Day 36 And the housemates go to prison

[said in a geordie accent, of course]

Didn't sleep well. Perhaps that was just the finishing off of the day. Anyway, up fairly promptly and made my way across the cemetery to the station without getting lost and went to Fremantle.

I went to the prison. It's the largest structure built by convict labour in WA. The convicts were brought in from 1850 to provide labour to build the new colony and the first thing they had to do was create their 'home'. It was constructed on a limestone hill so they simply hewed the lumps of rock they needed on site. The prison didn't close until 1991. Seeing the place now it's frightening to think that men and women were held there in such poor conditions so recently. They still used buckets, for example. You can't just wander about the place but have to go on one of the guided tours. Our leader was a very informative lady by the name of Linda. From Scotland. We went through the arrivals room, to the cell blocks, the yards (shelter from the sun only introduced in the 1960s) where the prisoners were kept much of the day if they weren't working, special cells, the punishment area, the gallows, the Anglican Church. It was thought provoking. Especially the bit about people getting married in the church these days. How odd. You can even have the reception there. "Dress with arrows pointing right way up. RSVP."

[Side note: it's been raining a little today and it's started to chuck it down now as I type. I feel like going out to look!]

The Gate House. Quite nice, really.









The main prison building, initially housing around 700 inmates, increased with a little extension at the back (think Changing Rooms - NOT) to ~900 some time later.

At least you knew what you were doing every day.








At one end of the yard were the "facilities": the seated variety behind the wooden doors on the left; handwashing in the trough; bucket washing in the [now filled-in] round white thing which stands in front of the standing-up arrangements. All al fresco unless you're sitting down and then still a bit draughty.




Each of those doors used to lead to a cell 4'x7'. After a Commission of Enquiry in the 1890s, cell size was increased by removing the wall between two cells. This was completed by 1920. In 1960, bunks were introduced into these 'double-size' cells so prisoners could share with a friend or relative if they wanted to. Or, of course, if there were insufficient separate cells available. Comfy, hey?

The solitary confinement cells. Pretty bleak. Double-doored for sound insulation as well as security.









The Porridge Boat made by an inmate from leftover porridge from prisoners' breakfasts, along with sand and glass!




Following the prison tour, I went into the Visitor Centre and Art Gallery where there was a special exhibition about Irish convicts. All really fascinating. The Irish were the only ever successful escapees!

From the prison, I went to the lunatic asylum! Except that now it's the Museum and Art Centre. I think that was built with convict labour too, definitely looks similar! The building was interesting although as depressing as the prison when you thought about the conditions, not only when it was for the feeble-minded but later on when, for example, it was a home for destitute old ladies. There was heaps of information about the early days of Fremantle, its role as a port for all the immigrants and how the whole place gradually established itself.

In the evening, we dined out in Fremantle too, as Paul had popped in to town (a separate town from Perth they won't let you forget) on some chores.

You'll be pleased to know the weather wasn't hot and sunny, we even had some rain. In fact, it's supposed to be getting as low as 16C overnight. Where's my fleece?

And thanks for all the hugs for yesterday. Today was not so emotional. My head was still buggered but that's the way it goes sometimes.