
Escape – Fremantle to Freedom
18 Sep 2006 — 01 Jun 2008
The exhibition, Escape! Fremantle to Freedom, was based on the dramatic escape of six Irish Fenian prisoners from the Convict Establishment (Fremantle Prison) in 1876. A Fenian was a member of an association of Irishmen (the Fenian Brotherhood) founded in the late 1850s with the aim of overthrowing the British Government in Ireland. The name comes from Fianna; the legendary warriors of Irish mythology. Curated by and first shown at Fremantle Prison in December 2006, the exhibition traced the story of the Fenians and their daring escapes to America and followed the tale from Ireland to England to Australia, and finally to the USA. Convict life was explored in Australia’s last convict Prison; Fremantle Prison. The Fenians were amongst the final group of convicts sent to England’s distant outpost and were involved in the only two completely successful escapes in the history of the prison.
CURATED BY
TOUR ITINERARY
- Fremantle Prison18 Sep – 03 Dec 2006
- WA Museum Geraldton12 Jan – 25 Mar 2007
- Bunbury Regional Art Gallery13 Apr – 20 May 2007
- WA Museum Albany01 Jun – 22 Jul 2007
- Australian National Maritime Museum09 Aug – 25 Nov 2007
- Port Arthur Historic Site15 Dec 2007 – 28 Feb 2008
- South Australian Maritime Museum13 Mar – 01 Jun 2008
