Adventurous Maite: Australia 3 (16-20 January 2011)

Pictures 16-20 January

16-1-2011 At home, in the backyard

Talking on the phone...

City Gate Apartments Perth, 45 Malcolm St

Pictures from the car... Today I'm going to visit the Fremantle Prison with a friend

Near Murray St

Into the car

The Barracks' Arch located on the corner of Malcolm and Elder Streets, at the western end of St Georges Terrace in Perth, Western Australia

More photos taken from the car

Taking the Kings Park, the city's premier green patch.

Kings Park is one of the world’s largest and most beautiful inner city parks. It's rich in Aboriginal and European history, contemporary culture and offers innovative design, displays and services. Kings Park has an international reputation for scientific research, leading horticulture, conservation and public education

Old Cannon at King's Park. This is the first Kings Park's war memorial: South Africa war memorial, previously known as the Fallen Solder’s Memorial

No visitor could ever leave the Kings Park without admiring the Perth skyline and noticing the war memorials

This is another war memorial statue. This one was dedicated in 1921 to the 'glorious dead' officers and men of the 10th Light Horse.
Erected to perpetuate the memory of Lieut Col T.J. Todd C.M.G., D.S.O. and Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and Troopers of the 10th Light Horse Regiment Who Fell in the Great War 1914 - 1919

Another picture of 10th Light Horse Memorial: "The Glorious Dead 10th Light Horse Regiment". There are several war memorials in Kings Park

Beautiful views of the skyscrapers and the magnificent Swan River

With panoramic views of the Swan River and Darling Range, this park is home to over 300 native plant varieties and 80 bird species

Skycrapers. Perth from Kings Park

The Bali memorial. It's dedicated in honour of the victims of the Bali terrorist attacks on 12 October 2002 and those individuals and institutions that provided help and care during the aftermath of the tragic event. To remember Western Australians who died, or were injured. It was officially dedicated on 12 October 2003.

The Memorial is nestled into the native landscape of Kings Park’s escarpment and embraces the site’s natural qualities. Here you can see the expanse of the Swan River to the city ...

Kings Park is a great spot for family cycling

Small Australian flag in Kings Park

This is the Queen Victoria statue. Kings Park and Botanic Garden has more memorials, statues and honour avenues than any other park in Australia

The Queen Victoria Statue was gifted to the city of Perth by Hackett and Allen Stoneham, local and London mining entrepreneur in 1902. It was a replica of another made for the Examination Hall of the Royal College of Surgeons, with the Queen’s robes given to the sculptor to copy the lace into the Carrara marble. The veil was also created in likeness of the Queen’s wedding veil. The memorial was unveiled in October, 1903

More spectacular views from Kings Park

Lastly we decided to climb the DNA Tower... Most staircases take you somewhere. Perth's double spiral DNA Tower, in a masterful stroke of geometric design, will take you back to the ground :-)

The tower is 15m high and has a total of 102 steps with 3 viewing platforms along the way to stop and catch your breath before you reach the 4th and final platform. There is no cost to climb the Tower, and no staff operating it.
Some pics taken from the DNA Tower

Here I'm on top of the DNA Tower

The top of the Tower is the highest point in Kings Park and boasts gorgeous views above the treetops. You can see across the treetops and view the full expanse of Kings Park and the meandering Swan River alongside it. On a very clear day you may see a beach or two in the distance, or even Rottnest Island

Being a double spiral staircase you can take a different path back to the ground. Small children soon work out it is possible to race your mates up the double spiral, so always be on the lookout for sprinters

The design is based on the double helix structure of a DNA molecule, hence its name. It was also inspired by the famous double staircase in a Chateau in Blois, France

Interesting!

This is another landmark of perth, the Clock Tower of the University of Western Australia

The beach

FREMANTLE PRISON (PERTH) 16-1-2011

Finally in Fremantle. Fremantle Prison The newly restored prison gatehouse in 2005

More pics of the prison entrance. The main gate

Getting into the Fremantle Prison. Some instructions before beginning the route

The biggest fact to remember when going on any of the Fremantle Prison Tours, is that this place closed in 1991. Considering the living conditions, the lifestyle of prisoners, lack of amenities compared to prisons today, this was not a good place to be condemned

Main Cell Block... The guided tour has started

Once inside, it's dominated by the main cell block.
These are the grounds where prisoners were only allowed when they were escorted to their cell after being processed in and escorted from their cell after serving their time. This area was much too nice for prisoners

The Fremantle Prison, together with its associated housing, is the most intact convict establishment complex in Australia. The original buildings are fine examples of the Royal Engineers' Georgian style which was modified to incorporate locally available materials

The gantries are where the guards hung out and the walls are painted white so that you can see an escapees at night

Photos inside the prison

Really impressive to see the conditions in which the prisoners lived...

Fremantle Prison Main Cell Block

Inside the main cell block. This was split into 4 sections, the badder you were, the further away from the kitchens was your cell. This is the ground floor with a suicide-net to catch the falling bodies. Not sure that all of the suicides were actually voluntary, though

The prison timetable

Looking up there is the suicide net. It kept prisoners from leaping to their death

One Division, for debtors, trials and remands, and juveniles (as young as 13 years old, and up to 25 years old)

Prisoners spent most of the day just hanging around here. The toilets are at the far end.

The roof was a late addition. Before that they were in what ever the weather threw at them

A more salubrious yard - even with those best-avoided toilets...

Where the guards stood to keep an eye on things...

The prisoners got to play in areas like this

Three Division for long sentenced and habitual prisoners

Two Division for short sentenced first offenders, petty thieves, drunkards, and vagrant

A piano at the chapel

The Altar of the Anglican Church

The Fremantle Prison was literally built by the convicts, for the convicts. As convicts started arriving to Australia in the 1800's, they began work on the Fremantle prison in 1852, finishing it in 1859. At that time they were subject to inhumane conditions, many of which would continue on until it closed in 1991

Inside the cells...

Some re-creations of typical XIX cell accommodations

This what prisoners would get to share with their cellmate in the 1980s

This charming fact of life in the Fremantle Prison is one simple thing that would eventually be its downfall. This is what an original 1850s cell looked like

A more 'modern' cell. This one had it's own exercise yard - not because the prisoner was higher up the pecking order. On the contrary - these were the guys who had to be kept seperate from everybody else

Punishment time in Fremantle Prison went far beyond making people crap in buckets. They were flogged as well. The good old days when flogging was the norm, many a man has been flogged right in this place, with the last flogging happening in 1943

Toilets

The gallows, last used in 1964

As the only legal place of capital punishment in Western Australia, the Gallows were the last place many convicts saw. Forty four convicts were hung here, including one female

That wall sits on top of a limestone hill that convicts had to dig out to make the yard that you see in the foreground of this picture

Visiting the convict labour prisons is a great way to see what Australia was built on: the backs of criminals from Britain. Fremantle Prison is quite atmospheric and has a long and interesting history. It’s one of the most haunted sites in Australia.

In the late 1980's during the heat of the Australian summer, the prisoners began what would eventually lead to the end of the Fremantle Prison. On November 8, 1988 a riot happened which caused a fire inside the main block and a section of the original wooden ceiling caved in. When the riots made the news it also highlighted the inhumane conditions of the Fremantle Prison and only two years later, all the inmates were transferred to the newer maximum security prison. From that day, nothing inside the prison has changed, and it remains an important piece of Australian national history.

There is a gift shop where you can find a lot of things (books, postcards, clothes, toys, jewellery, bags, accessories, etc.). I bought some postcards and a gold plated souvenir coin

After the interesting visit to the Fremantle Prison we went to the city of Fremantle.

Looking east along High Street, one of many streets in downtown Fremantle with well-preserved 19th century architecture

The town hall features Fremantle's symbol, the Black Swan

Did you notice the “black bird” insignia located below the clock? That insignia represents the Black Swan, which is inhabits the length of Swan River. Black swans are quite important to Western Australians that's why they are well protected. They are even present in the flag and coat of arms of Western Australia

There are other places in Fremantle City that are worth the visit. One of that place is the Fremantle Markets. Located in the middle of Fremantle City is the newly restored Fremantle Town Hall. The building is a good background for photos

Street musicians next to the Frematle markets

Fremantle Markets was opened on 1897 during the height of Western Australia gold rush. It has over 150 shops that sell vegetables, meats, fish, groceries and other items. Fremantle Markets is the best place to buy souvenirs

I'm looking for something for my souvenirs's collection

Also available oven fresh pretzels

More pictures while we're waiting for the second pretzel

Time to eat them!

Another pic before eating

Art in the street

Let's eat!

Beautiful old buildings in the City of Fremantle

Eating while sitting on the bench

Boag's Draught, a brewery in Fremantle

Another local in Fremantle: Cafe Delice. Store cupcakes

Bye bye Fremantle! Going back the Perth city...

A stopover before going home... Another good place to grab a snack or drink something

Also the TV to watch the cricket match

Relaxed air, perfect atmosphere, beautiful landscapes...

Sunset in Perth

Long tunnel

Ending the day... Again at home in Hamersley

Crazy for souvenirs... In Fremantle are cheaper xD

Amazing clock that I bought in Fremantle :-)

17-1-2011 In the classroom. Homework guys!

My Australian mobile that I can only use here (in Australia)

18-1-2011

At the Coffee bar of Eurocentres with two friends from Brazil and Colombia

At the computer room in Eurocentres. Sometimes we did school activities there (for example our Australian CV)

Parking adjacent to the school. Photos taken from the computer room

Going to the sport complex near Hamersley. This is the indoor swimming pool

19-1-2011 Walking with friends after classes

The central business district in Perth

Healthy diet xD. Getting fatter! That's terrible!

Miss Maud Swedish Hotel, 97 Murray St

Government Printing Office

Woolworths is located at 166 Murray St

Underground entrance

20-1-2011

Aussie souvenirs :-)

Stamps

Fridge magnet

Postcards

Book about koalas, my favourite animal <3

City centre

THE DEVIL DOLL. Chucky, he wants you for a best friend xD

Today I'm going to the cinema with my friend Helena.
Piccadilly Cinema Centre in 700-704 Hay Street...

Before the movie

Interior of Piccadilly Cinema

In the photo: Hay Street Mall entrance to Piccadilly Arcade

Back side on the left-hand: Piccadilly Cinema Ticket Box

Wesley Church at 75 William Street at its intersection with Hay Street

Tonight party with classmates

Living the nightlife in Perth. We used to go to The Mustang Bar (46 Lake St) every week. It's an American style sports bar with US diner menu, music gigs, local and imported beers