What is Rottnest Island used for now?

Rottnest Island Fortress Much of this infrastructure was decommissioned after WWII and in the 1990s the gun emplacements and railway were extensively reconstructed. Today, you can set up camp in the old barracks, take a tour of the guns and tunnels, and journey to the battery on the train from Kingstown Barracks.

Does anyone live on Rottnest?

In the summer months, there are around 160 permanent residents/ staff members living on Rottnest. In the winter months, this drops down to about 45. Rottnest is a big island but the accommodation and amenities are all kept in one area. This means its easy to meet new people, and the island has a great social life.

Who owns Rottnest Island?

The traditional owners of Rottnest Island are the Whadjuk Noongar people. The name for Rottnest Island in the Noongar language is Wadjemup, which means ‘place across the water where the spirits are’. During the last ice age, approximately 6,000-7,000 years ago, Wadjemup was connected to the mainland.

Can you buy a house on Rottnest?

Yet only 150 residents are permitted to live there in peak season, with the population falling to about 100 during winter. People in this exclusive, tight-knit community lease private homes by invitation-only from the governing RIA.

Are there sharks at Rottnest Island?

These sharks are migratory. They move up the coast during spring and move back down during the summer. Have been recorded swimming several hundred kilometres off shore and crossing open ocean. They have also been known to dive down to 600m.

Is Rottnest a burial ground?

Today is an important day for Aboriginal people throughout Western Australia. The former Rottnest Island prison building, known as the Quod, ceases operations as a tourist resort. It would be correct to say, moreover, that this is the largest mass burial site in Australia.

Are there permanent residents on Rottnest Island?

It has a permanent population of around 300 people, with around 780,000 annual visitors (and up to 15,000 visitors at a time during peak periods). Rottnest is well known for its population of quokkas, a small native marsupial found in very few other locations.

Can you stay on Rottnest Island?

Rottnest Island has a large range of accommodation available, from premium accommodation with ocean views to basic camping and cabins. If you’ve been to Rottnest before, you might already know where you’d like to stay.

Are there sharks in Rottnest Island?

Do Quokkas only live on Rottnest Island?

Close relatives of Wallabies, these tiny animals are found all over Rottnest Island, where their survival is largely attributed to the exclusion of any natural predators. The Quokka is the only native mammal on Rottnest and apart from a small colony on the mainland, cannot be found elsewhere on Earth.

How do you move to Rottnest Island?

Transfers across to Rottnest Island can be booked through one of the three ferry operators. Rottnest Island ferry companies provide transfers to the Island from Perth City, North Fremantle (Rous Head), Fremantle (Victoria Quay) and Hillarys Boat Harbour in Perth’s north.

Is it safe to swim at Rottnest Island?

Protected beach and a great area for kids. A reasonable but easy walk from the main Rottnest shop precinct.

What’s the history of Fremantle in Western Australia?

Today, Fremantle is recognised for its well-preserved Victorian and Edwardian streetscapes and convict-era heritage, and is known as a bohemian enclave with a thriving arts and culinary scene. It is also the traditional home of the Fremantle Football Club, one of two Australian Football League teams based in Western Australia.

What kind of climate does Fremantle Australia have?

Fremantle has a Mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csa). The regular sea breeze is known as the Fremantle Doctor, as it provides cooling relief from the summer heat when it arrives between noon and 3pm.

What is the unemployment rate in Fremantle Australia?

In 2016, Fremantle had an unemployment rate of 7.4%. The city has an above-average proportion of rented dwellings (33.5%, vs 30.9% nationally). 42% of the population had no religion, 23% of the population was Catholic, 10% Anglican and 1.6% Buddhist.

Where are the Nyungar people in Fremantle Australia?

In January 2013, the City of Fremantle became the first council in Australia to outlaw the use of non-degradable plastic bags within their local area. Fremantle lies on a series of limestone hills known by the Nyungar people as Booyeembara; the sandplain to the east is Gardoo.