Year 5s Explore the Swan River Colony Through Convict Eyes
It is not every day you swap the classroom for cold stone walls, creaky cell doors and tales of daring escapes, but that is exactly what our Year 5s did this week! Full of curiosity, the girls ventured to Fremantle Prison and the Round House to step back in time. The chilly winds (thankfully, minus the hail!) only added to the drama as they explored life in the Swan River Colony through the eyes of its convicts.
Walking in Convict Footsteps
As part of the Finding Out phase in their guided inquiry, “What can we learn about the Swan River Colony by exploring perspectives?”, students walked in the footsteps of early convicts, many of whom were transported to Fremantle for petty crimes. The students gained a deeper understanding of their hardships and contributions.
Through this journey, we hope students will foster empathy and gratitude for the convicts and the remarkable infrastructure they built, much of which still stands today as a testament to their resilience and skill.
Student Reflections
How did this excursion further your understanding in the history of the Swan River Colony?
It showed what it was like for convicts and settlers during the early Swan River Colony. We saw the prison cells and how they were all cramped and had to go to the toilet in buckets! They got 100 whips with the cat o’ nine tails. It was cruel. Emilia (5.5)
By seeing Bathers Beach near the Round House, we could see what it must have been like for the settlers and convicts as they rowed to shore in windy and cold conditions. We imagined the area covered in makeshift tents with none of the buildings we have now. Hana (5.5)
What did you enjoy most about our excursion to Fremantle prison and Round House
I liked when we got to see the cells and we got to see how they progressed and changed over time. They had different cells for different people. For example, if you were at risk of hurting yourself you had a different type of cell so that you couldn’t hurt yourself. Some prisoners would secretly draw on their cell walls. I learned how they lived in the prison. Emily (5.4)
I enjoyed seeing Fremantle Prison and getting to know the convicts’ life stories. Life was hard for them. The cells were harsh for them even though they hadn’t committed bad crimes. The Round House was cool because you could see that it was once a tiny prison, the cells were a bit brighter than Fremantle Prison, but they couldn’t hold as many convicts. Harper (5.4)
Has your view of convicts during the colony years changed? If so how?
I think it was unfair for convicts because they had little interaction with others. Finding out that they had to go to the toilet in a bucket seemed harsh. And if you attempted an escape, you got whipped a lot. Learning all of this made me feel curious about convicts and also a bit bad for them. Ava (5.3)
I felt bad for the convicts considering they had to go into solitary confinement and that if they spoke outside, they got an extra day added. Also, they didn’t have much room in the cells and maybe some could have been claustrophobic, and no one really cared because they were convicts. It was a little upsetting learning how they were separated from their family. Sophia (5.3)
What was your 'wow' moment on this excursion?
My ‘wow’ moment was seeing Moondyne Joe’s cell and learning about how he escaped. I really enjoy learning about convict history. I find it so interesting. Holly (5.2)
My ‘wow’ moment was the conditions the prisoners had to live in and the punishments of going to the dark cells if they broke the rules. The dark cells were pitch black. I couldn’t see my hand in front of my face. Quinn (5.2)
Our Year 5 students stepped into someone else’s shoes, built empathy, and deepened their understanding of life in the Swan River Colony. These experiences help them grow as curious, compassionate learners, ready to see the world from new perspectives.
- ConvictHistoryWesternAustralia, Featured, FremantlePrisonTrip, LearningAboutConvictsPerth, PrimarySchoolHistory, SantaMariaCollegeYear5, Year5HistoryGuidedInquiry, Year5SwanRiverColonyExcursion
Author: Santa Maria College
Santa Maria College is a vibrant girls school with a growing local presence and reputation. Our Mission is to educate young Mercy women who act with courage and compassion to enrich our world. Santa Maria College is located in Attadale in Western Australia, 16 km from the Perth CBD. We offer a Catholic education for girls in Years 5 – 12 and have 1300 students, including 152 boarders.
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