Rottnest island lies 19 km from Fremantle Port, 33 km from Perth, and 22 km from Hillarys Boat Harbour. This marine paradise has more than 60 stunning beaches for visitors to explore. It is full of wildlife, in the sea, in the sky and on land. Rottnest Island measures 11 km long by 4.5 km wide, and 19 km2 in area, with its highest point sitting just 45 m above sea level.
At one point in time, in fact, Rottnest (also known as Wadjemup) wasn’t even an island. It was connected to the mainland by a belt of sand dunes. Aboriginal artefacts found on the island suggest that it was inhabited by the Whadjuk Noongar people up until around 6,500 years ago. At this point, temperatures began to increase, causing the sea levels to rise. This disconnected the island from the rest of the mainland.
When the Noongar people first saw the seafaring explorers (and eventual colonisers) off the coast and along the Swan River, they believed them to be their ancestors who had returned in life-form as djanga (white spirits). However, the subsequent colonisation of Western Australia resulted in Wadjemup acquiring a different significance, one which still impacts Aboriginal people today.
For nearly a century, the island served first as a prison and then a forced labour camp for Aboriginal people. Almost 4,000 Aboriginal men and boys from all over Western Australia were exiled at the Rottnest Island Aboriginal Establishment from 1838 to 1931. These men and boys came from many different Aboriginal tribes across Western Australia, including Whadjuk Country.
As we had not eaten our breakfast, we bought some pastries from a Bakery in the settlement before our exploration of the island.
There are many ways to explore the island such as going on the many walking trails, cycling, segway, or going on a local tour. We decided to go on a tour that brought us to Oliver Hill by train. Details are in my next post.
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