Port Arthur – Well worth a visit!

You cannot visit Tasmania without exploring Port Arthur. Not only is this UNESCO World Heritage site a significant slice of Australia’s history, but it is also outstandingly beautiful. Port Arthur Penal Settlement began as a small timber station in the 1830s. However, it soon became apparent this colony, located on a remote peninsula, would be a secure place to keep convicts. In a short time, it became Australia’s most infamous prison colony, known for having “some of the strictest security measures of the British penal system.” [Wiki]

The convicts sent to Port Arthur were re-offenders, supposedly the worst of the worst. It was thought of as the toughest of all Australian prisons and deemed to be inescapable. Although the prison history reveals gruelling labour, severe punishment, harrowing isolation and gruesome conditions, there was a semblance of rehabilitation as prisoners learned new skills to benefit them if or when they became free men (such as shoe-making, ship-building, metal-smithing, and brick-making).

Plan your trip to Port Arthur

Where is it?

Port Arthur is approximately 100km southeast of Hobart and can be easily reached by car. Moreover, the 90-minute drive to get there is dotted with additional sights to see. We hired a car in Hobart, which made visiting Port Arthur and other activities, such as wine tasting, a breeze.

When is it open?

The site is open daily from 09:00 to 17:00 (It is closed on Christmas Day).

What does it cost?

Adult $47
Child $22
Concession $38

Tickets to the Port Arthur Historic Site are valid for two consecutive days and include entry to the Port Arthur Gallery, a self-guided audio experience, a 20-minute harbour cruise, access to historic buildings, ruins, and gardens, plus complimentary site talks throughout the day (click here for the today’s timetable). 

For an additional cost, there are guided tours, including:

Convict Tour – Adult $10 – A general overview of the history of Port Arthur.
The Isle of the Dead – Adult $30 – The cemetery island.
Port Arthur Ghost Tour – Adult $35 – Guided through the ruins while listening to stories of unexplained events.
Commandant’s Tour – Adult $30 – Explore the site’s most significant buildings.
Escape Port Arthur Tour – Adult $20 – Meet the convicts who risked everything to escape Port Arthur.
Wheel of Fate – $350 per person – A tailored experience including exclusive access to Port Arthur’s unique buildings.

Our visit to Port Arthur

On entering the Port Arthur Historic Site, I was mesmerised by its beauty. It is simply stunning. Unfortunately, my photos do not do it justice. However, if they did, you may not need to visit there yourself; believe me, this is a place you simply must visit.

We started in the gallery as we had 30 minutes to kill before our scheduled harbour cruise. The gallery includes exciting displays and interactive activities. Next, we looked at the gardens before going to the jetty to board the boat for our harbour cruise.

Harbour Cruise

The boat is spacious and comfortable. As we motored around the harbour, we listened to the story of Port Arthur, and in particular about the Isle of the Dead, Point Puer Boy’s Prison and the Dockyard Slipway.

Historic buildings and ruins

There are many historic buildings, ruins and restored houses to explore, including the hospital, guard tower, officers’ quarters, law courts, churches, the separate prison and the Penitentiary. As well as the self-guided audio experience, many interpretive signs are dotted around the site depicting the buildings and their uses.

The Church

The iconic church was a favourite of mine. It is only partly restored and is open to the elements. My first thought was how it would be an incredible place for a wedding, and when I looked into it, I found out they hire it as a wedding venue.

Religion was an integral element of convict life at Port Arthur, as it was part of the reform process. On April 25th 1836, Lieutenant Governor George Arthur set the church’s foundation. The convicts then built the church with stonework prepared by boys from Point Puer boys prison. Services began in 1837. However, the church was never officially consecrated, as several denominations used it, and there were disagreements between the various church authorities. In 1884, fire engulfed the church, and ivy slowly enveloped the ruins. In 1979, restoration of the church began and was complete by 1985.

The Penitentiary

Initially built in 1843 as a flour mill and granary, the Penitentiary soon became a dormitory for hundreds of convicts and housed the solitary cells. The remnants of this building testify to the sheer magnitude of this colony.

The Separate Prison

The idea behind the separate prison was a move away from corporal punishment, instead forcing convicts to reflect on their past deeds in isolation. The convicts slept, ate and worked in individual cells for 23 hours a day. They had one hour when they were permitted outside to exercise alone. During church service in the Separate Prison Chaple, they were in individual partitions to continue the total segregation. Not surprisingly, the Asylum is attached to this prison.

The People 

As you explore Port Arthur, you can learn about some convicts, soldiers and free people who resided there, such as William Thompson, the convict shoemaker and Henry Singleton, the troublemaker. 

The 1996 Massacre

A plaque at the Memorial Garden and a brochure are available if you want to know more about what happened on Sunday 28th of April 1996. But please be aware that many of the staff at the site lost friends, colleagues and family on that day, and understandably don’t want to talk about it. Please be respectful.

Other things to do near Port Arthur

Eaglehawk Neck / the Dog Line, Tasmans Arch, Devil’s Kitchen, Doo Town, the Blowhole,  and the Doo-Lishus fish and chip van.

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