Port Arthur, TAS.

 Our first day at Fortescue Bay, we spent the day exploring Port Arthur. The ranger gave us the tip to drive a little bit past the Historic site and visit the Remarkable Cave first. It was definitely remarkable - the way something like that can me made by the waves and the different lines and strengths in the rocks is amazing. The roof of the cave collapsed a long long time ago, so now its a tunnel and you can walk right down into the old cave.


On first arriving to the historic site, it was hard to get the kids to realize it wasn't a Queen's castle, actually it was a prison. But after 45mins of the tour guide explaining things and then actually exploring the prison cells, I think they understood.



Its sad that the bush fire went through and destroyed a lot of the buildings, but to see the ones still standing is very amazing. The life these people lived would have been extremely tough. Being sent away from their home and then landing in an island prison were the walls aren't really important, because the place is so isolated.


The care takers have done a great job recreating the gardens with plants from the same lines as the original gardens. You get a real feel for what it would have looked like.


We were all given a little playing card when we first arrived, and then as you walk around you could find the card and read the story behind it. Each card told the story of a different convict. Elsie had a little boy who was 9 years old and he stole 3 boxes of toys and was then sent to the island just off Port Arthur, Point Puer, Bridie had a boy who stole a silk handkerchief, and Zara's...i cant remember.


We did the boat tour out to the island to see where the boy's prison was. On a cold spring day it was pretty miserable, living there in the middle of winter 200 years ago would have been unimaginable.

The church was very impressive - built by prisoners, for all denominations to practice their faith.


To most people over 30yo, the first thing you think of when you hear the words Port Arthur is the massacre, not the convicts. We took the kids to the memorial and explained what happened. The memorial is small but touching. The words on the memorial pool walls give you goose bumps as you read them.

"May we who come to this garden cherish life for the sake of those who died.

Cherish compassion for the sake of those who gave aid.

Cherish peace for the sake of those in pain."


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