Wadjemup/Rottnest Island: Remembrance and the 2024 Apology
Remembrance
9 November 2024
Content note: This article discusses Aboriginal incarceration, forced labour and deaths in custody.
A significant commemoration and apology
On 9 November 2024, the public Wadjemup Wirin Bidi commemoration brought people together to honour the Aboriginal men and boys imprisoned on Wadjemup/Rottnest Island. Western Australian Premier Roger Cook also delivered an apology.
This date is included because of those significant events. It is not presented here as an established annual public observance, nor as the date the prison opened.
An Aboriginal-led process of remembrance
The public ceremony followed private cultural ceremonies held from 4 to 8 November 2024. The Rottnest Island Authority identifies Wadjemup Wirin Bidi as part of the Aboriginal-led Wadjemup Project, a process of truth-telling, commemoration and healing.
Wadjemup is on Whadjuk Noongar Country. Its prison history affected Aboriginal families across Western Australia: men and boys were transported there for incarceration, segregation and forced labour between 1838 and 1931.
Many died in custody and are buried on the island. The commemoration recognised the people themselves, their families and the continuing consequences of their removal from Country. It should not be reduced to a chapter in the island’s tourism history.
What the apology date can teach
An apology is an important public acknowledgement, but its significance also depends on listening to those affected and on what follows. An anniversary article can explain the statement and the community-led work without claiming that every person responded in the same way.
The Premier’s subsequent parliamentary statement provides an official record. Aboriginal organisations’ accounts and the public ceremony programme help place that acknowledgement within a wider process led by families, Elders and cultural representatives.
For school or workplace reflection, use material intended for public sharing. Private Sorry Business and cultural ceremonies should not be treated as public learning activities to reproduce.
Recognise the island’s continuing cultural significance and follow current Traditional Owner and site-management guidance when visiting. Remembrance should give space to grief, truth-telling and enduring connection to Country, while respecting participants’ choices about engaging with distressing history.
We do not currently offer products or learning resources specifically for this date. The reading links above are provided for background and further learning. Suitable items from our range will be added here as they become available.
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