What is so special about Fremantle Prison?
It is the largest convict built structure in Western Australia and the most intact convict establishment in the nation. In 2010, Fremantle Prison became the first building in Western Australia to be included on the World Heritage list.
Has anyone escaped Fremantle Prison?
There were a multitude of attempted escapes from Fremantle Prison. Prominent escapees included Moondyne Joe in 1867, John Boyle O’Reilly in 1869 and six other Fenians in 1876, and Brenden Abbott in 1989.
How many people have died in Fremantle Prison?
During that time 43 men and 1 woman were hanged there. The last person to be hanged at the gallows in Fremantle Prison was Eric Edgar Cooke, in 1964….Executions listed by date.
| Name | Crime | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Fallows, Mervyn | Murder | 6/06/1961 |
| Robinson, Brian | Murder | 20/01/1964 |
| Cooke, Eric Edgar | Murder | 26/10/1964 |
Who built the Fremantle Prison?
convict labour
Fremantle Prison, originally known as the Convict Establishment, was built by convict labour between 1852 and 1859 from limestone quarried on site.
Did anyone escape the first fleet?
Some convicts actually did get away. For example, in December 1820, William Russell and William Atkins escaped from the Barracks, and left the colony in a boat. Also in December 1820, George Napier ran away from his government work gang without permission. He was still on the run in January the following year.
How could a convict get a ticket of leave?
During the early years of the settlement in Sydney, the government often gave convicts a ticket of leave if they were able to support themselves with work, or by growing food. Some convicts – such as those who had been wealthy gentlemen back in England – were given tickets of leave as soon as they arrived!
Who was the youngest person to be hung?
| Hannah Ocuish | |
|---|---|
| Died | December 20, 1786 (aged 12) New London, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Execution by hanging |
| Resting place | Ledyard Center Cemetery Ledyard, Connecticut, U.S. (Plot unknown) |
| Known for | Youngest person executed in United States history |
Why is Fremantle called Fremantle?
Fremantle, Western Australia. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. The city was laid out in 1829 and named for Captain Sir Charles Fremantle, a British naval officer who took possession of the area around the river mouth in order to prevent French or U.S. incursions there.
Why is Fremantle called Freo?
The Western Australian vernacular diminutive for Fremantle is Freo. Visited by Dutch explorers in the 1600s, Fremantle was the first area settled by the Swan River colonists in 1829, and is named after Captain Charles Fremantle, an English naval officer who claimed the west coast of New Holland as British territory.
Did WA have convicts?
The convict era of Western Australia was the period during which Western Australia was a penal colony of the British Empire. Between 1850 and 1868, 9,721 convicts were transported to Western Australia on 43 convict ship voyages.
How many female convicts were on the First Fleet?
The ships departed with an estimated 775 convicts (582 men and 193 women), as well as officers, marines, their wives and children, and provisions and agricultural implements.
How many fleets came to Australia?
11 ships
The First Fleet was a fleet of 11 ships that brought the first European and African settlers to Australia. It was made up of two Royal Navy vessels, three store ships and six convict transports….Convict transports.
| Ship | Charlotte |
|---|---|
| Crew | 30 |
| Marines | 32 |
| Arrived Botany Bay | 20 January 1788 |
| Duration (days) | 252 |
Why did they dig tunnels under Fremantle Prison?
Convicts were conscripted to dig tunnels under the prison to access an aquifer. It may be the only prison that actively encouraged prisoners to dig tunnels… This provided drinking water for the prison and later was expanded to supply the entire town with drinking water. Fremantle Prison was closed in 1991.
What is the size of Fremantle Prison?
Fremantle Prison was built on a land grant of about 36 acres (15 ha) from limestone quarried on-site. A 15-foot (4.6 m) tall boundary wall encloses the prison grounds, with a gatehouse in the centre of the western wall, facing The Terrace.
What is the history of the Fremantle Prison Hospital?
Built between 1857 and 1859, the hospital was a crucial component of Fremantle Prison. Public works during the convict era relied on convict labour, which could only be provided if the convicts were healthy.
What is the name of the prison in Western Australia?
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Fremantle Prison, sometimes referred to as Fremantle Gaol or Fremantle Jail, is a former Australian prison and World Heritage Site in Fremantle, Western Australia. The six-hectare (15-acre) site includes the prison cellblocks, gatehouse, perimeter walls, cottages, and tunnels.