Ruin: Bartons Mill Prison - WA

Located just 3km from Pickering Brook, Barton’s Mill was established in 1902 by Alexander Barton, who quickly began his milling business lopping timber in the surrounding areas. However, the sudden death of Mr Barton in 1908 saw the site temporarily closed down. Under new management the mill was burnt out and subsequently rebuilt in 1924, which saw a number of buildings put in place to form a worker’s camp for employees of the mill. Barton’s Mill continued its timber operations until its closure in 1937. With the spark of World War II in 1939, Fremantle Prison was quickly requisitioned by the Australian Army to be repurposed as the Western Australian Detention Barracks for military personal and internment centre for alien citizens. This sudden change meant that prisoners from Fremantle needed to be relocated, and Barton’s Mill was quickly established as one of these locations. The pre-existence of the workers camp made the conversion from camp to prison quick and easy allowing Barton’s Mill Prison to be opened in 1942.With its numerous housing blocks and a sturdy chapel, Barton’s Mill Prison proved to be an adequate holding facility. However, due to its seclusion and low grade security measures it became quickly apparent that the prison was not suitable for attempted escapees and maximum security risk prisoners, which saw all of which promptly returned to Fremantle Prison.The prison was closed in 1989. The ruins were listed on the State Register of Heritage Places in 1999