Interesting facts about Rottnest Island and it's little furry inhabitants. :bny8:
This sandy island, 12 miles off the coast of Fremantle has a population of about 200. It is also called home to small indigenous marsupials known as quokkas. These were mistakenly identified as rats in 1696 by the Dutch explorer de Vlamingh, who named the island 'Rats Nest'. They are actually very friendly, and will happily approach humans, although they are now so fearless they are almost a pest. The Rottnest settlement was established as a prison for Aborigines in 1838, but by 1920 the prison had fallen into disuse and the island had become an escape for the richer end of Perth society. For five years in WWII the island was dominated by the military, which used it to defend Fremantle Harbour, and fearing what had happened to Singapore huge guns were installed, however they were never used in anger.