FEMALE DIVISION MATRONS IN GARDENS
1895 - 1910Black and white, landscape image of three women standing in a garden, on card. Image of three women wearing long sleeved dresses with long white aprons over the top, and each has a set of keys attached to their belt. They are standing in a vegetable garden, surrounded by tall plants, possibly corn. In foreground of the image is a wire cage with a bird inside. The image is printed on card.
Image of Matrons in Fremantle Prison's Female Division garden. Found with a sympathy card (99.732.1) from Female Division staff to the relative of the deceased at an unknown date.
This photograph is believed to have been taken between 1895 and 1910. Information from Dr. N. Hills, the great-grandson of one of Fremantle Prison’s Matrons Jane Cook (née Findley), believes she is the Matron on the right in this photograph. Jane Cook was at Fremantle Prison when Martha Rendell was hung. Also, according to Dr. Hills’ mother, Matron Cook would also travel by boat to work at the prison on Rottnest Island every fortnight.
Details
Details
Records show that in 1916, in the exercise yard in the Female Division of Fremantle Prison, stood a parterre or flower bed. The women from the Female Division tended and cared for the flowers and plants. The interest in the flower beds is evident by the care taken by the female inmates to adorn the hospital ward with fresh flowers.
The walled garden area in the north-west corner of the Female Division was originally attached to the Matron’s quarters and was most likely a private garden under her control. It appears to have continued as a form of special place after the Matron ceased to live within the complex. There were plantings of shrubs, which encroached on the sterile zone along the north perimeter wall, and there may have been a tree growing in the space. An article in the West Australian in 1964 describes a weekend recreation garden planted with grass, palm trees and flowers. Some of the trees are said to have been planted 50 years prior, by one of the Prison’s regular inmates Maggie McGill when she was 17 years old.
Other photographs taken in 1975 reveal that this garden still existed at that time, with three mature Canary Island Date Palms growing in the centre of the space. There was also a shelter with a garden plot alongside, planted with shrubs. Since that time all of the plants have disappeared, including most of the grass.
Other items from Fremantle Prison
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IMAGE OF VEGETABLE GARDENS
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IMAGE OF BAKING BREAD
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PRISON OFFICERS AND OFFICIALS
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PHOTOGRAPH OF CATHOLIC CHAPEL AFTER 1988 RIOT
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WEIGHT
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Slide of 11th Australian Detention Staff 1944
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RIOT STICK
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IMAGE OF CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES
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HIGH STOOL
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WOODEN TEA TRAY
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IMAGE OF PRISON OFFICERS AND OFFICIALS
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12 GAUGE GREENER SHOTGUN
