division 3 and the fire trucks couldn't fit through the gates! There was little damage and no one injured but an embarrassment to the government. When the prison was originally built the doors only needed to be wide enough for a horse and cart!
The prison was shut in 1991 and still to that day the prisoners used buckets in their cells for toilets! The prison was shut because it was found unsafe when the prisoners started a fire in Division 3 and the fire trucks couldn't fit through the gates! There was little damage and no one injured but an embarrassment to the government. When the prison was originally built the doors only needed to be wide enough for a horse and cart!
Our next tour was about the escapes and we were told some interesting stories. Brendan Abbot escaped from Fremantle Prison, aka The Postcard Bandit! Probably the funniest story was of a prisoner who escaped, then went to a local pub got very intoxicated as he hadn't drunk any alcohol in a long time. The local police locked him up for drunk and disorderly, the next morning the prison discovered he had escaped so back he went to Fremantle Prison!
The remainder of our time was spent hanging out at the caravan park. We met a few more families all from Victoria that were also doing the big trip. All the kids hit it off and formed there own little club with funny nicknames. We were all quite sad to leave this park as we'd met some great families, but hopefully we will catch up with them again.
Entrance to Fremantle Prison
The long rows of cells with suicide netting
One of the two churches
An original cell
Artwork in a cell, it surrounded the whole room
Different cell from above, more great artwork
View from the Warden's lookout
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