Port Arthur - Visiting in prison

Historically the most interesting place in Tasmania's Port Arthur, where once a large prison was built.

But on the way there is a lot to discover! The coast around the Pirates Bay is very spectacular, here are wind and water conjured this arch in the rock, which is now Tasman Arch called.

Leutnand George Arthur decided around here a kind of open prison colony to build, since the peninsula with the rest of Tasmania's only through a 100 m long strip of land (Eaglehawk Neck) is connected, which was heavily guarded by dogs.

From 1830 to 1877 thus were here 12,500 prisoners from their sentences and had to work hard as a lumberjack, ship-builder, a miner, working in the brick-making and leather processing.

Prevailing at that time in England laws were very strict and so many people were convicted and sent overseas by ship due to relatively small crimes like stealing bread.

Thus, Port Arthur was for many years a fully functioning village where even the employees of the prison with their families lived, so it was only normal houses and other infrastructure such as churches etc.

Nowadays, you can visit here trailing cells, particularly scary is the punishment cell which is absolutely dark and soundproof.

1996 Port Arthur became the scene of one of the worst school shootings in Australia's history when the then 28-year-old Martin Bryant suddenly a gun from his gym bag pulls out and opened fire indiscriminately on people in the canteen and then flees to a nearby guesthouse. Within hours, he kills 35 people and wounded another 37 before it can be caught by the police.

Port Arthur is undoubtedly one of the most important places in the history of Tasmania, since many convicts were given after settling the fine country and they were located here. Anyway, a must-see and who can already say with a clear conscience that he was in prison already!

On the way back we took a detour to RichmondWhere the oldest church and bridge in Australia can be found.