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Tag: convict ruins

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Tasman Peninsula Tasmania Australia

Remains of the Low Courts

Tasman Peninsula

The Tasman Peninsula has an wonderful array of historical and natural locations explore. Containing some of Australia’s oldest convict sites, it tells the story of early colonial life while being surrounded by amazing natural beauty.

During our stay here, we visited the sites below. This is by no means all there is to see and do, as there are many more bush tracks to walk, and places to visit. We spent three days here, but could easily have taken a whole week.

Port Arthur Historic Site

Tasmania’s best known historical site, Port Arthur was once a penal settlement for convicts. For the Full blog of our trip here, click this link.

Inside The Penitentiary
Inside The Penitentiary

Geological Sites of the Tasman Peninsula

Tasmania is full of natural beauty. The wind, rain and sea have combined in places to produce wonderful geological features. For the Full blog of our trip here, click this link.

Tasman Arch

Tasman Arch
Tasman Arch

The Blow Hole

The Blowhole
The Blowhole

Remarkable Cave

  • Remarkable Cave
    Remarkable Cave

Tessellated Pavement

Tessellated Pavement Eaglehawk Neck
Tessellated Pavement Eaglehawk Neck

The Dog Line

To prevent escaped convicts leaving the Tasman Peninsula, a dogs were placed at the narrowest point. These vicious dogs are commemorated with a full sized bronze sculpture. Tasmania is full of natural beauty. The wind, rain and sea have combined in places to produce wonderful geological features. For the Full blog of our trip here, click this link.

Bronze Sculpture at the Dog Line
Bronze Sculpture at the Dog Line

Coal Mine Historic Site

Although not as popular as Port Arthur, the Coal Mine Historic Site is also an important relic of the convict past. The first coal mine in Tasmania and a place of punishment for repeat offending convicts, its ruins are worth a visit. Unlike Port Arthur, entry here is free. For the Full blog of our trip here, click this link.

Ruins at the Main Settlement Tasman Peninsula
Ruins at the Main Settlement

Cape Raoul Track

Bushwalking and hiking tracks range from under an hour to several days. We chose a five hour return walk to Cape Raoul because it provided temperate rainforest, coastal views and wildlife in the one walk. For the Full blog of our trip here, click this link.

Dolerite at Cape Raoul Tasman Peninsula
Dolerite at Cape Raoul

To read other posts about Tasmania, click here.

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Port Arthur Historic Site Tasmania

Guard Tower

Port Arthur Historic Site

The World Heritage listed Port Arthur Historic Site contains over 30 buildings and extensive ruins. The listing reflects its importance to the story of forced migration and settlement of Australia. Primarily a penal settlement, Port Arthur also encompassed a wider community including military and civilian officers and their families. The preserved buildings and ruins tell the story of life in the early years of colonisation.

How To Get There and Parking

Located on the Tasman Peninsula, a 90-minute drive from Hobart, Port Arthur is an easy day trip. However, we chose to stay on the peninsula to see other attractions.

Several carparks at the end of the access road cater for cars and camper vans. During peak times additional room is available once the main ones are full, although there will be a slightly longer walk to the entrance.

Entry is by ticket only, but this includes a guided tour and boat trip. These are not compulsory, and you are able to walk at your own pace to explore the site if you want.

During our visit in June 2021 ticket cost was $40 per adult.

Port Arthur Historic Site

The Penitentiary

Originally built as a flour mill in 1845, insufficient water led to its conversion to a penitentiary in 1857. The current state of the building was caused by a bushfire which only left the masonry walls and barred windows.

Undertaken from 2012 to 2018, a conservation project has stabilised the building, while adding internal flooring and supports. There are Information boards detailing the operation of the building.

As you can see from the photos, it was a wet and rainy day, which added to the atmosphere of the site and its gloomy past.

  • The Penitentiary Port Arthur Historic Site
    The Penitentiary
  • Inside The Penitentiary Port Arthur Historic Site
    Inside The Penitentiary
  • Inside The Penitentiary
    Inside The Penitentiary
  • Looking Out of The Penitentiary
    Looking Out of The Penitentiary
  • Remains of The Penitentiary Port Arthur Historic Site
    Remains of The Penitentiary

Guard Tower

The guard tower gives a great view over the rest of the site, particularly the law courts located next door. Looking like a European castle, the guard tower stands above the penitentiary which gave the guards a great view.

Guard Tower Port Arthur Historic Site
Guard Tower

The Law Courts

Any convicts breaking the regulations governing the settlement were sentenced at the law courts. The façade is interesting with its windows and arches, despite its damaged interior.

  • Remains of the Low Courts
    Remains of the Law Courts
  • Remains of the Low Courts Port Arthur Historic Site
    Remains of the Law Courts

The Asylum

Built for the mental health care of convicts in the early 1860s, this building was later used as the town hall. Today it contains a display of artefacts found on site as well as prisoner uniforms.

  • The Asylum - Later the Town Hall
    The Asylum – Later the Town Hall
  • Prisoner's Uniform on Display Inside The Asylum
    Prisoner’s Uniform on Display Inside The Asylum
  • Display Inside The Asylum
    Display Inside The Asylum

The Church Port Arthur Historic Site

With only the walls and tower intact, the church, which was built in 1837 is a reminder of the importance of religion in convict reform. Up to 1100 people would attend services here on Sundays. To allow multi-denominational services, the church was never consecrated.

  • Ruins of the Church
    Ruins of the Church
  • Ruins of the Church
    Inside the Ruins of the Church
  • Ruins of the Church Port Arthur Historic Site
    Ruins of the Church

What Did We Think?

We enjoyed our visit here, with the unpredictable Tasmanian weather adding to the atmosphere. Although we did not take the boat tour, our walk through the ruins was great, so don’t be put off by the weather. As one of Australia’s premier European historical sites it’s a must visit for anyone going to Tasmania.

To read other posts about Tasmania, click here.

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Goat Island Sydney Harbour

Gunpowder Magazine Walls

Getting to Goat Island

Goat Island in Sydney Harbour is administered by National Parks and Wildlife and tours are organised and conducted by Rangers. We met our guide at Circular Quay wharf 6 where we boarded the ferry for a quick trip to the island. Access to the island is prohibited unless you are on an official tour, because of its heritage listed status. This tour takes 2 hours, which is plenty of time to see all of the island’s history.

Original Use

The original use for Goat Island was gunpowder storage and the most impressive building there is the old magazine. Built using convict labour this sandstone building has 2m thick walls, as a precaution to contain any explosions.

It was interesting to see the difference between the convict-built buildings and those built after. The convict buildings are of excellent construction and quality, but hose built afterwards are of a far lesser standard as the government paid for their construction.

Some boat maintenance is still performed on the island at the old shipyards but the facilities are a shadow of what happened there when Sydney was a large boat building harbour. The old crane still standing there is a reminder of the industry that used to be there.

  • View of Sydney Harbour From Goat Island
    View of Sydney Harbour From Goat Island
  • View of Sydney Harbour From Goat Island
    View of Sydney Harbour From Goat Island
  • Gunpowder Magazine Entrance
    Gunpowder Magazine Entrance
  • Gunpowder Magazine Walls
    Gunpowder Magazine Walls
  • Interior of the Gunpowder Magazine
    Interior of the Gunpowder Magazine
  • Magazine Memorial Plaque
    Magazine Memorial Plaque
  • Convict Built Building on Goat Island
    Convict Built Building on Goat Island
  • Convict Built Building on Goat Island
    Convict Built Building on Goat Island
  • Old Derelict Crane
    Old Derelict Crane

Harbour Master’s Residence

The harbour master’s residence overlooking the harbour is a beautiful old building but is currently unused. Plans to develop it and several surrounding cottages did not materialise leaving it unoccupied.

We also stopped at Boney Anderson’s rock where he was chained for 2 years as punishment for bad behaviour. The small cutting in the rock was where he slept.

Harbour Master's Residence
Harbour Master’s Residence
Boney Anderson's Bed Goat Island
Boney Anderson’s Bed

Water Police

The tour also takes in the old water police and fire tender wharf which are in poor condition. Only the piers of the wharf remain and although they make an interesting photo it would have been   nicer had it been preserved. The building is badly in need of renovating because although the structure appears sound, the interior walls and floors need repair.

Filmed on the island, the Australian TV show Water Rats built a set there. Unfortunately once filming stopped the set was not removed and remains an eye sore on the waterfront because it’s style does not match the historic buildings elsewhere.

  • Old Water Police Wharf Goat Island
    Old Water Police Wharf
  • Cottage Interior
    Cottage Interior

What Did We Think of Goat Island?

We had a fantastic time on Goat Island and learnt a great deal from our guide. This tour is highly recommended to anyone who wants to find out more about Australia’s past.

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

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