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The history of Australia being used as a base for British convict colonies has profoundly shaped the history and culture of the nation. Tasmania was one of the earliest colonies established in Australia and has a long and storied history of convicts. The best place to learn about this period of history is at Port Arthur.
Port Arthur is one of the reasons why Tasmania should be on anyone's travel bucket list. Tasmania is green and beautiful, with mountains and forests. For many, Tasmania is one of the most underrated parts of Australia.
The First British Convicts Of The Thirteen Australian Colonies Before The Revolution
The background of the British sending convicts to Australia is fascinating and largely lost in the popular imagination. While Americans often trace their origins and immigration to US shores to the Puritans and those seeking a free land away from the oppressions of the Old World, the truth is much more complicated.
- Convicts In America: Approx. 60,000 (1718-1783)
Between 1718 and the independence of the United States, the British sent somewhere around 60,000 convicts (dubbed "the King's passengers"). They were sent from England to the Thirteen Colonies (90% in Maryland and Virginia). Some returned to England after their servitude was completed, but most stayed on.
This took place after the British Parliament passed the Transportation Act. Under this act, England sent its convicts to the Colonies, who were then sold as indentured servants in the Colonies. Benjamin Franklin is known to have equated it to packing up North America's rattlesnakes and sending them to England.
But the story of America's convicts is largely lost to history. One of the many side effects of the American Revolution was that the new United States was none-too-pleased with the idea of Britain continuing to send its criminals to its shores.
The British then looked around for a new place to send their convicts. Australia had only recently been mapped and claimed for the British by the famous explorer Captain James Cook (who inspired the fictional character Captain James T. Kirk of Star Trek exploring the 'ultimate frontier'). One of Captain Cook's ships, the HMS Endeavour, may have recently been discovered off the coast of Rhode Island.
The History Of Convicts In The Founding Of Australia
The first convicts arrived in Australia in 1788 at Botany Bay in today's Sydney (although they actually settled in the bay over). Botany Bay is one of the great places to explore for anyone visiting Sydney today.
Over the next hundred years (between 1788 and 1868), over 162,000 convicts were sent to Australia. Here, they were used as a form of slave labor to establish the colonies on the continent (the colony of South Australia never received any convicts). Many were sent to Tasmania, which was the second British colony in Australia in 1803.
- Past Convicts In Australia: Over 162,000
- Period: 1788 to 1868
Port Arthur was a former convict settlement in Tasmania, and today, it contains some of the best-preserved convict-related ruins. It is a site of great heritage importance to Australia. It is one of the most prominent of the Australian Convict Sites, made up of 11 remnant penal sites.
Port Arthur is found around 60 miles or 97 kilometers from Hobart (the state capital).
Port Arthur was a penal destination between 1833 and 1877 for the most hardened of convicted British criminals. These were people who had re-offended after arriving in Australia. It has some of the toughest security systems in the contemporary British penal system. Today, it is a haunted ruin full of stories of mistreatment and contains a history of a notable shift from physical punishment to psychological punishment.
What To Know About Planning A Visit To Port Arthur Today
Visiting Port Arthur is a must for anyone visiting Tasmania. Standard entry includes access to the Port Arthur Galley (which has interactive exhibits on the history of the site), a self-guided Port Arthur Audio Experience, a 20-minute Harbour Cruise, and access to over 30 historic buildings (that include ruins, restored houses, heritage gardens, and walking trails).
Getting around the site is easier with a courtesy shuttle service intended for those with restricted mobility.
- Port Arthur Historic Site Opening Hours: 9.00 am to 5.00 pm
- Days Open: Everyday (Except Christmas Day)
Port Arthur Historic Site Entry Fees:
- Adult: AUD $47 (USD $31)
- Child: AUD $22 (USD $15)
Visitors can also take their experience up to another level by taking a guided tour of the convict ruins and learning about the stories of the convicts.
Lastly, the best way to get to Port Arthur is to hire a car from Hobart and drive down to the site at the southern tip of the Tasman Peninsula.
One of the best places in the United States to visit a haunted former prison is the Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia.