Just off the coast of Perth, Western Australia, lies a charming island that boasts all the features a vacationer could desire.

Renowned for its seemingly endless sandy beaches, clear blue skies, and sparkling turquoise waters, this island is also a ‘Class A Reserve,’ a designation that ensures its flora and fauna are protected.

However, beneath its stunning, postcard-perfect appearance is a history marked by sorrow and hardship.

Known as Rottnest Island today, the Indigenous name for this place is Wadjemup. It served as an Aboriginal prison from 1838 to 1902, where approximately 4,000 men and boys were detained.

Following this period, it became a forced labor camp for both Aboriginal people and Europeans until 1931.

During these years, prisoners faced severe living conditions, and the overcrowded facilities made it easy for diseases to spread.

Rottnest Island, known as Wadjemup by local Aboriginal people, was once the site of an Aboriginal prison

Over the many years of operation, 373 Indigenous people died and were mostly buried in unmarked graves, CNN reports.

The island’s haunting past was seemingly erased – the prison’s main cell block was converted into holiday accommodation for tourists to stay in and enjoy themselves, oblivious of the pain, and even death, that once happened within its walls. 

The prison stopped operating as a tourist resort in 2018, when it closed its doors for the final time.  

Elsewhere in Wadjemup, the unmarked burial ground – now known as the Wadjemup Aboriginal Burial Ground – was transformed into a campsite.

For years, holidaymakers would pitch up their tent and sleep on the very site where deceased people are buried. 

Bones were discovered in 1970 and the campsite shutdown in 2007. 

Progress has been made to honour the lives of the Aboriginal people who were imprisoned on Wadjemup. 

The Rottnest Island Authority explains on its site how it ‘seeks to acknowledge the island’s former role as a prison for Aboriginal men and boys, tell the truth about what happened on the island, and put steps in place that ensures all people can move forward together in an environment of cooperation and understanding’.

Nowadays, there are several places to stay in the area, but none are linked to the original campsite. 

Nowadays, visitors to the island can explore the various biking and hiking trails, or head to the beach to snorkel its impressive waters

Visitors to the island can explore the various biking and hiking trails, or head to the beach to snorkel its impressive waters.

It is also a great spot for whale watching, and the best time to catch a glimpse of humpback and southern right whales falls between August and December.

Bathurst Lighthouse overlooks Pinky Beach on the island and has been standing tall, shining light over the ocean since 1900.

Meanwhile, those wanting to connect to Wadjemup’s Aboriginal history can visit Wadjemup Museum, where an exhibition of artwork from over 50 Aboriginal artists across Western Australia is currently on display until April 30, 2026.