McCainiaks Down Under: Perth & Fremantle

Western Australia (Perth) was the number one destination on my list when I found out we were moving to Australia, well that and Coober Pedy. I still haven't made it to Coober Pedy, but I FINALLY made it to Western Australia. Ian and I took the long Memorial Day weekend and left the kids with a babysitter and met up friends in Fremantle (suburb of Perth).

We stayed in a very nice little bed and breakfast on the outskirts of Fremantle and spent the afternoon exploring the town and went up on the "Fremantle Eye" - a little strange to have the entire thing to ourselves, but amazing views.

Port of Fremantle overlooking the Indian Ocean

You think they like boats?

Ian arranged for the Torchlight Tour of Fremantle Prison (The Convict Establishment) for that evening. Was lots of fun, but I might've enjoyed it more if it hadn't been the ten 12 year old girls on the tour for a birthday party. In any event, I found it a fascinating place. So much so, before we left we arranged to go back first thing in the morning to take the Tunnels Tour. This required suiting up in overalls, gumboots, harnesses and helmets to climb 60 feet down a shaft into the tunnel system.

There is information here about why and how the tunnels were built (for water and by hand), but the primary takeaway for me was how completely miserable the life for the men would've been. One of the most amazing facts is that this prison was still operational until November of 1991. Not remarkable? OK, what about the fact that there was NO running water to the cells? EVER. The men had to use buckets for drinking water and...use your imagination. Hope they didn't get the wrong bucket in the middle of the night.

Gatehouse for the Prison

Waiting for our tunnels tour

Looking back down into the shaft

We survived!

Looking down into the prison yard at the solitary confinement house.

There were two other tours at Fremantle Prison and I would've been quite happy to spend the rest of our trip exploring the prison, but I allowed myself to be led away and fed lunch. :)