19. Fremantle Prison tour

Between 1788 & 1868, more than 165,000 men, women & children were transported from Great Britian to Australia as punishment for their crimes.

The Fremantle Prison itself was constructed by convicts between 1851 & 1859. It was Western Australia's main place of incarceration until its closure in 1991.

Interestingly, the Swan River Colony (including the area that would become Fremantle), which was struggling in its economic growth & development, actually requested the prisoners, which were seen as a cheap source of labor for infrastructure development.

Prison conditions during the convict era (1850s to early 1900s) were harsh & brutal, with 4'x7' cells where meals were eaten. The cells contained a hammock & bucket as toilet. Prison life included chain gang labor experiences, overcrowding, and perpetual hygiene issues.

Prison riots & protests as well as public acknowlegment of conditions eventually gave way to prison reform & some improvement including larger cells, vegetable gardens for fresher food, and access to artistic materials for them to paint their cells & prison walls.Læs mere