Description of the attraction
The infamous city of Port Arthur is located 60 km from Hobart, which today is home to about 500 people. The first settlement here, on the Tasman Peninsula, appeared in 1830, and after another three years a prison was built in Port Arthur. From 1833 to 1853, it was here that the most dangerous criminals in Britain and Ireland, mostly repeat offenders, were exiled. Juvenile criminals often came here, some of whom were 9 years old - their crime was, most often, in stealing toys. And it was this prison, which operated until 1877, that became famous for its incredibly difficult conditions of detention of prisoners - both physical and psychological measures of punishment were used here. For example, only well-behaved prisoners received food. Those who were especially submissive could even get tea, sugar or tobacco - the most desirable items. And as punishment, prisoners could be kept on bread and water for weeks. Contacts of prisoners with the inhabitants of the town and the sailors who came here were strictly prohibited. Both adults and young convicts worked at construction sites. Many went insane due to lack of light and sound, and some committed suicide. On the Isle of the Dead, located near the prison, there are 1,646 graves.
After the prison was closed, Port Arthur became a popular open-air museum. Today, excursions are conducted around the building of the former prison and they tell terrible stories about the spirits of the dead, who still wander here to this day. In the local museum, you can see records, household items, clothes and personal belongings of prisoners. In 2010, UNESCO recognized the historical value of this place. More than 250 thousand tourists visit Port Arthur every year.
In 1996, Port Arthur recalled itself with a terrible tragedy: on April 28, a certain Martin Bryant shot 35 people on the streets of the city, among whom were not only locals, but also tourists. Another 21 people were seriously injured. As a result of the incident, firearms regulations were severely tightened across Australia.
