Spend time in Fremantle Prison
Australia’s convict history is well known but did you also know that capital punishment was still in effect in Western Australia as recently as 1984? On a recent trip to Perth I thought I would investigate with a trip to Fremantle Prison. As first impressions go, Fremantle Prison does not disappoint. The striking gatehouse and perimeter walls, despite being built of what turned out to be rapidly deteriorating limestone (oops), give an impressively solid appearance. Those convicts who thought the journey from Britain was harsh had another thing coming. When they arrived in the blistering heat of the Swan River Colony (now Perth) in 1850 the first thing the prisoners…
Australia’s Wild Wild West
Do you love old Westerns? Or maybe you find the idea of having a go at gold-prospecting exciting? Either way, you will love a trip to Kalgoorlie, in Western Australia. During the Australian gold rush (sparked in 1893) Kalgoorlie developed rapidly and soon became Australia’s third largest town. Its status is nowadays diminished somewhat, but the wealth with which the town was built is still evident in the now aged but still grand buildings. The architecture is splendid and quite unique to the town. Walking along Hannan Street is like walking onto a Wild West movie set, if you can ignore the traffic and mobile phone shops that is. Here…
Places to visit around Perth
Perth is on the opposite side of Australia from most of the action and was referred to by Bill Byron as ‘the most remote city on earth’. What should you make of that? I found Perth to be a lively, laid-back place with a sunny and dry climate, without the humidity suffered in some other parts of Australia. These are the things I think you really shouldn’t miss. Cottesloe Only an easy 15 minutes drive from Perth, Cottesloe is a lovely beachside suburb. The beach here (pictured above) is amazing with great facilities including changing rooms and some foodstalls. There is a grassy bank with a few shade-providing trees behind…
