November 16th, 2022
Wednesday was Port Arthur, another cold day. We bundled up in layers but we were still wishing for our down coats. Our bus driver was a big fan of A/C and blasted the icy air all day as we all shivered.
Port Arthur was another part of the Tasmanian penal system, this time for men and boys. Even 7 year-old children, were transported to Australia for minor crimes such as stealing a loaf of bread. The usual sentence for prisoners was 14 years hard labor, with more time for bad behaviour or re offending and less time for good behaviour. The boys were housed at Point Puer to separate them from hardened criminals. The boys were taught a trade to help rehabilitate them. From what we learned at the Cascades women’s prison, it is true the females were treated more harshly than the men.
The Port Arthur penal settlement began life as a small timber station in 1830 and quickly grew in importance within the colonies. Ship building was introduced on a large scale to Port Arthur as a way of providing selected convicts with a useful skill they could take with them once freed. The prison boat building enterprise with its free convict labor, was stopped as it undercut the local boat building industry. In 1853 punishment by transportation was discontinued.
Port Arthur is a lovely place with beautiful gardens and grounds which were appreciated by the higher-ranking officials who were administrating the site.
On our way back in our icy coach we stopped at the Tasman Arch cave. The roof of the cove had fallen in many, many years ago. The ocean still rushes in past the arch and into the open cave. Next stop was the Remarkable Cave, we walked down the 115 steps down to this former cave where the ceiling had weathered away. The ocean’s huge curling waves smash in here time after time.
As we approached Hobart, we diverted though the Richmond Valley area. Our driver described the many types of fruit and berries grown there and told us about the varied kinds of grapes and the wine they produce.The hills were dotted with sheep and cows It is such a beautiful spot with a lovely old brick bridge the oldest and only one of its kind left in Australia.
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