Rottnest Island
| Location | Rottnest Island, Western Australia |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | -32.0050, 115.5150 |
| Access | Public - island reached by ferry, accommodation and cycling; the Aboriginal Burial Ground is a place of mourning, not a sight - respect all signage and access restrictions |
Wadjemup, known to many visitors as Rottnest Island, is a place of deep cultural significance to Whadjuk Noongar people and Aboriginal communities across Western Australia. Its history stretches back tens of thousands of years, before rising sea levels separated it from the mainland. The island later became a prison for Aboriginal men and boys transported from across the state. Incarceration began in 1838 and continued, with changing institutional uses, until the last prisoner left in 1931.
The rest of this file is sealed. 3 more sections: what happened next, what people still report, and how to visit.
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