The Fremantle Prison

Curious about Australia’s convict roots I decided to take a tour of the Fremantle prison where I was able to wander through the old cell blocks, the mess hall, the chapel, and the exercise yard. We listened to chilling stories at the whipping post, the solitary cells and the gallows.

 

 

 

Constructed by convicts sent from Britain between 1851 and 1859, Fremantle prison originally known as The Convict Establishment was transferred to the colonial government in 1886. It was eventually used as a maximum security prison and finally decommissioned in 1991. It is now recognized as a world heritage site. 

Notable prisoners:

 

Irish Rebel - John Boyle O’Reilly: Convicted for his part in the Fenian conspiracy, O’Reilly was one of the few to ever escape the Fremantle Prison and he did it with the help of the Americans. In March of 1869 O’Reilly managed to sneak away from his work party, rode a horse to the coast and used a row boat to get out into the Indian Ocean where the American ship Gazelle picked him up. He transferred onto two more American ships before finally reaching Philadelphia. O’Reilly ultimately settled in Boston where he continued to be an advocate and leader in the Irish community. 

Child Killer – Martha Rendell: Rendell killed three of her step-children using hydrochloric acid. The children died slow, agonizing deaths. Rendell was the only woman who was ever hanged (legally) in Western Australia.

Night Caller – Eric Edgar Cook: From 1959-1963 Cook committed 22 violent crimes in Perth, murdering eight people. He pleaded not guilty on the grounds of insanity but was sentenced to death by hanging.  He was the last person to be hanged in Western Australia on October 26^th 1964 and was buried next to Martha Rendell in the Fremantle Cemetery.

ACDC member – Bon Scott: At the age of 15 the lead singer of ACDC spent time at Fremantle prison for giving a fake name and address to the police, escaping legal custody, having unlawful intercourse and stealing 12 gallons of petrol. There is now a statue of Bon Scott rocking out near the harbor of Fremantle.