The Port Arthur Historic Site has to be one of the highlights of our trip. Situated a 90 minute drive from Hobart, we had no idea what to expect from our visit to the World Heritage site. What we got was an informative, educational and thought-provoking day visiting the site – The size of the cells, the use of long-term solitary confinement, the isolation of the Separate prison, compared to the relative luxury of the Commandant’s quarters brought the brutality of the time into sharp focus.

Port Arthur started out in 1830 as a Timber gathering station and by 1840 had more than 2,000 inmates housed in harsh conditions with meagre rations, Military personnel, and free settlers. Shipbuilding was introduced to provide suitable convicts with a useful skill they could use once released. The prison closed in 1877, the area renamed as Carnavon, and parcels of land auctioned off enabling people to take up residence in and around the site. Two devastating fires in 1895 and 1897 destroyed many of the old buildings. Despite this a township grew up with its own post office, cricket club and lawn tennis club. Tourists were drawn to the site to witness the horrors of a penal settlement resulting in the need for accommodation, souvenirs, and guides to satisfy the tourists needs. In 197 the name reverted to Port Arthur in recognition of the site’s touristic importance. The National Parks and Wildlife Service took ownership of the site in 1970s before the Tasmanian Government committed to a seven- year conservation program in 1987, which has restored the site to what can be seen today. You can read more about the history of Port Arthur at https://portarthur.org.au/history/history-timeline/

It was quite poignant to be visiting the site on the anniversary of the mass-shooting that happened here on April 28th 1996.