In need of a break from kitchen 'stuff' yesterday we drove down to
Fremantle for lunch..if you love old buildings with history Fremantle is a must visit. The
Round House above is the oldest remaining building in WA, built in 1830/31 with private labour as it was built before convicts arrived on these wild shores. Designed using the
Panopticon Principle with only eight cells it soon became inadequate and the
Fremantle Prison (that's a whole new post) was built in the 1850's using convict labour. Below an archive image c1874 looking up from High St. and right, the same view c2013 yesterday :)
The Whalers Tunnel below, the first engineered tunnel built in WA, was constructed under The Round House in 1837 by the Fremantle Whaling Co. as a way to move goods between Bathers Beach and the town..the tunnel was used as an air raid shelter during WWII and a 'secret' side tunnel was built leading up to Gunners' Cottage.. Below left looking out to High St. and right out to Bathers Beach.....
It took the convicts five months using pick axes to carve the 64 metre long tunnel through the limestone of Arthur's Head..and I'm very happy to say that it is the only structure remaining that has any connection to the whaling days! We did come across the weirdest thing half way through the tunnel.. a piano, and it worked! Odd much n'est pas :) Happy Thursday, take care.....
Fascinating history and terrific captures, Grace! I sometimes forget that Australia is younger than the US! Looks as though you had a fun day and a great chance to get away from the "kitchen"!! We all have times when we need one of those "get away" days! Hope you have another one soon!!!
ReplyDeleteWhen I think of Perth I think of everything being pristine new. You often share a bit of the area that has some history...good example here. Like all the angles you selected. Happy painting!
ReplyDeleteMy sons called this morning around 8:30AM. They're in PERTH!!! They just arrived today and are meeting up with a GF of my younger son who flies in from NZ tomorrow. They have a big Toyota SUV, similar to the Land Cruiser in the U.S., in which they travel & sleep...live. They are looking forward to seeing the city and have some friends who live there with whom they may spend a few nights. They expect to head to the Broomes (sp?) next which sounds quite far although I never try to figure out miles from kms. They are livin' the dream right now.
ReplyDeleteWonderful diversion!!! Keep in mind that every day you're that much closer to the finished product!!! It will be done!!!
ReplyDeleteI love that you came across a random piano in the midst of all that - what a cool story, history and structure! Five months using pickaxes? Thank goodness our technology (some of it) has advanced since then, eh? Love the last 3 photos.
ReplyDeletewow - what a diversion! I had to re-read - I though these were vacation pictures!
ReplyDeleteWe missed that tunnel back then completedly! But we will be back soon :-) The piano... how awesome! And so great there is no vandalism!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your kitchen, Grace, bet it´ll be worth the wait and you´ll enjoy it heaps, non? :-)
I have busted through rock like that with a pick and steel bar, it ain't fun! I was only sinking fence posts but that was enough. They sure went to a lot of trouble or put the convicts to a lot of trouble, probably wouldn't have been done if someone had to do it themselves. Thanks for the tour.
ReplyDeleteIn '11, we took the train to Fremantle and spent a marvellous day there - fascinating history and I'll be sure to return another day!
ReplyDeleteI love WA Old and NEW!
ReplyDeleteALOHA from Honolulu
Comfort Spiral
=^..^=
Stunning, original and full of history.
ReplyDeleteHugs and kisses.
Do you have many of those walking tunnels there? They are very uncommon in the western US, I guess because things are rather flat here.
ReplyDelete¸.•°♡♡♫° ·.
ReplyDeletePassei para uma visita.
Gostei das fotos, muito interessante a parte histórica.
Boa continuação da semana!
Beijinhos.
Brasil.
¸.•°♡♡♫° ·.
Very impressive, Grace. The sort of place I'd love to see!
ReplyDeleteThanks for reminding me about these. I really enjoyed visiting Fremantle.
ReplyDeleteYou find the most interesting things, Grace. We often talk as if life is hard today, but, man, it was pretty tough for many in the bad old days.
ReplyDeleteWow, that place is awesome.
ReplyDeleteFascinating history. Ironic that the prison was made with convict labor.
ReplyDeleteThere is an old railroad trip in Arizona for tourists now, but it was originally built to service the mines. There is a tunnel that they say was dug by pick axe by some Swedish men they brought over. The tour narrators says that the reason they dug the tunnel so fast was that they told the workers that on the other side of the mountain they had a group of Swedish women waiting for them.
Wonderful pictures there young lady! Super stuff!
ReplyDeleteLets have more, with or without a piano!
I just love that first photo!
ReplyDeleteWonderful place and you prepared a great article!
ReplyDeleteI also love your first composition!
Léia
Goodness, 5 months with pick axex, poor things... I love Fremantle, there are so many interesting things to discover.
ReplyDeletewhat an interesting post! i really enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteI love learning this bit of history and the great photos to go with it. It does sound like a strange place for a piano.
ReplyDeleteInteresting story, love the piano there, must sounds wonderful in a tunnel.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting! Must be interesting to visit.
ReplyDeleteGreat history lesson.
ReplyDeleteThis is really interesting, Grace!
ReplyDeleteThe piano in the tunnel intrigues me. There must be a story attached. Interesting that there was a need for an air raid shelter in Fremantle. That surprised me. Fascinating post.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos and very interesting narrative! I love history...
ReplyDeleteThe piano is also interesting...