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FREMANTLE PRISON VISIT- it has closed dont worr. We weren't locked up!
Fremantle opened when we sent our convicts over due to lack of cells in 1850..this prison closed in 1991! Only 17 years ago when it closed there still wasn't any plumbing so buckets were used as bathroom facilities.
Fremantle could hold up to 500 prisoners, part of it was built by them whilst serving time using the limestone which they had to dig. It is the only surviving intact convict built prison in the world! On the tour you can see how cells were from 1850 through to 1991 and shockingly there is not much difference apart from bunk beds!We had access to cell block, yards, both churches..C of E and Catholic. We also saw death row and the gallows! it was very earie seeing the rope still hanging!
We also were ablt to go into the womens part of the prison. This closed in 70's, a very sexist time in history so they had it much worse than the men. The yards were much smaller with no shade when the temperatures could reach 50 degrees C. They were allowed 1 bath a week which was shared between 4 women as apposed to the men who had 3 showers a week.
We were able to do 2 tours during our time at the prison, "Doing Time' and 'The great escapes'. There were many attempts yet only 1 successful escape from fremantle and this was during a wroking session off prison grounds. Another guy was so determined that he timed the guards in the watch tower and used bucket handles linked together to throw over the wall. He undressed completely using his uniform to put over the razor wire whilt trying to climb up. He fell before reaching the top and fell breaking many bones and serving a longer sentance. Whats mad is that there are still remains of his uniform on the razor wire!
We really enjoyed our afternoon at the prison!
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