Szilvia GombolaThe Most Impressive Convict Structure - Freemantle Prison
April 21st 2008 03:53
As we drove into Freemantle, I was struck with awe at the beautiful lime stone buildings and Victorian Architecture. We parked the car and walked down South Terrace, which on a Sunday morning was bustling with the brunch crowd, the old buildings surrounding us reminding us of the city’s early beginnings. Freemantle was founded in 1829 and was primarily a port where convicts where detained. In fact, a number of the city’s structures were built by convict labour. One of the most impressive convict structures in Freemantle is, Freemantle Prison.
Freemantle Prison was built by convicts between 1852 - 1860 and served as a maximum-security gaol up until 1991. The prison is now open to the public with guided tours, which run every day. I did the ‘Doing Time Tour’ gives you a good overview of the prison. We were taken through the main cellblock to see the tiny cells where the prisoners were kept.
From there we were taken to the exercise yards where the prisoners spent all day come rain or shine. There was not enough shelter or seating for all the prisoners using the exercise yard so it was not surprising that this was an area where a number of fights broke out between prisoners during the day. We saw the gallows, which remain although I do not think anybody has actually been hung at Freemantle Prison since the 1960s. Throughout the tour, the guide recounts endless stories of life within the prison walls.
The most amazing thing to me is that prisoners were still being kept in these conditions in Australia in my lifetime. If it was in the 1800s I may think, ‘Oh how terrible thank goodness we don’t do that anymore’ and move on, but it was happening in Australia in my lifetime.
The prison is open every day except Christmas Day and Good Friday. Tours leave half hourly from 10am.
Tiney cells men called home for years
From there we were taken to the exercise yards where the prisoners spent all day come rain or shine. There was not enough shelter or seating for all the prisoners using the exercise yard so it was not surprising that this was an area where a number of fights broke out between prisoners during the day. We saw the gallows, which remain although I do not think anybody has actually been hung at Freemantle Prison since the 1960s. Throughout the tour, the guide recounts endless stories of life within the prison walls.
The most amazing thing to me is that prisoners were still being kept in these conditions in Australia in my lifetime. If it was in the 1800s I may think, ‘Oh how terrible thank goodness we don’t do that anymore’ and move on, but it was happening in Australia in my lifetime.
The prison is open every day except Christmas Day and Good Friday. Tours leave half hourly from 10am.
| 283 |
| Vote |
Add To: 
subscribe to this blog
