Port Arthur convict settlement.

The Port Arthur convict settlement is a very special place. It is so alive with our history with thousands of stories. While very touristy and commercial the heritage centre has been carefully and lovingly maintained with guides generously scattered among the buildings, always willing to give of their knowledge.

The entrance fee is for a two day pass and I think you need every bit of it. We were only able to allow a morning and we left wanting to come back to explore more and at a more leisurely pace.

Main prison block

Bakery

Guard tower

Images from inside the main prison

The hospital, burnt out twice in bush fires

Civilian quarters including doctor and minister

Asylum, now a museum

Special prison for punishment. The key form of punishment here was silence, isolation, and absolutely nothing to do.

Church inside the special prison where each prisoner was kept separated.

Included in the entrance fee is a 20 minute boat tour of the harbour.

Shipyards where many boats were built with the local timber.

Separate prison for boys on this island. No teachers could be found to teach the boys so older prisoners were conscripted for the job.

Island of the Dead. About 1100 prisoners and 200 free settlers are buried here.

After our boat tour we visited the commandant’s house.

Commandant’s house and blue gum planted in 1837.

The house was built originally by Captain Booth in 1837 as a 2 room cottage. Each subsequent occupant added rooms and made modifications. It then spent time as an hotel in the mid 1900’s.

Finally a visit to the memorial to those who lost their lives in 1996.

The rest of the day was taken up driving to Coles Bay on the Freycinet peninsular. Tomorrow we walk the Wineglass Bay track.