Fremantle Prison, Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage, commissioned Fabrik Interpretation and Design for the design development, production and installation of a new exhibition housed within Fremantle Prison.
Keeping a group of people in a confined space under the ruling of others inevitably brings discontent and issues with authority. This exhibition explores the tension between the authorities and prisoners through a number of examples of unrest taken from Fremantle Prison’s history.
Riots are the most violent and visible expression of prisoner discontent, but other forms of protest are used by prisoners such as sit-outs. The 1988 riot was the most violent riot in the Prison’s history and resulted in extensive damage to the site’s fabric, eventually leading to the closure of the Prison in 1991.
The Fremantle Prison Conservation and Heritage section is a small to medium size gallery with a limited budget. Every 18 months, the Conservation and Heritage team produces an exhibition which interprets aspects of the Prison’s history. The exhibitions are accessible free of charge and enhance the visitors’ understanding of the Prison’s history. The Prison, a World Heritage Site, attracts 200’000 visitors every year demanding a high level of original and engaging modes of display.