Pioneers and Prisoners (T1)

We pay special respect to the men and boys whose bodies still rest beneath the sands of Wadjemup, and to their families and descendants who lost them. We also pay our respects to all Aboriginal peoples impacted by the historical use of the island as a place of incarceration.

This tour includes a powerful retelling of the conditions faced by Aboriginal people who were taken as prisoners - 167 men and boys in just 29 cells, their treacherous journeys home, and their use as ‘prison labour’ to build island structures, many of which still stand today. With deep respect and acknowledgement of this history, students visit the spaces that hold such significance in Australia’s story.

As your group walks through Thomson Bay Settlement, you’re guided back in time to the 1800s where two French explorers quarreled to the death over a lover, Watson initiated a trade program for the young boys on the island’s reformatory, and Lomas Cottage housed a ‘troubled’ boy. This tour is one that anchors the island experience in historic and cultural significance that stays with you for a lifetime.

Meeting Location: RVGA Information Booth

Tour prices are valid until 30 June 2024.