Wadjemup Aboriginal Burial Ground


Adjacent to the Quod is a hushed, shady woodland area where hundreds of Aboriginal prisoners were buried in unmarked graves. Until relatively recently, this area was used as a camping ground, but it's now fenced off with signs asking visitors to show respect for what is regarded as a sacred site. Plans are under consideration to convert the area into a memorial, in consultation with Aboriginal Elders. Check the website for updates.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Quod

0.08 MILES

Built in 1864, this hefty octagonal building with a central courtyard was once the Aboriginal prison block. During its time as a prison several men would…

2. Historic Chapel

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Push open the door and enter this hushed, simple chapel near the old prison, built in 1858 and with creaky floorboards, a driftwood crucifix and a single…

3. Rottnest Museum

0.13 MILES

Housed in the old hay-store building built by Aboriginal prisoners in 1857, this engaging little museum tells of the island's natural and human history,…

4. Salt Store Gallery & Exhibition Centre

0.16 MILES

The photographic exhibition inside this 1868 building looks at a different chapter of local history: when the island's salt lakes provided all of WA's…

5. Holy Trinity Church

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Rottnest's Catholic church is a Spanish Mission–style beauty, with mass at 9am daily.

6. Vlamingh Lookout

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Not far away from Thomson Bay (wander up past the old European cemetery), this unsigned vantage point offers panoramic views of the island, including its…

7. Bathurst Lighthouse

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Historic landmark out on the point near Pinky Beach. It was built in 1900 after the wreck of the City of York nearby in 1899, just shy of Fremantle after…

8. The Basin

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The Basin is Rotto's top family swim spot – a sheltered, natural sandy-floored pool, fringed by reefs to keep the waves at bay. It's a short cycle from…