Port Arthur

After a couple of days in Hobart, we headed down to Port Arthur. I was quite keen to see this historic site as I'm a bit of a history buff and after all, it is the most famous convict settlement in Tassie.

If you ever get to Tassie, Port Arthur is definitely worth visiting. The entry price is expensive but it includes a cruise and a walking tour. We were a bit pushed for time so we just went on the cruise and explored the buildings ourselves. It's worth spending a whole day there but after a few hours, I'd had enough. Despite being intriguing, Port Arthur has a sad and sorry past as a convict settlement and also because of the 1996 massacre. When you pay your entry fees you get given a booklet which contains frequently asked questions and one of these is 'Can we ask the staff about the massacre?' The answer is 'no' because three of the staff died in the massacre and the rest don't like talking about it for obvious reasons. They have a plaque commemorating the three staff members who passed away and there is a memorial garden which we didn't end up visiting.

They also offer ghost tours at night which we briefly considered going on but decided against it. They cost more money plus Duncan didn't think it would be good for my nightmares!

Because of the history of pain and suffering this place has, I started to feel a bit sick just before closing time and was quite glad to leave. It's weird, but I felt like there was a sense of spiritual oppression there. Still, I'm glad I got to see it for myself.


















































This is the gaol area.















Imagine living in a cell like this.





































The boatbuilders' cottage.
























Isle of the Dead and Point Puer









Point Puer where they kept convict boys. All the buildings were pulled down in the 1800s.













Isle of the Dead where they have the ghost tours. There are heaps of convicts and free people buried here.













Us on the boat.


























Towards the open sea.











The old asylum. Dunc said I belonged here. Ha he can talk!












Old ruined church.











I think this was the Governor's house.












































Eaglehawk Neck (near Port Arthur)










Strange name, eh?