Fremantle Prison Collection

1851

First used in 1852, at the temporary establishment for convicts in Essex St, on the Fremantle beachfront, this communion set is a physical reminder of the importance of religion in the early Convict Establishment.

Fremantle Prison Collection

1862

The inmates at the Convict Establishment lived their lives according to a strict set of rules. This 129 page book, printed in the Establishment’s print shop in 1862, laid out the regulations that a convict was to abide by.

Fremantle Prison Collection

1850s-1880s

Shackles, also referred to as irons, were used as a tool of punishment during the convict period in Western Australia.

Fremantle Prison Collection

1820s

Padlocks are emblematic of the prison system. This padlock pre-dates the construction of Fremantle Prison by at least 25 years. The stamp of ' BY APPOINTMENT TO / H.M THE KING', indicates it was produced before Queen Victoria became queen in 1837. The serial number F5437 indicates it was made during Chubb’s earlier operations when their works were located at Temple Street, Wolverhampton.

Fremantle Prison Collection

1865

Only six pieces of convict clothing survive in Western Australia, of which four belong to the Fremantle Prison Collection. This small size, unused jacket is marked with the convict broad-arrow and the stamp 'R T TAIT & COY/ C&M / 1865 / LONDON'.

Fremantle Prison Collection

1850s-1880s

Ordinary prisoners, ticket-of-leave men and men on special punishment, such as hard labour, wore different uniforms. The parti-coloured jacket and waistcoat in the Fremantle Prison Collection are examples of the uniform issued to convicts sentenced to hard labour, or those on work gangs outside the Prison.

Fremantle Prison Collection

1850s-1880s

It was not uncommon for prisoners at the Convict Establishment to be sentenced to flogging, with the maximum of 100 lashes for breaches of discipline. The most serious offence, for which this type of punishment could be inflicted, was attempting to escape from legal custody.

Fremantle Prison Collection

1850s-1880s

To prevent chafing from shackles, convicts often wore a strip of leather or padding sewn together from corduroy, leather and canvas, between the skin and the iron.

Fremantle Prison Collection

1800s-1850s

These weights used to measure rations or postage are stamped with the broad arrow symbol and ‘B O’, which stands for ‘British Ordinance’. This latter mark means the weights were made prior to 1855.

Fremantle Prison Collection

1854

Each convict who entered the Establishment received his own personal Bible. Three of these personal bibles are retained in the Fremantle Prison Collection. They are 1854 editions of the New Testament Bible, printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode of 189 Fleet Street, London.

Fremantle Prison Collection

1854

Each convict who entered the Establishment received his own personal Bible. Three of these personal bibles are retained in the Fremantle Prison Collection. They are 1854 editions of the New Testament Bible, printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode of 189 Fleet Street, London.