Penal Settlements 12 Feb 2017

We've seen it on TV a few times, but today was our chance to visit the old penal colony  at Port Arthur on the Tasman Peninsular. Of 160,00 people transported from UK to Australia, around 70,00 ended up in Van Diemans Land, now known as Tasmania. Those that re-offended were sent to Port Arthur. The only access by land to Port Arthur is via Eaglehawk Neck a very narrow stretch of land attaching Tasmania to the Tasman Peninsular. The 'neck' was protected by a line of ferocious dogs as well as guards. They also told the convicts that the waters were shark infested! Not true, but effective as a deterrent!

The journey from Lindisfarne took us on familiar territory as far as Sorrell but then joined the Tasman Highway south to Port Arthur. It took about 75 minutes. It's a World Heritage site, so there are a lot of visitors, but it's well organised and, by our standards, not too expensive to visit. We bought basic tickets for A$34 each which gave us a 45 minute basic orientation tour with a guide and a harbour trip by catamaran. It's all very organised and very well done.

Our guide, Tammy, gave us a good overview of the site peppered with humorous comments. The settlement opened in 1834 and transportation went on until around 1878. My Grandfather was born in 1881 to put it in perspective. It was meant to be a more humane punishment, but floggings were fairly common. What was astonishing was that the system of keeping convicts locked up in solitary confinement 23 hours a day in complete silence was thought to be better than physical abuse.

The place has a rather desolate feel to as many of the buildings are mainly ruined. It's odd too, because the location is absolutely gorgeous. 

After our guided overview, we took our boat trip. First we went to Point Puer which was one of the first male youth prisons ever, boys from as young as 14 were sent there. Next stop was the Isle of the dead. Both convicts and soldiers and civilians were buried here.

Back on dry land, we walked to most of the buildings on site. The ruined Penitentiary is probably the most iconic building. It started life as a mill, but was soon converted when the wooden barracks became unusable. There was also a lunatic assylum filled with men who failed to survive solitary confinement.

I suppose, as a day out, it was a bit somber, but very sobering  to think that the justice system though transportation was a good punishment for offences such as theft.

After our day out, we headed back to Lindisfarne, emptied the car and packed our bags ready for our flight to Melbourne tomorrow morning. We should have time for breakfast here before the 15 minute drive to the airport