Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
From 1838 it was used as a prison for Aboriginal men and boys from all around the
state. At least 3670 people were incarcerated here, in harsh conditions, with around 370
dying (at least five were hanged). Although there were no new prisoners after 1903 (by
which time holiday-makers from the mainland had already discovered the island), some
existing prisoners served their sentences until 1931. Even before the prison was built,
Wadjemup was considered a 'place of the spirits', and it's been rendered even more sacred
to indigenous people because of the hundreds of their people, including prominent resist-
ance leaders, who died there. Many avoid it to this day.
During WWI, approximately a thousand men of German or Austrian extraction were in-
carcerated here, their wives and children left to fend for themselves on the mainland. Iron-
ically most of the 'Austrians' were actually Croats who objected to Austro-Hungarian rule
of their homeland. Internment resumed during WWII, although at that time it was mainly
WA's Italian population who were imprisoned.
There's an ongoing push to return the island to its original name. One suggested com-
promise is to adopt a dual name, Wadjemup/Rottnest.
1
Sights
Most of Rottnest's historic buildings, built mainly by Aboriginal prisoners, are grouped
around Thomson Bay, where the ferry lands.
