Port Arthur located on the Tasman Peninsula is a historic site and the most significant in Australia's convict history. In 1830 150 convicts started to fell trees to erect rough bark and timber huts that were the first of the buildings in the area. Port Arthur was intended to be a timber sawing station in which the difficult prisoners would find harsh. Port Arthur the period of 1830 to 1877 had 1200 convicts and 1000 free people which included soldiers, officials and their families. Port Arthur was a Secondary Penal Settlement and convicts where transported there after re-offending at other convict sites.
The lives of the officers and their families were quite easy where as the prisoners found the conditions to be very hard. It had a reputation as 'hell on earth'. The chain gangs were the worst class of prisoner and they wore leg irons and worked the hardest of the tasks required. Those men that were flooged were only flooged in fron of there own chain gangs. One young man received 36 lashes for having his hands in his pocket. At the settlements burial place lies nearly 2000 convicts and free people. During the 1840's Port Arthur became almost self sufficent using the convict labour with producing ships, clothing, bricks, furniture, vegetables and other goods.
During the years of 1835 the first ever juvenile prison was establised. 3000 youths between 1835 and 1849 between the ages of 9 and 18 were sent to Point Peur in the hope of reforming them away from adult influences. Here they received basic training in trades to make them into useful citizens when they were freed. The prison was renamed Carnarvon just after it closed but the name Port Arthur was re instated in 1927.
The Tasman Peninsula has beautiful scenery including natural rock formations. Some of these are the Tasman Arch, Eaglehawk Neck and Devils Kitchen.
