An exhibition examining the confronting history of the
incarceration of Aboriginal people in WA opens today at
Fremantle Prison. Historic photographs show inmates at Fremantle
Prison, Rottnest Island and Roebourne Gaol, as well as children
incarcerated at the Moore River and Carrolup native camps. There
are also artworks by Aboriginal artists created while they were
at Fremantle Prison, neck irons from Roebourne Old Gaol and
rules from the Rottnest Gaol. Aboriginals were sent to Fremantle
Prison as early as 1856. From the 1950s until 1991 between 30
and 40 per cent of prisoners in the jail were of Aboriginal
descent. Fremantle Prison also ran the infamous Rottnest Gaol
and about 3700 Aboriginal prisoners were sent to the island. The
Wadjemup (Rottnest) to Walyalup (Fremantle) exhibition is at the
prison gallery until July. Entry is free. 'The West Australian'
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