We visit Fremantle Gaol
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (278971)
Rockingham, Australia
May 16, 2022 4:22am CST
My husband and I went on a bus trip today with members of a Probus club. We don’t belong to Probus but we helped make up the numbers they needed so the tour could go ahead.
Firstly, we stopped at a lovely park to have morning tea. Across the Swan River in the top left-hand photo you can see the skyline of the city of Perth, Western Australia. From there, we drove to the old Fremantle Gaol where we had a guided tour of this World Heritage site.
The gaol was built by convict labour. The first of the almost 10,000 male convicts arrived in 1850 and their first task was to build their own home. It operated continuously as a place of incarceration and punishment for 136 years.
From the outside, the gate-house and façade are very imposing. However, the beautiful wrought-iron gates are now too narrow and low for some modern service vehicles such as fire-engines.
15 people like this
16 responses
@changjiangzhibin89 (16092)
• China
16 May
It was a worthwhile bus trip ! The gaol looks ghastly and bloodcurdling.
3 people like this
@moonandstars (59449)
• Zagreb, Croatia (Hrvatska)
17 May
don't like prison places but it looks neat, from the outside
1 person likes this
@moonandstars (59449)
• Zagreb, Croatia (Hrvatska)
20 May
@JudyEv that is good. i like educational things
@oahuwriter (23576)
• United States
16 May
So now the old prison is a historical place?
1 person likes this
@oahuwriter (23576)
• United States
18 May
@JudyEv
Interesting. Glad you're having a nice time!
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (74248)
• Bangalore, India
16 May
Glad that you could add up to the number to make this trip possible for everyone 
. Such a magnificent beauty are these old constructions. But it makes me feel sad that these were used to punish people and take away their freedom... freedom is the most beautiful aspect of any life.
. Such a magnificent beauty are these old constructions. But it makes me feel sad that these were used to punish people and take away their freedom... freedom is the most beautiful aspect of any life.1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (82160)
• United States
16 May
And they actually let you and Vince leave after the tour? 
WOW!
WOW!1 person likes this
@Gillygirl (47091)
• Sutton, England
16 May
It looks impressive. What is it used for nowadays?
1 person likes this
@Gillygirl (47091)
• Sutton, England
16 May
@JudyEv It would be a good venue for concerts
1 person likes this
@sathviksouvik (10963)
•
17 May
great trip Judy. Your description of Perth was also lovely
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (278971)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 May
Thanks. Sometimes you live in a place for a long time but don't investigate all it has to offer.
@FourWalls (44063)
• United States
16 May
Wow, that is amazing. So happy you got to join that fascinating tour!!!
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (96084)
• United States
16 May
Looks like an interesting place to visit. Have a good day and a good week.
1 person likes this
@xFiacre (10590)
• Ireland
16 May
@judyev A good bit of history. Belfast’s old gaol is now a visitor attraction but I have no interest in visiting. I used to visit inmates in a professional capacity and it was a thoroughly miserable experience each time. Water seeped from the walls and the layout was designed to disorient.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (278971)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 May
It's pretty depressing and saddening really. I'm sure it would be incredibly worse if someone you were acquainted with was incarcerated there.
@Morleyhunt (21784)
• Canada
16 May
That’s quite an impressive building.
Locally I’ve done one Jail tour….it’s an old , now defunct jail used as a Bed and Breakfast. Very stark accommodation.
Somewhere I have some photos.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (69336)
• United States
18 May
Your bus trip sounds very interesting along with the history of prison, etc. I can't even begin to imagine how it must have felt to be a prisoner there let alone be part of the labor who had to build it.
