Life for a prisoner from the wake-up call on Monday morning through to noon on Saturday was one of routine. Following a light breakfast, work commenced on the allocated tasks for the day.
These ranged from the mildly challenging responsibilities of conveying goods and passengers from ferries through to the settlement to the more mundane cutting and carting of firewood, quarrying of stone, removal of rubbish and supplying water to cater for the increasing visitor numbers. Collecting passengers off Wadjemup, n.d.
Rottnest Islands photographs; BA1266/1, 007177D, State Library of WAPrisoners with luggage and passengers between the jetty and the settlement, 1917.
304439PD, State Library of WA
In addition to this work time was allocated to maintaining farming and livestock operations to cater for the island needs with the excess sent to market on the mainland. For this work Aboriginal prisoners were not paid unlike their non-Aboriginal counterparts. Two Aboriginal men preparing sheep on Wadjemup, c. 1915.
Karl Lehmann collection; 1146, 4936352, National Library of Australia
At around noon lunch was provided and they continued to work around the island until late afternoon before returning to the depot for an evening meal. The prisoners were then assembled for a roll call prior to returning to their cells for the night.
Fremantle Gaol Nominal return showing prisoners and their alloted tasks for the week ending 15 May, 1915.
Cons752, Item 1920/0001 v2, State Records Office of WA
With the island becoming more of a tourist destination the prisoners provided the labour to develop the island under skilled supervision.
An Aboriginal prisoner working as a stockman with the sheep on Wadjemup, c.1915.
Karl Lehmann collection; 1146, 4938736, National Library of Australia
Prisoners, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal were called upon to fight the outbreaks of fire that raged upon the Island from one year to the next. In 1917 alone, there were seven such incidents. Of the two groupings of fire fighters the Aboriginal men appear to have been the most enthusiastic, often staying out well into the late evening to extinguish the embers. In most instances there was no difference in the reward provided, each of the participants being presented with a tin of meat or some free time on a Saturday morning to do as they pleased.
Cultural Acknowledgement
The Western Australian Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (DLGSC) acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of this State. We pay tribute to the Aboriginal Elders of the past, present and respect to all those who have contributed to this invaluable and emotionally driven project.
The DLGSC also recognises the significance of Aboriginal history and culture in contributing to our national identity and is committed to working with Aboriginal people to promote, educate and share this vision.
Disclaimer
This publication contains the names and images of deceased people. All readers are advised that the inclusion of words, terms or descriptions from historical records reflect the social attitudes of the time in which they were written and may be considered offensive today.
