Last weekend we traveled down the coast south for two hours to Bunbury, which is where James' parents live. We stayed here for the extended weekend. Us four went on a road trip through the Margaret River area; touring confectioneries, wineries, breweries, coffee places, and local olive oil and meat places. It was a great day!
We took daily walks around the neighborhood and beach near the Ball's house, it was great to be out in the fresh air. The beautiful beach was only a 7 minute walk away! Weather was just a bit chilly, so we only swam once over the weekend.
One morning we traveled to a dolphin area. After standing in the water for a bit a dolphin swam near us for about 15 minutes. The dolphin was playful, rolling and flirting with the onlookers. We really enjoyed Bunbury. Staying with the Ball's was great - THANKS!
The next few days we were back in the city, Perth. We accompanied Katrina to Fremantle, where she works, one day to visit different sights. First stop for us was the Old Fremantle Prison. This prison was built in the mid 1800s by the prisoners it remained open until 1991. It is now a historical site and museum. They have restored some of the prison to reflect how it was at different points in time. Little has changed as the prison updated.
Prisoners were sent over from England, along with building supplies for the new prison, to Fremantle. A site on the hill was chosen for the prison because the ocean breeze would help blow away the smell and diseases of the prisoners. It took nearly 7 years for the prisoners to build the limestone (quarried from the hill which it was built on) prison compound. Solid steel doors served as the door to the tiny cells. In the early days, cells had a small hammock, a small sink, small desk, and a small tin bucket and lid for the toilet (these were cleaned each morning by an inmate). Inmates would work on the prison and other city buildings for 16 hours a day and spend 8 hours in their cells at night. Time progressed and building projects were finished inmates then spent 8 hours outside and 16 in the cell. Cells were also changed because of bug infestation, air supply, and a few other reasons - now cells consisted of a thin mattress, small desk, and the bucket/lid toilet. Solitary confinement was a tiny, dark cell with double doors so no one could ever hear your screams. Death row inmates were also brought here during their last two hours before taking a short walk to the gallows.
It was fascinating tour the prison and seeing how dated it was. The history of this place was very interesting, many stories from these walls!
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| Artistic Inmate |
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| Original Cell. Hammock, sink, desk. |
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| Double Door Solitary Confinement |
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| The Gallows |
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| Missile Room |
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| Tiny Kitchen - can you imaging cooking for 65 people in this!? |
We visited The Roundhouse building in Fremantle, the first permanent building in Fremantle, first used as a jail, until the Fremantle Prison was built. Josh and James tried out prison life for a bit - didn't like it much, ha! They pulled cards to see what crime they committed and their punishments - real information taken from the record books. Josh bought sheep with the knowledge that they were stolen, he got 4 months without work. James stole a looking glass (mirror) and got two weeks and 5 dozen lashings!
We also visited a famous Western Australia brewery, Little Creatures, and took a brewery tour.
It's been an enjoyable week. Besides all of these adventures we've enjoyed time in Kings Park, movie nights, and family time. We went into the city to a Thai restaurant one evening, it tasted like Thailand - and we even got to use a bit of our Thai!
This weekend we are headed down south to Albany, for the long Easter weekend with the Ball family.
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