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Another day – another port – another gaol. That is how it is turning out – we are calling the 2015 world cruise the 2015 gaol or prison tour. Today we visited the huge Fremantle Prison. We thought it would be fun to go on the guided tour since the other two gaols we had visited were self-guided tours. The Fremantle Prison is Western Australia's only World Heritage listed building and was very interesting. Our guide threw in a lot of stories about the inmates, escapes and attempted escapes.
The first of almost 10,000 convicts arrived in 1850 as a labor force to help construct infrastructure for the Swan River Colony. One of their initial projects was to build their own home – the Convict Establishment – later renamed Fremantle Prison. Fremantle Prison is the largest convict built structure in Western Australia and is the most intact convict establishment in the nation.
Decommissioned as a maximum security prison in 1991, Fremantle Prison was used continuously as a place of incarceration and punishment for 136 years. Forty-three men and one woman were executed by hanging in the gallows in the prison.
The prison Anglican Chapel is actually part of the Church of England and even though the prison has not had a prisoner since 1991, it is a popular wedding chapel. I don't know why because it is very plain – not pretty at all and all around Fremantle are charming churches and chapels that would be a much prettier setting for a wedding. Our tour guide told us there is a wedding there at least once a month. There is also a Catholic Chapel.
We took the “Doing Time Tour” which explored Fremantle Prison from its convict origins in the 1850's until its closure as a maximum security prison in 1991. Although we didn't take any of the other prison tours, also offered was a “Great Escape Tour” to see where many daring and dangerous escapes were attempted by convicts and prisoners alike. The “Tunnels Tour” is a very different tour. You put on a hardhat, slip into overalls, put on boots and climb a ladder down to the labyrinth of tunnels below the prison accessible only by boat. The tunnels were dug by prisoners and sustained thousands of people in the Fremantle area in the late 1800's. The “Torchlight Tour” takes place after dark and explores the “eerier” side of the prison with tales and stories of those not quiet at rest and a late night visit to the gallows. We were told that the prison lights are turned out for this tour and you actually tour by the illumination of torchlights.
The prison also offers some interesting events – Halloween Tours, Murder Mystery Nights and Jailhouse Rock dances are on the prison's list of functions and events. They also offers tours for school children and the prison is even available for corporate functions!
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