Western Australia began as a free colony in 1829, but convicts did not arrive until 1850. Western Australia needed convicts to build their roads and buildings, as well as clear the land by chopping down trees.
Some of the convicts, like Moondyne Joe, had only committed small crimes such as stealing food. But, others were far worse. England sent all of their worst criminals, such as murderers, to Western Australia to get them away from England.
The first job the convicts had to do when they arrived was build themselves a prison to live in. At the time, the prison was called the Convict Establishment, but later it changed its name to Fremantle Prison.