I'll start my massive slew of posts by a trip back in Australian history. Tasmania was settled early and became synonymous with convict history. Australia started off as a prison for miscreants whose crimes these days for the likes of stealing a sheep would end up with fine! Back then, it was transportation for 7 years. And, although Sydney was the starting point for the penal colony, Tasmania seems to have taken up the running for harshness, especially for second-time offenders. Port Arthur was the main destination for many, but Hobart was home to a women's prison and various parts of the east coast like Maria Island were especially harsh penitentiaries We visited many of these sites, which are sometimes rather beautiful these days.
Let's start at Port Arthur, leaving the others to the next post. The reason for this is simple. Although a harsh prison, its location is absolutely gorgeous. Wouldn't you have to liked to be sent to this environment?
The land is green and heavily wooded, mountainous, adjacent to a picturesque estuary, and brilliantly manicured .
More sombre is the second picture on the left, which is the isle of the dead - the place to bury those
prisoners who died of many illnesses prevalent in the early 19th century or, I presume, executed for their further misdemeanours. And, on the right, we see the turret which was part of the army HQ.
On the left we look over to where senior officials lived - medical, priests, etc.
The commandant also had nice quarters.
He had a picturesque home - by Australian standards - and nicely decorated rooms. We ambled through these much as one would navigate a British stately home.
Alas, the site was also home to stark prison accommodation.
OK, today they're quite picturesque ruins today, but it's not difficult to see how forbidding they must have been 200 years ago.
Thus dude might be familiar to some of you, but let me assure you I'd committed no crime in being there.
The military barracks are up on the hillside - up from the circular tower we saw earlier.
The wall (left) housed recalcitrant prisoners in various forms of solitary confinement pictured below. Recognise the dame in the last two photos? It's Rebecca!
As you can see, we really enjoyed ourselves on a glorious Autumn day. Although 43 degrees South, the temperature on this day must have been close to 20 C - very pleasant.
Let's start at Port Arthur, leaving the others to the next post. The reason for this is simple. Although a harsh prison, its location is absolutely gorgeous. Wouldn't you have to liked to be sent to this environment?
The land is green and heavily wooded, mountainous, adjacent to a picturesque estuary, and brilliantly manicured .
More sombre is the second picture on the left, which is the isle of the dead - the place to bury those
prisoners who died of many illnesses prevalent in the early 19th century or, I presume, executed for their further misdemeanours. And, on the right, we see the turret which was part of the army HQ.
On the left we look over to where senior officials lived - medical, priests, etc.
The commandant also had nice quarters.
He had a picturesque home - by Australian standards - and nicely decorated rooms. We ambled through these much as one would navigate a British stately home.
Alas, the site was also home to stark prison accommodation.
OK, today they're quite picturesque ruins today, but it's not difficult to see how forbidding they must have been 200 years ago.
Thus dude might be familiar to some of you, but let me assure you I'd committed no crime in being there.
The military barracks are up on the hillside - up from the circular tower we saw earlier.
The wall (left) housed recalcitrant prisoners in various forms of solitary confinement pictured below. Recognise the dame in the last two photos? It's Rebecca!
As you can see, we really enjoyed ourselves on a glorious Autumn day. Although 43 degrees South, the temperature on this day must have been close to 20 C - very pleasant.
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