Historic Site
VISITOR GUIDE CONDITIONS OF ENTRY
Your entry is non-refundable and non-transferable. Visitors enter this Historic Site entirely at their own risk. Please exercise due care and attention. The Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (PAHSMA), its employees and agents shall not be liable, either in contract or for negligence, for any injury, loss or damage, whether caused by negligence or otherwise, arising out of or caused by the condition of the land, any building or structure within the site, any natural or other hazard, or by any activity on the site. Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority retains the right to deny access and/or NO DRONES eject visitors who are being a public nuisance, acting recklessly or failing to observe directions from signage or PAHSMA staff. Help us conserve our site by not climbing on the ruins or disturbing PLEASE DO NOT DISTURB any heritage material. Please note THE SITE drones are not permitted on site. Welcome to the Port Arthur Historic Site.
Port Arthur is a place of Before Europeans arrived national and international in the region, the land, significance — part of its natural resources and the epic story of forced abundant waters were migration and settlement utilised by the Pydarerme of this country. people of the Paredarerme language group. Port Arthur was much more than a prison; it was Containing more than a complete community, 30 historic buildings, home to convicts, military extensive ruins and and civilian officers and beautiful grounds and their families. The convicts gardens, the Site has worked at many industries many stories to explore. producing goods and We hope that you enjoy services for use locally your time with us. and to be sold in Hobart and beyond. The military and civilian officers were tasked with security and administration of the settlement. YOUR VISIT
Your day pass is valid for • the Museum — located in two consecutive days the Asylum (Map ); and includes access to: • more than 30 historic • interactive experiences buildings, ruins, restored for all ages in the Port museum houses and Arthur Gallery, located in grounds and gardens; the Visitor Centre; • the Convict Water Supply • a 40 minute Trail and the Dockyard introductory walking (Map ); and tour — a fascinating • a buggy shuttle service introduction to Port for people with restricted Arthur, its people and mobility. its past; Optional extra tours are • a 20 minute harbour available for an additional cruise passing the cost, bookings are essential. Dockyard, Point Puer Please ask our staff at the Boys’ Prison and the Isle ticketing counter in the of the Dead. The ferry Visitor Centre. leaves punctually, so please make sure you THE TICKET OF LEAVE is arrive at the jetty ten our great value, two-year minutes before your pass — available for a small cruise time (Map ); additional fee. This allows free return entry to the Site as often as you like for two years from the date of your first visit.
LAW COURTS, GUARD TOWER AND COMMANDANT’S HOUSE c1880s Use your card to 'discover their fate' in the drawers of the Port Arthur Gallery. INSIDE OUR VISITOR CENTRE
Site entry Parent room and tour tickets Visitor Information Gift shop desk — information and bookings Café + Restaurant & Bar Three Capes Track check-in office and First Aid locker facilities ATM Locker facilities
WHERE TO SHOP AND EAT
Our Gift Shop offers an The Asylum Café is open extensive range of gifts, daily. Indulge in coffee books and specialist and fresh cakes, delicious Tasmanian and Port Arthur snacks and light meals items. It is open daily. accompanied by a glass of wine or a range of hot and There are two cafés on cold drinks. site. The main café in the Visitor Centre is open daily Enjoy a drink or dinner of from 9am and remains superbly prepared fresh open until the last Ghost local produce in 1830 Tour has departed. Restaurant & Bar — located in the Visitor Centre, and open daily. Reservations can be made at the ticketing desk. (Hours of operation vary seasonally) SAFETY ONSITE
The weather at Port Arthur can be changeable. Most tours take place outdoors and operate in all weather, so be prepared with sun protection, warm clothing, a raincoat or umbrella. The ground in some places is uneven, so comfortable and Rachel Tribout. sturdy walking shoes are recommended.
LIMITED MOBILITY ACCESS
The Site comprises a Wheelchairs and strollers variety of areas, some of are available for loan from which allow independent the Visitor Centre. Our access, others which may courtesy buggies provide a require assisted access, regular drop-off and pick-up and unfortunately some service around the Site for with restricted access. visitors with limited mobility. Please enquire on arrival for Our introductory walking times of operation. tour and harbour cruise are both wheelchair accessible. However, several of our optional tours are unfortunately NOT recommended for visitors with mobility restrictions. Please check with staff. A BRIEF HISTORY
The Port Arthur Historic Port Arthur was built on Site Management Authority a philosophy of discipline recognises and wishes and punishment, religious to pay respect to the and moral instruction, Tasmanian Aboriginal classification and Community, in particular, separation, training and the Pydarerme people of education. Many men were the Paredarerme language broken by the system; group, as the traditional, others left rehabilitated, original and continuing educated and skilled. custodians of the land Port Arthur’s community on which the Port Arthur of military and free people Historic Site stands today. lived their lives in stark Cultural sites representing contrast to the convict many tens of thousands of population. Parties, regattas years of occupation still and literary evenings were remain in the area, though common, and beautiful many were destroyed gardens were created as or pillaged as a result of places of sanctuary. British settlement of the region. By 1840 more than 2000 convicts, soldiers and The Port Arthur penal civil staff lived here and station was established in Port Arthur was a major 1830 as a timber-getting industrial settlement, camp, using convict labour producing a range of goods to produce sawn logs for and materials — everything government projects. From from worked stone and 1833 Port Arthur was used bricks to furniture, clothing, as a punishment station for boats and ships. repeat offenders from all the Australian colonies. With convict transportation Gradually the State to Van Diemen’s Land Government acquired ceasing in 1853, Port Arthur portions of the Site from became an institution for private owners and a aging, and physically and major conservation project mentally ill convicts. started in the 1980s. The penal settlement Today, the site is closed in 1877 and many managed by the Port Arthur of its buildings were Historic Site Management dismantled or destroyed in Authority, which formed in bushfires. Others were sold October 1987. and the small town was renamed Carnarvon in an On Sunday 28 April 1996, a attempt to erase the hated tragic chapter was added to 'convict stain'. Tourism Port Arthur’s history when began almost immediately a gunman took the lives of after the closure of the 35 people and physically penal settlement. wounded 19 others in and around the Port Arthur On 29 August 1916 Port Arthur Historic Site. Within days, was officially recognised as employees, community a place of ‘historic interest’ members and the State and by the Scenery Preservation National governments were Board. By the 1920s, some working towards reopening convict-period buildings had the site to visitors. become museums, hotels and shops and the settlement In July 2010, Port Arthur was once again named Port and 10 other sites were Arthur. In 1971 the National inscribed on the World Parks and Wildlife Service Heritage List as the took over management of Australian Convict Sites Port Arthur. World Heritage property. WORLD HERITAGE
The Australian Convict To gain a deep Sites World Heritage understanding of the property is a serial listing Australian and Tasmanian of eleven sites across convict story, we Australia that collectively recommend that you represent the world’s first visit all the Tasmanian sites conscious attempt to build included in the Australian a new society on the labour Convict Sites World of convicted prisoners. Heritage property – the Port Arthur Historic Site, Coal The eleven sites are Mines Historic Site (Tas m an pre-eminent examples Peninsula), Woolmers Estate of Australia’s rich convict and Brickendon (Longford), history, with more than Cascades Female Factory 3000 convict sites Historic Site (South Hobart) remaining around and Darlington Probation Australia. Station (Maria Island).
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C ARNARVON BAY
27 10 W 8 alki 6 28 ng trac Ferry 7 k to 5 Do cky Museum ard 29 30 & Cafe 4 9 11 12 MASON COVE Jetty 26 3 Cottage 1 2 13 Farm Overseer’s Canadian Cottage Cottage 14 Site Entry 16
TRAMWAY STREET 25 17 C A R TARLETON STREET C HA M P S T R E E T PARK 18 VISITOR 15 CEN TRE
19 24
20 23 Exit
33 GOVE RNME N T 21 GARDENS 22
Scorpion Rock Lookout
J E T T Y R O A D NO P U B L I C V E HI C L E A C C E S S
T E E T R S C H U R C H 31 32
C ARNARVON BAY
27 10 8 Wal 6 king 28 tr Ferr 7 ack to 5 Do y cky Museum ard 29 30 & Cafe 4 9 11 12 MASON COVE Jetty 26 3 Cottage 1 2 13 Farm Overseer’s Canadian Cottage Cottage 14 Site Entry 16
TRAMWAY STREET 25 17 C A R TARLETON STREET C HA M P S T R E E T PARK 18 VISITOR 15 CEN TRE
19 24
20 23 Exit
33 GOVE RNME N T 21 GARDENS 22
Scorpion Rock Lookout
J E T T Y R O A D NO P U B L I C V E HI C L E A C C E S S
T E E T R S C H U R C H 31 32
C ARNARVON BAY
27 10 W 8 alki 6 28 ng trac Ferry 7 k to 5 Do cky Museum ard 29 30 & Cafe 4 9 11 12 MASON COVE Jetty 26 3 Cottage 1 2 13 Farm Overseer’s Canadian Cottage Cottage 14 Site Entry 16
TRAMWAY STREET 25 17 C A R TARLETON STREET C HA M P S T R E E T PARK 18 VISITOR 15 CEN TRE
19 24
20 23 Exit
33 GOVE RNME N T 21 GARDENS 22
Scorpion Rock Lookout
J E T T Y R O A D NO P U B L I C V E HI C L E A C C E S S
T E E T R S C H U R C H The Penitentiary (1857)
This building was The lower floors of the originally constructed as building housed 136 a flour mill and granary in separate cells. The ground 1845. Grain was ground by floor housed the men in either a water-powered heavy irons, the first floor, mill or, when the water those in lighter irons. The flow was inadequate, dormitory was located by convicts walking on on the uppermost floor, a treadmill — one of the accommodating 348 men harshest punishments at in basic bunk-style beds. Port Arthur. There was also a library, Although the building mess room and Roman was beautifully designed Catholic chapel. It was used and one of the largest in to house prisoners until the the colony, the venture settlement closed in 1877. ultimately ended due to The building was devastated an insufficient water supply by fire in 1897 leaving only and competing priorities the masonry walls and for space and industry. barred windows behind. The mill was converted into A large scale conservation the Penitentiary between project was undertaken 1854 and 1857. between 2012 and 2018. The Church (1837)
The Church represents Much of the decorative the important role of stonework and joinery in religion in convict reform the church was crafted by at Port Arthur. Up to boys from the Point Puer 1100 people attended Boys’ Prison. The Church compulsory services was never consecrated, here each Sunday. allowing for multi- denominational services to be held. CONVICT ADMINISTRATION
Commandant’s House (1833–56) Law Courts (1846)
The Commandant was The Law Courts served Port Arthur’s most senior as ‘home’ to the rules official. A residence and regulations of the befitting this rank and settlement. It was here that position was erected on the rules were outlined by high ground in 1833 and a clerk the day convicts grew substantially over first arrived and where the years of occupation. punishments were ordered if a convict broke the rules.
Commandant's House THE MILITARY DISTRICT
Guard Tower (1835) Senior Military Officer’s Quarters (1833) Officers’ Quarters (1844)
For most of the convict soldiers were accompanied period, the Senior Military by their wives who washed, Officer’s Quarters was the sewed and provided basic home of the Military Officer nursing care for the men in in charge of the soldiers their husband’s company. at Port Arthur. The soldiers Children of the soldiers, were responsible for lower ranking settlement security and for pursuing officials and free staff were and capturing escaped educated together in the convicts. A small number of nearby Free School. Officers’ Quarters
Guard Tower THE WELFARE AREA
Hospital (1842) Paupers’ Depot (1864) The Asylum (1868)
In the Hospital, convicts convicts were housed and were treated for numerous treated in the Paupers’ conditions including Depot or the Asylum, respiratory or rheumatic according to new ideas that ailments contracted from recognised the importance working outdoors and of mental healthcare. The sleeping in cold cells. Asylum today includes a By the early 1860s many museum and café.
Smith O’Brien’s Cottage (1840s)
This cottage housed one of Transported for life, he was Port Arthur’s most famous sent to Port Arthur after political prisoners — Irish an attempted escape from Protestant Parliamentarian, Maria Island. William Smith O’Brien.
Smith O'Brien's Cottage
Hospital Convict Water Supply Trail (1842)
This trail tells the story of A 600 metre, self-guided an ambitious project that trail reveals the surviving aimed to make the convict artefacts from this convict- settlement self-sufficient in built hydro-engineering the production of flour. project. The walk takes about 30 minutes.
The Separate Prison (1849)
The Separate Prison was Convicts were locked in designed to deliver a new single cells for 23 hours each method of punishment and day. Here they ate, slept and reform through isolation and worked, with just one hour contemplation. a day allowed for exercise, alone, in a high-walled yard. A major conservation The Asylum program for the Separate Prison occurred between 2007 and 2012.
Separate Prison CIVIL OFFICERS’ ROW
Visiting Magistrate’s House (1847) Roman Catholic Chaplain’s House (1843) Junior Medical Officer’s House (1848) Accountant’s House (1842) Parsonage (1842) Government Cottage (1853) Government Gardens (1846)
Civil Officers’ Row Government Cottage separated senior officers was built in 1853 to and their families from accommodate government the convict population officials visiting the penal and provided them with settlement. Although several housing suited to their officials lived in it for short status. These houses were periods, it appears never home mainly to medical to have had a permanent staff and administrators, resident. The adjacent each with a small garden Government Gardens and outbuildings. The offered a quiet and beautiful Accountant’s house space, free from the today operates as our presence of the convicts. Education Centre.
Government Cottage CARNARVON TOWNSHIP
Police Station (1936) Soldiers’ Memorial Avenue (1918) Trentham (1898-1904) St David’s Church (1927) Pat Jones’ Cottage (1942)
Several buildings and It was replanted in the five areas remain from the years leading up to 2018 as post-convict period. the 100th anniversary of the Trentham was lived in by end of World War 1. members of the Trenham The Police Station was home family up to 1920. The to the township’s policemen house and garden have from 1936 to 1972. St David’s been restored and are Church was built after years open to the public. of Anglican Church services The Soldiers’ Memorial in the Town Hall (Asylum). Avenue was planted to Residing in her sheet metal honour the men from the cottage, Pat Jones was the Carnarvon and Oakwood last private resident still districts who served in living on the site in 1984. the First World War. Trentham Isle of the Dead (1833)
Between 1833 and 1877 place not only for convicts, around 1100 people were but also civilian and military buried at the settlement’s officers, their wives and cemetery. The Isle of the children. Accessible only Dead is the final resting with a guided tour.
Point Puer Boys’ Prison (1834)
Point Puer operated from 17, with the youngest just 1834 to 1849 and was 9 years old. Point Puer was the first purpose-built renowned for its regime of juvenile reformatory in stern discipline and harsh the British Empire. Young punishment; many of the offenders were separated boys received an education from the older convicts to and some were given protect them from criminal the opportunity of trade influence. Most of the boys training. Accessible only were aged between 14 and with a guided tour.
ISLE OF THE DEAD c1870 THE DOCKYARD
Slipway (1834-48) & Sculpture Limekiln (1854) Master Shipwright’s House (1834) Clerk of Works’ House (1848)
During its 15 years of The lime produced from the operation (1834–1848), Limekiln was an essential Port Arthur’s Dockyard ingredient for building produced 16 large-decked construction at Port Arthur. vessels and around 150 A 25 metre long sculpture small open boats. At its sits in one of the Dockyard’s peak, more than 70 men two slips, evoking the scale worked here. The precinct of the ships that were made included a blacksmith’s here. The sounds of long- workshop, two sawpits, vanished industry — the two steamers for bending blacksmith’s shop, sawpit, timber, a rigging shed and the clattering of hammers, several other workshops. voices — can be heard as you explore the area.
Limekiln
Master Shipwright's House 1996 Memorial Garden
On Sunday 28 April 1996, The Memorial Garden a tragic chapter was incorporates the shell of added to Port Arthur’s the Broad Arrow Café, history when a gunman where 20 people were killed took the lives of 35 people during the massacre. The and physically wounded garden has been created 19 others in and around as a place of remembrance the Port Arthur Historic and quiet reflection. Site. Among them were members of staff from the Historic Site. CONSERVATION AND RESEARCH
We undertake a range of Your entry fee enables us conservation activities at to make the Site available the Port Arthur Historic for visitors and to ensure Site to ensure that the quality services. Your fees Site is protected for future also contribute to the generations to enjoy. conservation of our three Sites, a responsibility Today, the Site is managed supported by substantial by the Port Arthur Historic funding from the Tasmanian Site Management Authority. Government. PAHSMA also manages the Coal Mines Historic PAHSMA provides a range Site, near Saltwater River, of services and resources to and the Cascades Female assist people undertaking Factory Historic Site in research into convict and South Hobart. Our vision colonial history, genealogy, is to conserve and enhance tourism and heritage the heritage values of our management studies. Our World Heritage convict research team can help you sites, and to share the with research into Tasmanian stories of these places convicts — whether they and the people connected came to Port Arthur or to them. not. We can also help you to research non-convicts We have established the who had a relationship Port Arthur Conservation with Port Arthur or the Fund to assist us in Tasman Peninsula — for conserving these fragile example, a Medical Officer, and valuable places. Commandant or Overseer. Please ask our staff for more information if you For more information would like to contribute. please contact us at [email protected] @portarthurtassie @PortArthur #portarthurtassie from PAHSMA. from McAuliffe. images Historic Illustrations by Cathy
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