Port Arthur Historic Site is situated on the southern end of the Tasman Peninsula, 20 kilometres from Eaglehawk Neck, and 102 kilometres from Hobart city.

This is quite possibly one of Australia's best known historic sites, and it was one of the largest penal settlements in Tasmania from 1830 to 1877, with an estimated 12,500 multiple offenders passing through the prison system and the various settlements adjacent to Port Arthur. Visitors to the site may wander at their leisure through the convict constructed buildings, or take a free walking tour of the site. There are over thirty historic sites to view.

In 1854 when Port Arthur was at its peak, over 9,000 people resided here, with numbers gradually declining up until 1877. It really was a very suitable site for a prison settlement, with the only way off the peninsula being across the narrow strip of land called Eaglehawk Neck. The settlement was at one stage totally self sufficient, and was a bustling community with over 230 buildings on site.

By 1853 the transportation of convicts from England to its Australian colony ceased. The 1860s saw Port Arthur fall somewhat into decline. Those who were fit enough left, leaving only the old and unwell behind, and over time there were fewer and fewer fit and able-bodied individuals left in the settlement.

By the 1870s the penal settlement was deemed too expensive to run, and it was decided to close it down. Anything that was moveable was moved, and everything else was locked up and left. Over the next few years some items were plundered, and storms destroyed a lot of buildings.

Combine these facts with the bushfires during the 1890s and a general desire by the government to try and forget about the distasteful past of the colony, and the result is that not many of the buildings remain or were initially maintained in those days.

Port Arthur was briefly renamed Carnarvon in an attempt to erase the stigma of the convict past. It returned to Port Arthur when it was realised that it was more appropriate to commemorate rather than forget the memories of the site.

In 1987, one of Australia's largest ever conservation programs helped to restore many of the remaining buildings at the site, and the money gathered from visitor fees is invested straight back into the site. A separate organisation, the Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority is responsible for the upkeep of the site.

Due to this continual restoration work, many of the buildings are open to the public who flock to Port Arthur in their thousands each year to visit this important historic site. It is open every day of the year from 9am, except for Christmas Day when it closes. For further information phone (002) 50 2539.


Natural Attractions

Natural attractions in the Port Arthur area include the Remarkable Caves, situated to the south of the historic site. The caves are situated against a backdrop of the rugged Tasmanian coastline, and the water thrashes through the caves, making a most impressive sight. The caves really are remarkable, because if you look through them at just the right angle, the light shines through what is an almost perfect map of the island of Tasmania.

Other Attractions

The Tasmanian Devil Park in Taranna is a nature park only a few kilometres away from Port Arthur. The park is definitely worth a visit when in the area. See the attractions section of Taranna for further details on the park.

The Bush Mill is a restored steam powered timber mill which also has a steam engine running between it and the old style Fox and Hounds Hotel. The Mill is set in ten acres of natural bushland. You can watch the blacksmith at work and visit the Big Log display. There is a shop / restaurant for you to enjoy a devonshire tea or something more substantial to eat. The Bush Mill is open seven days a week, and for more information phone (002) 50 2221.

There are a number of facilities to be found at the Historic Site. Picnic and barbecue sites are available, and visitors can feel free to wander through the elegant gardens at their leisure, enjoying both the dramatic scenery and the encompassing history of the area.

The film "For the Term of His Natural Life" is shown at Port Arthur Historic Site every evening at 7.30pm. Phone (002) 50 2242 for more information.

Evening Ghost Tours of the historic site may be embarked on by the brave. These entail a lantern lit walking tour of Port Arthur, and certainly inform you of all sorts of interesting aspects of the Port Arthur ghosts and spirits. You will hear ghost tales from the days of settlement, and equally colourful tales of 'ghost sightings' over recent months and even weeks. One place that you will visit on the ghost tours that can not be visited by day is the original morgue, known as the Dissection Room, where 'operations' were performed on convicts to determine the cause of death. A Ghost Tour is a unique and enthralling way of seeing the sights here. Phone (002) 50 2539 for further information.

The Eaglehawk Dive Centre operates out of Sorell. They can arrange for you to experience the wonderful stillness of the depths of the sea near Port Arthur, and encounter the sea's stunning beauty. Amongst the features that you will come upon are Waterfall Bay Caves and Canyons, the Sister Rocks, Giant Kelp Forests and Hippolyte Rock with its sea lion colony. For further information phone (002) 50 3566.

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