Perth, AUS: Fremantle

Western Australia, in general, reminded us a bit of Arizona and southern Alberta, where Ben is from. We spend a good amount of time in the town of Fremantle.  It reminded us a little of Boulder--super hip, a bit hippy and artsy with great food.  Fremantle is definitely worth a visit even if you are spending your holiday down in Margaret River.

A yummy crepe vendor at the Fremantle Markets
They have markets on the weekend that are worth visiting.  They were established in 1897 and housed similarly to the Faneuil Hall Marketplace in Boston, though these are not as large.  

One of our favorite things about the trip was all the fresh local produce.  Singapore doesn't really grow anything of its own.  Our apples come clear from the US so they are exactly local.

This was the kids' favorite part of the markets.

The Round House, the oldest remaining building in Western Australia.  

The architecture in Fremantle was beautiful.  We could have spent a lot more time walking and driving around looking at all the charming buildings.

What's a visit to Australia without the didgeridoo?

We took a tour of the Fremantle Prison.  It was built as convict barracks in the 1850s and was used for locally sentenced prisoners starting in 1886.  The prison was in operation until 1991.  Fremantle Prison was notorious for the poor conditions.  Condemned as uninhabitable in the late 1800s, it remained occupied for another 100 years.  It was very interesting to tour though a little too real for me.  I felt eery and awkward as we toured the prison.  I kept thinking of how it was so recently used and of the prisoners who had been housed there.  I couldn't help but think that each prisoner started out as a perfect and innocent baby.  It was very sobering thinking of what may have led them to a life of crime and how many of them probably had dismal childhoods that were a factor.

A class of children on a field trip.  I can only imagine they went home vowing to be law-abiding citizens.

A courtyard

Artwork done by the prisoners.  Art therapy was used within the prison for education and rehabilitation.

Prison cells.  There was a riot in 1988 during which the prisoners lit the building on fire.  The whole roof had to be replaced.

One of two churches within the prison.  This is the Anglican church.

Prison Cell 1850-1860

Prison Cell 1980-1991