Australia 2020 - Day 19 - Perth and Freemantle

Monday

The thermometer hit 36 degrees in the shade today and it was unbearable in the sun so we spent the day looking for shade.

We started with a 75 minute ferry to Fremantle where we were treated to spectacular displays by windsurfers and dolphins.



Fremantle is 14 miles from the City of Perth and is situated on the Indian Ocean (the water was much warmer than in Tasmania). It is still a working cargo dock, with two ships in port today, it has a fishing fleet and was the place where convicts and child migrants would disembark after the 9 month journey from the UK.


The next stop was a tour around the prison, where conditions were primitive and tough. The original settlers in WA were struggling to establish in the harsh climate here and begged the British government to send some "good convicts", farmers, builders and laborers were required. The UK government were happy to oblige as their jails were bulging.




Frame used to strap prisoner too for the flogging with a cat o nine tails
A stop at Bathers beach bar for lunch and a foot scorching walk on the sand followed.


Nearby was the WA Shipwreck Museum which had the stern of the Dutch Ship Batavia which sank in 1629. It was discovered by divers in 1963 and eventually brought to the surface, preserved and housed in the museum.


For the return journey to Perth we took the train.

We revisited The Point for dinner but found the place deserted as it is closed Mondays and Tuesdays!
There are no other restaurants in the immediate vicinity but we were heading further up the river to view the impressive Matagarup Bridge which opened in July 2018 and cost $91 million.

We had a great meal at a waterside bar near here, even at 10.00 pm the temperature is still 32 degrees but much more pleasant than during the daytime. I will miss eating outdoors.



16,000 step, 7 miles

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