Port Arthur Historic Site

Government Gardens

Port Arthur Historic Site***** is an interesting place to go. To experience the convict life and marvel at the heritage buildings, it will take a whole day here. Our entry pass costs $27 after YHA discount of $5. We bought the bronze pass, which include park entrance, 40 min introductory tour and harbor cruise of 20 minutes. The ticket is also valid for two days if you don’t have enough time. We went there at 8.30am and finish the whole thing at 5pm. Opening hours is 8.30am till 6pm. The night ghost tour is also very popular at an additional cost. We were there at the right time, during Easter holidays where they have special Easter plays featuring the convict life.

View of Port Arthur Historic Site from Scorpion Rock Lookout.

The Port Arthur penal station was established in 1830 as a timber getting camp. From 1833 Port Arthur was used as a punishment station for repeat offenders from all Australian colonies. With the end of convict transportation to Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania) in 1853, Port Arthur also became an institution for aging and physically and mentally ill convicts. The penal settlement closed in 1877 and many of its buildings were dismantled or destroyed in bushfires. It was renamed Carnavon in an attempt to erase the hated convict stain. By 1920s, some convict-period buildings had become museums, hotels and shops and the settlement was once renamed Port Arthur. 

The convict stands inside a small space to listen the mass.
With the height of Angie, we only able to see her head.
Pity convict.

 One of the Easter play, the actor and actresses played it really well.

 The Separate Prison, where convicts were locked for 23 hours, allowed only one hour for exercise.

"Room No. 7, is time for dinner, here is your bread and water!!"

 Commandant’s House. The 'Boss' of Port Arthur.

 The drawing room in Commandant’s House. Decorated beautifully.

 The Guard Tower

Another Easter play, 'This is Your Life'

This play shows a convict named Timothy, how he ends up in Port Arthur and how he successfully escaped from here and become bush ranger at last. Interesting real story!!

 The Penitentiary, where the prisoners stay.
Many years back, there was much more building behind Penitentiary, several of bush fire happened and results the view of today.

 Inside the Penitentiary

 Let us OUT please. . .
P: "I only steal a tissue, please don't lock me up:("

 The Isle of Dead, the little island on the left side, 1100 people were buried at this cemetery.

 Anglican Church

 The Church

Ruins of the Hospital

Port Arthur penal station was not fenced, because there is no need to. To escape, convicts needed to cross two narrow bottlenecks that were easy to guard. They had to get past the lines of savage dogs chained across the Eaglehawk Neck. And so we called it as 'Natural Penal Station'.

One of the convict successfully went through the bushes but did not realized the dog line and soldiers at Eaglehawk Neck. Of course, he would not give up after he absconded. He saw a kangaroo carcass nearby, and ‘brilliantly’ he wore the carcass to pretend as a kangaroo to cross the dog line. He went pass the dogs, but the soldiers saw the roo. Wanting some supper for that night, the soldiers aimed at the roo. Immediately, the convict gave up! Interesting . . .

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