The next morning my IFSA-Butler adviser, Vicki, called me and woke me up. After not sleeping the night before due to jet lag, I overslept and had to rush around to get ready. I decided to skip the makeup. Vicki picked me up from my hotel and took me to Fremantle to eat and visit a few famous sites.
The first place we visited was the South Fremantle Football Club and footy field.
After visiting the footy field and learning a little about Australian football, we visited the Fremantle Prison. It’s no longer in operation but serves as a tourist attraction, with daily tours of the facility.
What’s so remarkable about this place is that some the walls of the cells and walls outside of the facility have aboriginal drawings and paintings on them.
During it’s operation, the prisoners were not allowed to draw on their cell walls, but one prisoner was given special permission as it was seen to be therapeutic. He covered his entire room, floor to ceiling with paintings.
The other drawings and paintings were done in the last 12 months of the prison’s operation. It was allowed as a farewell gesture. Another feature of the prison was the on-site church.
The church had beautiful wood ceilings and the ten commandments hand painted on the wall.
This beautiful organ was (I believe if my memory serves me correct) made in the U.S. The prisoners were allowed to attend services at the church.
After visiting the prison, we walked around Fremantle a little longer and I was allowed to be a tourist and take random photos of buildings.
See the black swan near the top of the building?
The beautiful Esplanade Hotel
I also picked up some essentials while we were out, body wash, shampoo, etc. After a fun filled day, it was time for Vicki to take me to campus to settle in to my flat with my new flat mates. To be continued…
