Year 5 History Excursion to Fremantle Prison
Nearly two centuries of stories awaited our Year 5 students as they took their Term 3 History learning out of the classroom.
On Monday 27 July, the Year 5 Fremantle history excursion brought insight into Western Australia’s past. Students explored Fremantle Prison and the Round House, two places that offer very different windows into the early Swan River Colony.
The Year 5 Excursion Begins at Fremantle Prison
The first part of the day included a tour inside Fremantle Prison.
Students took part in both the Convict History Tour and the Modern History Tour. Together, these experiences allowed them to examine how the prison changed across different periods and consider the lives of the people connected to it.
Walking through the prison offered something different. Students could see the scale of the buildings, notice the conditions inside and were able to ask questions about daily life, punishment and justice.
From Convict History to the Swan River Colony
The next stop was the Fremantle Round House.
Built as the first permanent building in the Swan River Colony, the Round House gave students another important piece of history. It helped place Fremantle Prison within the broader development of the colony and showed how early buildings reflected the needs and priorities of the time.
By visiting both sites in one day, students could begin making connections between people, places and events. They were able to build a clearer picture of how Fremantle and Western Australia was developed.
- Featured, Fremantle Prison education tour, historical thinking, learning beyond the classroom, Round House Fremantle, Santa Maria College Junior School, Swan River Colony history, Western Australian history, Year 5 Fremantle history excursion, Year 5 History
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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