Day 55: Sun 12 May 24 - Rockingham - @KJ's ( Fremantle - Mothers Day)

Sun 12 May 24 - Rockingham - @KJ's ( Fremantle)

15 Deg C, cloudy and light winds, reaching 24 Deg C, and strong winds reaching 65km/h late in the afternoon. 

This morning was a slow start, but after getting ourselves organised, we climbed in the car and drove back to Fremantle. Arriving at 10:00am, we parked and had a quick walk through the Fremantle Markets where it was already quite busy, before turning our attention to food and coffee. Being Mother's Day, all the cafes and restaurants were very busy, but we found a cafe  (Bennys) on Market Street, which had a couple of spare tables. Unfortunately, we chose to sit outside thinking it might be quieter, but we underestimated the noise from passing traffic and pedestrians. Our breakfast took a long time to produce too, but it was nice and ended being worth the wait. After breakfast, I left Noel to wander through the markets and have some time to herself, while I walked through the old town and up to the War Memorial located on Monument Hill. From here I walked back down to the heritage listed Fremantle Prison, arriving just in time at 1230 for a 75 minute 'Behind the Bars' Tour. It was a very interesting and well-delivered tour,  which provided a great insight to the Prison’s history as a maximum security gaol from 1887 to 1991. Taken through the Main Cell Block and exercise yards we learned about the daily routine of prisoners and the realities of life on the inside. Read more about the prison history here: Fremantle Prison

At about 2:00pm we returned to Rockingham, both feeling tired. We had a short rest and did a few chores, before Nick and Christene came to visit for sundowners, complete with a lovely platter of nibbles. We sat out the back of KJ's house on the deck enjoying a chat and a couple of drinks before the wind and rain forced us indoors to the lounge room. Nick and Christene have been so lovely, and continue to offer any help they can while we are here. After they returned home, we had a very light dinner in the van then settled in for the evening (before I noticed the fridge not working again. A quick wire wriggle had it going again in no time).

PS: Regarding the Fridge issue, old mate the Mobile RV Repairman who came to inspect the fridge on Friday sent me a message yesterday while we were on Rottnest to say he would return on Monday and replace a part, but I'm not convinced will fix the issue anyway. When asked how much, he said $300 for picking it up and installing it, plus cost of the part. I responded with 'thanks for your time - but no thanks', I will take a chance on it until I can have it inspected elsewhere, when we can move again, hopefully by someone better qualified. Tomorrow I will visit a few caravan service and repair centres to make some enquiries about it.  

Fremantle - A Quant Building

Couldn't get into this popular place for breakfast - so it was Benny's across the road, almost as busy (like the rest of Fremantle)

The National Hotel on the corner of High and Market Streets was originally built as a shop in 1868, then occupied by the National Bank in the early 1880s, becoming the National Hotel in1886.

Wesley Uniting Church

Market St Fremantle

Fremantle Post Office on Market St, built in 1906-1907.

Fremantle Post Office on Market St, built in 1906-1907

St Patrick's Basilica on Adelaide St Fremantle

St Patrick's Basilica on Adelaide St Fremantle

Lovely Terrace Homes


The Fremantle War Memorial located on Monument Hill on an 11-acre public reserve with fabulous views across the city. The memorial itself comprises a large obelisk, the Fallen Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial, surrounded by eight smaller memorials.

The Fremantle War Memorial 

The Fremantle War Memorial - memorial honouring merchant mariners who lost their lives in all conflicts

The Fremantle War Memorial

Fremantle Prison

Fremantle Prison

Fremantle Prison

Fremantle Prison

Fremantle Prison

Fremantle Prison

Fremantle Prison - Working in the kitchen was highly sought after due to the many privileges

Fremantle Prison

Fremantle Prison

Fremantle Prison

Fremantle Prison - Exercise Yard

Fremantle Prison -  A safe place for the one warden within the exercise yard if threatened 

Fremantle Prison - Exercise Yard ablutions

Fremantle Prison

Fremantle Prison

Fremantle Prison

A typicl single cell in the convict establishment (1852-1860). 1.2m x 2.1m in size

Fremantle Prison - Walls of this cell were painted between 1988-1991. Inmates were not allwed to deface their cell walls,  but this prisoner  was given special permission for 'therapeutic reasons'.

Fremantle Prison - Cell walls, doors and exercise yard walls are covered with works of art painted by prisoners over the 136 years of the Prison’s history.

Fremantle Prison - Seperate tours are now run for the public to view convict / prisoner drawn frescoes and religious works, European landscapes, Aboriginal landscapes in the renowned Carrolup style (dot paintings), graffiti and tattoo art in the prison.

Fremantle Prison

Leaving Fremantle Prison - A wonderful experience

Fremantle - Entrance to Fremantle Oval. The statue commemorates AFL player, John Gerovich, depicting his famous mark over Ray French in the 1956 preliminary final.

Fremantle - Lovely old heritage buildings converted into popular contemporary eateries 

 

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