Browse Items (17 total)

The origins of the quarry link back to the early Dutch occupation of the island, where limestone from the quarry was used to build the Castle of Good Hope in Cape Town, using prison labour to mine the stone. Throughout the Apartheid-era use of…

The Maximum Security Prison was built in the 1960s by prisoners on the island, with stone coming from quarries on the island (again, worked in by the prisoners). There were blocks where prisoners were housed together, as well as cells for those in…

Imagery ©2025 Airbus, Imagery ©2025 Airbus, Maxar Technologies, Map data ©2025 AfriGIS (Pty) Ltd

In the 1600s, the Dutch started used the Cape area as an exile location for political prisoners from Malaysia and Indonesia, often wealthy, powerful Muslim men. During the 18th century, a political prisoner from Batavia (modern day Jakarta) named…

Robben Island is an important site for the African Penguin, and is home to the third largest breeding colony of the species. In the 1600s, Dutch colonial settlers released rabbits on the island for food for any passing sailors. Unfortunately, the…

Part of the African (or Jackass) Penguin breeding colony at Robben Island, Cape Town South Africa.

A picture of African penguins on a beach on Robben Island

Sign warning to proceed past beyond this point to protect the African Penguin colony on the island, and to report any sightings of injured birds.

Murray's Bay Harbour was built during World War 2, to enable transport of defence weapons to the island as part of its status as a millitary station for the Union of South Africa after they declared war on Germany in 1939. Just off the coast, off the…

Imagery ©2025 Airbus, Imagery ©2025 Airbus, Maxar Technologies, Map data ©2025 AfriGIS (Pty) Ltd A satellite view of Murray's Bay Harbour

Tourists returning to the ferries back to Cape Town after their visit to Robben Island

A view of the breakwater out of Murray's Bay Harbour

A view of the breakwater out of Murray's Bay Harbour

Robben Island is a UNESCO world heritage site due to the intangible heritage that the site represents. It served as a political prison for the Apartheid government of South Africa, where they held numerous people who fought against their regime. The…

A photograph showing the entrance to Robben Island.

A photograph showing an overhead view of the entirety of Robben Island, with mainland in the background.