We visit Fremantle Gaol
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325648)
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.
13 people like this
14 responses
@changjiangzhibin89 (16531)
• China
16 May 22
It was a worthwhile bus trip ! The gaol looks ghastly and bloodcurdling.
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137145)
• United States
16 May 22
And they actually let you and Vince leave after the tour? 
WOW!
WOW!1 person likes this
Whatever you had to do, I'm glad it worked. 
@sathviksouvik (17935)
•
17 May 22
great trip Judy. Your description of Perth was also lovely
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325648)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 May 22
Thanks. Sometimes you live in a place for a long time but don't investigate all it has to offer.
@oahuwriter (26780)
• United States
16 May 22
So now the old prison is a historical place?
1 person likes this
@oahuwriter (26780)
• United States
18 May 22
@JudyEv
Interesting. Glad you're having a nice time!
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (85265)
• Bangalore, India
16 May 22
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
@FourWalls (62086)
• United States
16 May 22
Wow, that is amazing. So happy you got to join that fascinating tour!!!
1 person likes this
@xFiacre (12593)
• Ireland
16 May 22
@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 (325648)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 May 22
It's pretty depressing and saddening really. I'm sure it would be incredibly worse if someone you were acquainted with was incarcerated there.
@Marilynda1225 (79674)
• United States
18 May 22
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.
@Morleyhunt (21737)
• Canada
16 May 22
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
@LindaOHio (155957)
• United States
16 May 22
Looks like an interesting place to visit. Have a good day and a good week.
1 person likes this
@JordanLader (4592)
• Sparta, Tennessee
16 May 22
It sounds like it was a nice trip :)
1 person likes this
