The Baobab Prison Tree, Derby is a 1,500-year-old, large hollow Adansonia gregorii (Baobab) tree 6 kilometres south of Derby, Western Australia with a girth of 14.7 metres. It had been reputed to have been used in the 1890s as a lockup for indigenous Australian prisoners on their way to Derby for sentencing, but there is no evidence that it was ever used to house prisoners. The tree was once known as the Hillgrove Lockup. Its trunk was cut into a crude holding cell for prisoners for temporary overnight stay. A thorough check revealed many bones, indicating that the Aborigines also used it for storing their dead relatives. Today, tourists throng this place to see this one-of-its kind ‘prison’.The tree is now a tourist attraction. It is protected under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972.
In recent years a fence was erected around the tree to protect it from too much human traffic, carving of initials etc., and compacting of surrounding soil by vehicles.
Picture Credit : Google
