Port Arthur is undoubtably Tasmania's most famous location related to this era. Between 1830 - 1877 it was home to 12,700 convicts some of whom never left, their remains placed in mass graves on the Isle of the Dead at Port Arthur. Today the scene is very different for Port Arthur, it is peaceful  with green lawns and oak trees.

 

Port Arthur however is not the only site where the convict era is still evident. We have put together several different tours where you can soak up the atmosphere of these times and at the same time take in more of this delightful island.

 

In Hobart town itself we can visit the The Female Factory close to the Cascade Brewery.

 

We can drive you up the Midland Highway to Launceston showing the delightful small towns and hamlets on the way and at the same time show you the figure of the hangman who used to walk the highway because no one would give him a lift. Then there is Oatlands where we can see architectural evidence related to the penal era. In Ross we can see the wonderful bridge which earnt a couple of prisoners their pardon. Campbell Town has lined the footpath in the centre of town with names of convicts.

 

If you take a tour to the west coast of the island you will be able to visit Macquarie Harbour. This was undoubtably the most awful of the various location chosen to house convicts. This evidence of a very harsh time is now a beautiful tourist location and well worth a visit.

 

And of course we should in no way forget the very historic village of Richmond where we will find Australia's oldest freestone bridge still in use  and Richmond Goal part of which is older than Port Arthur.