19/4/21 Nearly Freo

 

        Next stop in our journey is Woodman Point , just south of Fremantle . During the war years this area was used as an ammo depot and jetty , used for loading ammunition onto boats . The jetty is primarily used for fishing off now though . It has a beautiful beach either side , clear water , and is very popular over the weekend . Behind the sand dunes is a park area with Bbq's , tables , kiosk , playground and high grassed areas . Another feature we have enjoyed are the bike / walking tracks that head north to Fremantle and onwards , and also south toward Rockingham . We have ridden our bikes most days here and loved it .   Here's a panoramic of the jetty & beach , views are out toward Rottnest Island .

      Further down the track toward the point is this beach - it's beside a sand dredge that is permanently attached to the end of a small jetty and pumps water to Cockburn Cement Factory a few kilometres away.

     Going north now , this is Coogee Beach - pronounced Koo Gee , quite strange when you know how it's pronounced in Sydney , and has significantly less waves as well . As you can see there's a large netted swimming area .

     Another 200m north is a shipwreck of the Omeo , it was once a powered ship , but that's was changed and they added 4 masts and turned it into a sailing ship . It delivered freight up & down the coast , it was also involved with laying the first communication cables across Bass Strait from Victoria to Tasmania .

   There's a diving / snorkelling trail here , might be something for a slightly warmer day . There are some keen snorkellers out there in the photo .

       Next day the drone appeared and gave us a birds eye view . At the bottom of the photo on the left is the dredging plant - you can see how it clouds the water . The beach goes up to Coogee , you can see the ammo jetty beside the trees in the top right . Perth skyline is above the fair end of the beach .

      This view is back toward the cement plant , Cockburn Power Boat Club & boat ramps at the end of the beach , further around is a boat building factory - they do the huge passenger / vehicle catamarans and also navy / coast guard boats as well .

      This is the pointy part of Woodman Point , another popular fishing spot and due to the prevailing winds , a very popular kite surfing site .

    Another day we headed up to Fremantle to have a look at the prison - there are several different tours you can do there , and we were there just before one started . This is the main entrance to the prison .

     Inside the main gate is a reception area , visiting rooms and some management areas . This prison was still in use till 1991 , with a mix of maximum security , mens and womens sections . This internal gate leads into the main prison parade ground .

      This is the view of one side of the main prison building - 4 floors of prison cells , and to the far left the new wing used for women . The yard area was being used for some concerts , so there were lot's of tents , chairs etc .

      The tour headed out after showing us the reception area where the new prisoners arrived , describing the process in detail . Next was the kitchen area - this was the prime area for the prisoners to work in - they could snack as they cooked and always got a hot meal , not like the others in the furthest sections away from the kitchen . Prisoners had their meals in their cells - another way to avoid problems with prisoners being together in groups .                                                                                                                        The feeling of deprivation was gradually overtaking us as we were shown some of the cells on the ground floor , then into some exercise yards . This photo is in one exercise yard - interesting to note that the covered area in the right of photo wasn't there for a long time - can you imagine being in this yard in 45 degree heat with no shelter ! The wall on the other side was usually in a bit of shade and there were many fights about who would get the benefit of the shade . Rolls of razor wire line the tops of the walls .

 

     Razor wire is as it's described, razor sharp . If you were to try and go over it , it is designed to collapse under weight , so you fall into it and get cut up even more , and trapped in it .

    Back inside the first floor is netted off from the ground floor to stop prisoners from above jumping to their death , also to protect people below from things being thrown down from above - prison officers were instructed to always walk underneath the walkways above to avoid getting covered in the contents of waste buckets etc .

       There are many cells that have been set up to show what they were like in different times . The Older cells were 7 feet by 4 feet , and had a hammock , a chair & table and a bucket . In later years the cells were increased in size to double that !! In it's last years of use , the prisoners were allowed to decorate their cells with paintings on the walls - directly on the walls . Here's one of them 

      The bars , locks , gates & razor wire does have an impact on you - definitely don't want to lose my freedom !!

     We were shown the area where the executions took place , then the maximum security sections where the life sentences were , before coming into the new wing for a brief look . Back out into the parade ground and around to the womens cells where they had some of their misdemeanours listed - a colourful history for a few women were inmates here .                                                                                                  After an hour & a quarter we were back to the entry gate and we got to get away from the tour guide - he had his script and knew it well , but that's where it ended - it was a job , nothing more , and he didn't put any personality into it at all .                                                                                                                                 Back outside and the prison Governor's residence was beside the gate , surrounded by beautiful gardens . 

     Then there was the Prison doctors residence .

      Then we were done , back to the van for some lunch and to enjoy our freedom !!! 

Here's a map link :- https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1FC1thFD7SY5dcEcDY7-31lni4hJ8W_Ue&usp=sharing

 For those that have subscribed to this blog , Google is introducing changes to the subscription part that will take effect from the start of July - if you don't receive notification there's a new blog , you may have to go looking - I will attempt to do what is required to change it , but don't hold your breath on that one haha .