Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954), Saturday 14 June 1902, page 15


ROTTNEST ISLAND.

ABOLITION OF THE PRISON.

The Colonial Secretary, Mr. F. Illing-worth, after an inspection of Rottnest

Island, decided to recommend Cabinet to close Rottnest as a prison station. Mr. Illingworth submitted this proposal to his colleagues at their last meeting, and approval was at once given to the sug-gestion. At present there are only 33 native prisoners at Rottnest altogether, and in most of the cases the sentences

will expire either this year or next, there being only a dozen or fifteen whose sen-tences last beyond 1904. It is, there-fore, intended to make provision for the reception of these in some of our lock-ups in the north. The premises now used as a gaol will then he handed over to the pilot service, and thus the neces-sity for erecting further and urgently-needed accommodation for them will be overcome. As to tho future of the island, the Cabinet, as a body, have not yet finally decided its course of action. Mr. Illingworth's idea, however, is that it should be made a health resort. To-wards that end, Mr. Illingworth has re-commended that the re-claimed land around Government House and the pilot stations should be declared a reserve for the use of the public, and that the fore-shore all round the island should also be treated in the same way. The remain-der of the island will probably be offered for sale, in suitable blocks, for residential

purposes.