Roebourne Prison inmates – for crimes like ‘absconding’ from ‘blackbirding’ – slavery. Those who resisted strongly were sent to Wadjemup (Rottnest Island) and Fremantle Prison – most never to return. The word they used for policeman was “Marndamarangga” and means “chainhand” and is still used today.
https://thestringer.com.au/the-killing-times-2214
https://nationalunitygovernment.org/content/prisoners-frontier-wars-blackbirding-chain-gangs
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I took a tour of Freemantle prison a few years ago and it was eerie. The art painted by the prisoners is amazing. Hard to believe it closed in just 1991.
The article on The Stringer is from 2013. Interesting to read the perspective from before Cook was the premier of the state.
