Feb 18, 2011; Day 44 at sea
We awoke in Carnarvon Bay this morning and used tenders to go ashore.
Port Arthur operated as a prison colony from 1830 to around 1877. A complete community was built up around the prison. Today many of the original buildings are in ruin, but some have survived. The stonework, done primarily by prisoners still remains intact. Tours are available to the Island of the dead where an estimated 1100 people (townspeople and prisoners) were buried. Many of the prisoners were repeat offenders, but many too were young men whose only crime was stealing a bit of food. One boy was only 9 years old.
The visitor’s center is most impressive and contains an amazing museum depicting life in the prison and the rehabilitation done there. Many of the prisoners learned crafts and trades and were eventually released.
The site receives around 250,000 visitors a year and it’s easy to see why. The grounds here are beautiful. I was especially impressed with the church. Prisoners had created beautiful woodwork, but an accident caused it to burn down. What remains is a stone exterior. I took a number of photos. It’s a haunting place and is said to be haunted. In April 1966 a gunman went on a shooting spree and took the lives of 35 people and wounded another 19 in and around the historic site. The man is in prison serving 35 life sentences.
I worked this morning until noon and then went out to walk around the site. What an experience. We arrived back on the ship at 2:30 and I’m writing.
Soon Sydney!!! I understand that port is right by the opera house. I can’t wait.
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