Rottnest, the island with a dark history

From 1838, for nearly 100 years, Rottnest Island, about 20km off the coast of Western Australia, was a prison where 3700 Aboriginal men and boys, ranging in age from eight to 70, were brought from right across the state to be imprisoned, often for minor offences such as stealing food.
According to some Aboriginal elders, being incarcerated on Rottnest was a double punishment for the indigenous people because the island is a place forbidden to them culturally. It has been called the island of the spirit people.
The prison finally closed in 1931 but during this time 10 per cent of the prison population, 369 prisoners, died from measles, influenza or malnutrition. Five were hanged. Those who died were wrapped in blankets, buried in a seated position and placed in unmarked graves on the island.
A very sinister past indeed.
A drive along the coast brings Rottnest island into view, looking very picturesque as we drive past, today its a hot spot for tourists and and a get away for most Australians living on the mainland of Perth.
DDW, you will surely pass this island on your cruise in the New Year, as countless ships sail by this island coming into the port of Fremantle.
The island was named by William De Flamingh in 1696 who called it Rotte' Nest (Rats Nest) after the Quokka population, a small native marsupial which the French mistook it for a very large rat, they are really very cute animals only found on Rotto. not like a Rat at all.
Wikipedia has a great site on this notorious island of ours.