Rottnest / Perth

 Today was my last day on Rottnest and I had to say a sad goodbye to the quokkas. 

I visited the museum and aboriginal burial site. Rottnest is recognised as the largest aboriginal deaths in custody site in Australia. The Quod was used as a prison until 1903 and then converted into a hostel for holiday makers! Now it is undergoing restoration to recreate the prison as a museam and space for reflection.

After this I walked along the coast and stumbled across the Bickley Point Battery Walk. Rottnest was of strategic importance in WWII to defend the port of Freemantle. The walk along to the battery had lovely sea views and some good information signs. You could see where the guns were stationed and the observation huts. A lot of women from the Australian Womens Army Service were stationed here and remember being startled by quokkas when out on night patrols! 

In the afternoon I got the ferry back to Freemantle then up the Swan River again to Perth. A large stingray and a dolphin both came to the jetty to see me off. 

Tomorrow I pick up a hire car and so am happy that Australians very sensibly drive on the left. 

Aboriginal art at the museum 
The Quod being restored 
Beautiful colours. 
Kingston Barracks
A Battery Observation Point (BOP) with a view
Goodbye Quokkas ;(
Stingray by the jetty
On the Swan River
Elizabeth Quay at night. The carousel was made in Venice 


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