Robinson's Little Adventure 2015: Port Arthur (Feb 10)

Next we visited the Tasman Peninsula and Port Arthur. We left early from Richmond with our first stop being Eaglehawk Neck, the small strip of land connecting the peninsula to the main land. We visited three natural sites close by:

· The Tasman Blowhole – not nearly as impressive as the Bicheno blowhole!;

Tasman Arch

· The Tasman Arch – very impressive and

· Devil’s Kitchen.

Coastline next to Devils Kitchen

After these stops we made it to Port Arthur before lunch. We all found Port Arthur very interesting and enjoyed the tour and short cruise. Max couldn’t believe boys were sent to prison at Port Puer some as young as 9 years old.

View to Penitentiary

We spent all afternoon walking the precinct and visiting all of the various buildings, including the main penitentiary, guard tower, commandant's house, church and separate prison.

We were given a convict ‘playing card’ each which represented a particular convict and we could follow their story. Max had a 10 year old boy who had been sent to Port Puer Boys' Prison.

Max in shackles in the museum

At the back of the Penitentiary

The Separate Prison was also really interesting. It was there for those prisoners that did not follow the rules in the main prison. Additional punishments were dished out here - solitary confinement and black room. Apparently any prisoner who was in the separate prison never saw another prisoner, anytime they were moved they wore bags over their heads so as not to come in contact with another prisoner.

Outside cell #14

Inside the exercise yard

Each prisoner had their own cell. The four exercise yards were separate and only held one prisoner at a time. The Separate Prison also had a church, where each prisoner was locked into a small "cupboard" with only as view of the priest conducting the church service. Ensuring no contact with each other. Pretty full on!!

Church inside the Separate Prison

We also went into one of the dark rooms where prisoners could be held for further punishment for extended periods of time. Crazy scary - pitch black when the door was closed. All four of us were in the room together and we could not see a thing!