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Port Arthur Facts & Worksheets

Port Arthur is a small town located on the Tasman Peninsula in southeastern Tasmania, Australia

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On the Tasman Peninsula in Tasmania, Australia, there is a town called Port Arthur, formerly a convict settlement. The site is part of the Australian Convict Colonies, a World Heritage Site consisting of 11 residual prison sites built by the British Empire on wealthy Australian coastal strips during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

See the fact file below for more information on Port Arthur, or you can download our 30-page Port Arthur worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

LOCATION

  • Port Arthur is a town on Tasmania’s Tasman Peninsula located about 97 kilometers (60 miles) southeast of Tasmania‘s state capital, Hobart. The scenic trip from Hobart to Port Arthur via the Tasman Highway and the Arthur Highway takes around 90 minutes. There is also a bus and ferry service from Hobart to the site, and several companies provide day trips from Hobart.

HISTORY

  • After the American War of Independence, Britain could not transport its prisoners to America, so they were transported to the Australian colonies starting in 1788. These men and women were convicted mostly of non-violent crimes. Later, from 1833 until 1877, only those considered the most hardened were sent to Port Arthur. If they were convicted at least once previously, Britain’s policy was to harshly punish repeat offenders.
  • Port Arthur was named after the lieutenant governor of Van Diemen’s Land, George Arthur. The settlement began in 1830 as a lumber station, although it was known primarily for being a penal colony. 
  • During the first decade, a penal station was carved out of the bush, and the first factories, such as shipbuilding, shoemaking, smithing, lumber, and brickmaking, were established. The prisoner population grew to about 1,100 in the 1840s, and the settlement’s industrial and penal nature consolidated. In 1842, work on a massive flour mill and granary (later known as the Penitentiary) and the construction of a hospital began.
  • Port Arthur’s “Separate Prison,” modeled after London‘s Pentonville prison, was established in 1848. The 80-cell prison was designed like a cross, with radial exercise yards surrounding a central hall and chapel. Port Arthur grew geographically during this period as prisoners went further into the surrounding hills to gather precious timber. The transition towards the Separate Prison system resulted in a shift in punishment methods from physical to psychological.
  • Port Arthur had one of the most modern and strict security facilities in Australia’s penal system. It was naturally guarded on three sides by shark-infested seas. 
  • Port Arthur was also a common destination for juvenile convicts, accepting many boys as young as nine years old arrested for stealing toys. The boys were separated from the rest of the convict population and kept at Point Puer, the British Empire’s first boys’ prison. The boys, like the adults, were subjected to hard labor, including stone cutting and construction.
  • The 1850s and 1860s were years of intense activity aimed at making the facility economically sustainable. Extensive tracts of bush were cut down to feed a thriving timber industry, and large plots of land turned to cultivation. The old flour mill and granary were transformed into a penitentiary in 1857, and a wider variety of workshops designed to house a steam-driven sawmill, blacksmith and forge, and carpentry workshop were built next to it. The Asylum, the last major project, was also begun in 1864.
  • By the 1870s, the number of convicts had declined, and those who remained were too old and infirm. The last convict was released in 1877, and the prison was closed.
  • All those who died in prison camps were placed on the Isle and of the Dead. Only 180 of the 1,646 recorded burials, that of prison officers and military personnel, are marked. These mass graves are now popular with tourists.

MODERN DEVELOPMENT

  • Following the closure of the penal colony, the site was renamed Carnarvon, and in the 1880s, the land was parceled up and auctioned off, with people settling in and around the old site.
  • Despite devastating fires in 1895 and 1897 that destroyed many old buildings, including the Penitentiary, Separate Prison, and the Hospital, the new residents were determined to establish a town for themselves. This resulted in the development of new infrastructure, with the community gaining amenities such as a post office, cricket club, lawn tennis club, and other facilities.

Tourism

  • With the closure of the settlement began the arrival of the first visitors, willing to see firsthand the horrors of a penal station. Guiding, the sale of souvenirs, the beauty of the peninsula, and lodging provided the desired tourist experience while ensuring a revenue base for the fledgling community. By the 1920s and 1930s, Port Arthur had two museums, three hotels, and tour guides.
  • Unrelated occupations such as timber harvesting and agriculture remained but were surpassed in importance by tourism. Despite fluctuating over the decades with the cycles of economic boom and bust and the impact of two world wars, Port Arthur has never lost its place as a key tourism attraction. Acknowledging this, the name Port Arthur was reinstated in 1927.
  • On April 28, 1996, a tragic chapter in Port Arthur’s history occurred when a lone gunman shot and killed 35 people while injuring 19 others in and around Port Arthur. Because of this tragedy, the Port Arthur Historic Site was closed to the general public for a month. A memorial garden was established in the years following the event and included the partially demolished ruins of the Broad Arrow Café, where many of the victims lost their lives. As a result of this incident, national uniform gun laws were enacted, including a general prohibition on private ownership of automatic and semi-automatic firearms.

Historic Site and World Heritage

  • The Coal Mines, Cascades Female Factory Historical, and Port Arthur Sites have been designated a World Heritage Property of Australian Convict Sites. The Australian Convict Sites are considered one of the best examples of convict-forced migration. They represent the typical characteristics of convictism in the modern period, including several unique features. 
  • In 2010, World Heritage officially recognized the Australian Convict Sites World Heritage Property and was added to the list. The Property is one of Australia’s most well-known historical examples of forced migration, with each location representing a different aspect of the penal system.

HISTORICAL LANDMARKS

  • Convict-built church – Religion was crucial to the more extensive rehabilitation process. Therefore it was a fundamental aspect of the prisoner experience in Port Arthur. The church was historically presided over by Wesleyan ministers until 1843 when Reverend Durham of the Church of England was assigned to the settlement.
  • The Penitentiary – The Penitentiary (and its predecessors, the Flour Mill and Granary) represent the machine of reform at work, encompassing both the mechanism of punishment and the machinery of self-improvement.
  • The Hospital – This was the third hospital established in the settlement, and the wards could accommodate roughly 70 patients, with prisoners and Point Puer boys isolated from soldiers and officials.
  • The Separate Prison – Separate Prison was constructed on a hill on the outskirts of the settlement. Its remoteness and lofty walls were intended to frighten anyone planning disobedience with an uncertain and awful destiny.
  • Isle of the Dead – More than 1,000 prisoners, military and civil officials, women, and children were laid to rest on Port Arthur’s small cemetery island between 1833 and 1877.
  • Guard Tower – The Guard Tower served as a storage facility for firearms and ammunition, as well as a guard room and watch tower.

VISITING PORT ARTHUR

  • Despite its dark history, Port Arthur has a serene atmosphere with many outdoor areas for reflection. There are several travel companies that provide package trips to Port Arthur. The place is accessible via car, minivan, or motorcycle. There are also scheduled ferry services from Hobart, including narration on board as tourists cross the sea en route to Port Arthur.
  • Tickets are valid for two consecutive days and are required for entry to the site and include an Introductory Guided Walking Tour, access to the Museum, Harbour Cruise, Convict Study Center, Interpretation Gallery, and Dockyard.

THINGS TO DO IN PORT ARTHUR

  • Commandant’s Tour – A 90-minute special guided tour of Port Arthur’s notable sites.
  • The Isle of the Dead Cemetery Tour – More than 1,000 prisoners, military and civil officials, women, and children were laid to rest on Port Arthur’s tiny cemetery island between 1833 and 1877. Convicts were laid to rest in generally unmarked graves near the island’s southern end. In contrast, the higher northern end was designated for free and military burials, which were marked by headstones.
  • Port Arthur Ghost Tour – A 90-minute lantern-lit tour of Port Arthur after dark provides rare nighttime access to the historic site. While leading tourists through some of Port Arthur’s most haunted structures and ruins, experienced guides narrate accounts of paranormal activities documented since convict times to the present.
  • Hiking – Visitors come to Port Arthur to appreciate the area’s natural beauty and enjoy the hiking trails.
  • Escape from Port Arthur Tour – There are always attempts to escape from prisons, and Port Arthur was no exception. Once daily, this one-hour tour shows the lengths that prisoners went to escape, only to end their lives in the dense woodland or icy waters.
  • Harbour Cruise – The Harbour Cruise is another fantastic bonus travelers receive with their entry ticket. Tourists get a look at the Isle of the Dead Cemetery and the Point Puer Boys’ Prison on a 20-minute lap around the bay. From the sea, visitors also get a beautiful view of the settlement.

Port Arthur Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Port Arthur across 30 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Port Arthur, a small town located on the Tasman Peninsula in southeastern Tasmania, Australia.

Port Arthur Worksheets
Port Arthur Worksheets
Port Arthur Worksheets

Download includes the following worksheets

  • Port Arthur Facts 
  • Take Note!
  • Words that Describe
  • Can you Tell?
  • Let’s Recall
  • On my Way
  • Sites to See
  • Time to Tell
  • How did you feel?
  • This is Port Arthur
  • 3-2-1 Pyramid

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Port Arthur and where is it located?

Port Arthur is a small town and former convict settlement on the Tasman Peninsula in Tasmania, Australia. It is located approximately 97 km southeast of the state capital Hobart.

Why is Port Arthur significant?

Port Arthur is significant because it was once a harsh penal colony where convicts were sent from all over the British Empire. It was established in 1830 and operated until 1877, during which time it housed some of the most notorious criminals of the day. The site is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a popular tourist destination.

What are the main attractions in Port Arthur?

The main attractions in Port Arthur are the Port Arthur Historic Site, the Convict Trail, and the Coal Mines Historic Site. The Port Arthur Historic Site is the main attraction and features over 30 historic buildings and ruins, including the Penitentiary, the Separate Prison, and the Guard Tower. The Convict Trail is a walking trail that takes visitors through the ruins of a number of convict sites in the area, while the Coal Mines Historic Site features the ruins of a former coal mining operation that used convict labor.

Is Port Arthur haunted?

Port Arthur is said to be haunted by the ghosts of former convicts and others who died on the site. There have been numerous reports of paranormal activity at the Port Arthur Historic Site, including sightings of ghostly figures, strange noises, and unexplained movements. Many people believe that the site is haunted, and ghost tours are a popular attraction in the area.

How can I visit Port Arthur?

Port Arthur is easily accessible by car from Hobart, which is the nearest major city. There are also regular bus tours that operate from Hobart to Port Arthur. The Port Arthur Historic Site is open daily and tickets can be purchased on-site or online in advance. Guided tours are available, as well as audio tours and self-guided tours.

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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