Wadjemup holds special significance to Aboriginal communities across the State, due to its use as an Aboriginal prison and the Aboriginal prisoners that are buried there.
A project is currently underway to appropriately recognise the Quod and the Burial Ground , as well as other sites connected to the Aboriginal prison era, and determine a future use for them in consultation with the WA Aboriginal community. From ferries carried tourists to Rottnest Island on Sundays. During these times visitors and prisoners were kept well apart. The first public jetty was built in to the south of Thomson Bay Settlement, where the former Army Jetty stood. Until then passengers and cargo were brought ashore by a lighter.
A tram track was laid from the Jetty to Thomson Bay Settlement and horse drawn trams were used to carry visitors and goods. The trams were later replaced by motor vehicles in and most of the tracks were removed and relocated to the Perth Zoo. Some small portions of the track still remain. In a scheme for transforming Rottnest Island from a penal settlement to a recreation and holiday Island were drawn up by the Colonial Secretary's Department.
As part of this scheme the Bickley area began to be modestly developed for public recreation. Timber and hessian camps, a store and a recreational hall were built overlooking Bickley Bay in the vicinity of where Kingstown Barracks stands today. A number of houses in the Thomson Bay Settlement were also made available for use, and the opening season was The Bickley camps were closed in , and in it was proposed to shift the camp reserve to the Bathurst side of the Settlement.
Thirty weatherboard camps were subsequently rebuilt at the Bathurst end of Thomson Bay. More improvements were planned in A large tearoom and store were erected near the main jetty and wooden bungalows were also constructed close by and on the north side of the jetty. It features interviews with lots of familiar faces and recaps the history of surfing on our favourite Island.
Discover more history along the Wadjemup Bidi , a 45km network of stunning walk trails Rottnest Island has played a military role in both World War I and World War II and has also had post-war training functions, which are described below. With the start of World War I the Department of Defence commandeered the Island for use as an internment and Prisoner of War camp from to the end of In September , the camp held persons, including Austrian and German internees and Prisoners of War.
Recreational and holiday pursuits were re-established in December In response to increasing global tensions in the s, the Australian government developed a three-year Defence Development Program that it commenced in In the Plan, Rottnest Island was identified as being critical to the defence of Fremantle as guns there could engage hostile ships well before they approached the range that would allow bombardment of Fremantle Port.
In the Western Australian Premier officially informed the Rottnest Island Board of Control of the Commonwealth's intentions for a defence program on Rottnest Island and in it purchased land at Bickley for this purpose and construction began later that year.
Also constructed by the military at this time were six searchlight emplacements, magazine shell stores, powerhouse, directing station and a railway from the jetty to the 9. Improvements to the jetty were also undertaken. When the Barracks was completed in September Rottnest Island was declared a permanent station for troops. In June the Island was declared a prohibited area and all recreational activity ended.
The declaration was intended to last for three months, but continued for five years until June During the war period, administrative fire command staff and a coastal artillery gunnery school occupied Rottnest Island. The guns were manned 24 hours a day. In the mids, the focus of threat moved to Northern Australia, so the fixed defences at Rottnest Island were reduced.
The 9. The period of intensive military activity on Rottnest Island ended with the guns never being fired at the enemy. After the war, all military units were disbanded and the guns placed in long term storage.
By April all Thomson Bay buildings had been vacated by the military with the exception of the bakehouse and garage. Approximately Italian internees were sent to the Island for four months to carry out repairs and renovations. In June , the prohibition order on Rottnest Island was lifted but until October only people travelling on commercial vessels could visit the Island. Dismantling of the battery was finalised in March An artillery maintenance detachment remained on the Island until In , the Army decided that further use for Kingstown Barracks was no longer necessary.
This changed in early when it was determined the Barracks would continue to be used for training purposes. Training at Kingstown Barracks recommenced in May In it was determined that the use of coastal artillery in the defence of ports was out-moded and coastal artillery guns and ammunitions around the nation were declared for disposal. In , the Army returned most of its land holdings on Rottnest Island to the Western Australian Government, retaining Kingstown Barracks, the Bickley area and easements necessary to connect water to the Barracks.
The Army's use of Kingstown Barracks declined gradually from the s to the s and then sharply from , to the point in where it was utilised for only 43 days in the year. In the Army and the Rottnest Island Board of Control began negotiations for the Board to purchase the remaining Army land and buildings including Kingstown Barracks.
This was formalised in an official closing ceremony in December To gain a further understanding about the military history on Rottnest Island, click on the following links to view the videos available on YouTube:. Discover these historic sites around Rottnest and find out about the island's rich military, marine and cultural history. Featuring 83 eco-tents, Discovery Rottnest Island appeals to experience-seekers who appreciate being close to nature, but with all the creature comforts of a hotel or resort.
At Rottnest, there is always much to do and plenty of time and space to do nothing but relax. Check out our top tips for exploring Rotto.
The property has been designed to complement the idyllic coastal setting, strengthen the precious sand dunes and provide improved beach access.
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Discovery Rottnest Island Reimagine Camping. It has been known by many names and used for different purposes. Rottnest Island features in Noongar Aboriginal mythology as Wadjemup, meaning "place across the water where the spirits are". After separating from the mainland, the island remained uninhabited until 13 Dutch sailors from the Waeckende Boey landed near Bathurst Point on the 19 March This marked the beginning of the European exploration and settlement on the island.
In , Dutch captain Willem de Vlamingh spent 6 days exploring the island before giving it the name 't Eylandt 't Rottenest "Rats' Nest Island" after the quokkas which he mistook for giant rats. In his reports, Willem described Rottnest island as " A couple hundred years later, William Clarke and Robert Thomson received land grants from the British Swan River Colony for pasture land and town lots to be built on the island.
Pasture land for hay production was developed west of Herschel Lake, while several salt lakes were harvested and the salt was exported to the mainland.
Today, you can wander through the main settlement and be transported back through time as you stroll past early colonial cottages, including the salt stores.
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