Geraldton to Perth/Fremantle
While in Geraldton we visited the Geraldton Museum. It was one of the most interesting museums we have been to.
There was an area dedicated to recovered relics from shipwrecks. There was a case full of silver coins that had all been found around the same area and was known to divers as the silver carpet.
We learnt a lot about the HMAS Sydney and the Batavia.
We took the coastal road down all the way too Lancelin before realising we needed to find somewhere to camp. So we headed east where we knew we would find a rest area on the Brand Hwy.
We camped in a rest area 10kms north of Gingin on the Brand Hwy. We gathered some firewood and had a nice campfire for the night. The next morning we were up early to make a run into the city, Perth that is. We booked in at Discovery Parks Caravan Park at Forrestfield. We made it to Forrestfield where we ditched the camper trailer and headed for Fremantle. We wandered Fremantle markets, feeling more like pinballs getting bumped around then people. We did get some nice food and saw some cool things but all in all it was just a bit too busy for us.
We then headed to the old Fremantle Gaol (Jail for all the foreigners). We did the "Doing Time" Tour and it was fantastic. We saw all the interesting bits of the prison and leant lots from its convict past in the 19th century right up to its closure in the 1990s. We were both amazed that the building was still in use up until that point. Nearly no plumbing, external electrical wiring. No toilets in cells, just a bucket...
... on that note - For dinner we wandered the Italian Food Festival at Fremantle. It had a little bit for everyone, lots of Italian food obviously but one of us (I will let you guess which one) was a bit more interested in the Ferrari's on display.
This painting was not done in the final year, it was allowed because it was considered therapeutic for this violent inmate. Must of been too dangerous to even be trusted with paper or canvas.
Monday morning we again ventured into Fremantle. This time to check out the museums. First it was the Maritime Museum of WA. We were really looking forward to this after being so pleasantly surprised at how much we enjoyed the Geraldton Museum about the maritime history. Unfortunately we were both disappointed with the Maritime Museum. From paying $20 each to get in (including extra to view the Pompeii exhibit) we just thought it was not worth it. There was a few interesting bits and pieces, the Pompeii exhibit wasn't as interesting as we thought it was going to be, Jacinta having been to Pompeii and seeing the real thing that is probably understandable.
After wasting $40 at the Maritime Museum we decided we would go to the Shipwreck Museum just to see how much the entry fee was. To our amazement it was FREE! We were both shocked, the first time something in southern WA that they didn't charge an arm and a leg for! okay, it was suggested that a $5 donation be made but after having sold vital organs to fund the Maritime Museum entry we skimped out. The Shipwreck Museum was awesome though. Looking back now I feel bad for not having made a donation because we enjoyed it so much. Learnt some more about the Batavia shipwreck, mutiny, murders and marooning, as well as the Dutch East India Companies operations in the 17th century. They actually have a section of the Batavia wreck on display, cannon ports and the rudder can easily be made out. Really makes you want to go exploring on the Abrolhos Islands for all the gruesome evidence of an incredible piece of Australian history, or should I say New Holland history.
There was an area dedicated to recovered relics from shipwrecks. There was a case full of silver coins that had all been found around the same area and was known to divers as the silver carpet.
We learnt a lot about the HMAS Sydney and the Batavia.
We took the coastal road down all the way too Lancelin before realising we needed to find somewhere to camp. So we headed east where we knew we would find a rest area on the Brand Hwy.
We camped in a rest area 10kms north of Gingin on the Brand Hwy. We gathered some firewood and had a nice campfire for the night. The next morning we were up early to make a run into the city, Perth that is. We booked in at Discovery Parks Caravan Park at Forrestfield. We made it to Forrestfield where we ditched the camper trailer and headed for Fremantle. We wandered Fremantle markets, feeling more like pinballs getting bumped around then people. We did get some nice food and saw some cool things but all in all it was just a bit too busy for us.
We then headed to the old Fremantle Gaol (Jail for all the foreigners). We did the "Doing Time" Tour and it was fantastic. We saw all the interesting bits of the prison and leant lots from its convict past in the 19th century right up to its closure in the 1990s. We were both amazed that the building was still in use up until that point. Nearly no plumbing, external electrical wiring. No toilets in cells, just a bucket...
... on that note - For dinner we wandered the Italian Food Festival at Fremantle. It had a little bit for everyone, lots of Italian food obviously but one of us (I will let you guess which one) was a bit more interested in the Ferrari's on display.
Inside one of the cell blocks in Old Fremantle Gaol. Note the suicide net. It was an addition in the later years. It was designed buy some ship builders from England, not difficult to tell.
A painting done by an Aboriginal inmate, "defacing" of cells was banned and punishable up until the final year of the prisons service when extra privileges were granted.
The courtyard outside solitary confinement.
A fully furnished solitary confinement cell. This is actually one of the bigger ones, I think this might be the one they put you in before you get hanged.
Monday morning we again ventured into Fremantle. This time to check out the museums. First it was the Maritime Museum of WA. We were really looking forward to this after being so pleasantly surprised at how much we enjoyed the Geraldton Museum about the maritime history. Unfortunately we were both disappointed with the Maritime Museum. From paying $20 each to get in (including extra to view the Pompeii exhibit) we just thought it was not worth it. There was a few interesting bits and pieces, the Pompeii exhibit wasn't as interesting as we thought it was going to be, Jacinta having been to Pompeii and seeing the real thing that is probably understandable.
After wasting $40 at the Maritime Museum we decided we would go to the Shipwreck Museum just to see how much the entry fee was. To our amazement it was FREE! We were both shocked, the first time something in southern WA that they didn't charge an arm and a leg for! okay, it was suggested that a $5 donation be made but after having sold vital organs to fund the Maritime Museum entry we skimped out. The Shipwreck Museum was awesome though. Looking back now I feel bad for not having made a donation because we enjoyed it so much. Learnt some more about the Batavia shipwreck, mutiny, murders and marooning, as well as the Dutch East India Companies operations in the 17th century. They actually have a section of the Batavia wreck on display, cannon ports and the rudder can easily be made out. Really makes you want to go exploring on the Abrolhos Islands for all the gruesome evidence of an incredible piece of Australian history, or should I say New Holland history.
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