What was the purpose in building the rabbit proof fence?

Answer 1

The rabbit proof fence was built, quite simply, to try and halt the spread of rabbits throughout Australia. Rabbits were introduced to try and make the Europeans settlers feel more at home, by offering them the pursuits they were used to, such as rabbit-hunting (foxes were introduced for the same reason). Without many natural predators, the rabbits thrived and proliferated, quickly spreading throughout the mainland. They caused damage to crops and pastures, and decimated the food source for many native animals. Various means to control the plague were proposed. In 1901, a Royal Commission addressed the issue and recommended that a barrier be built across the country to divide agricultural lands from the bushland in the eastern part of Western Australia. This was the start of the concept of the rabbit-proof fence.

Answer 2

As the name implies the idea was to hold back rabbit's.