Port Arthur, located in Tasmania, was established as a penal colony, quickly becoming one of the most notorious sites in Australia’s convict history. Originally set up as a timber station, it soon became a place for the most hardened and repeat offenders who were sent to the island for punishment and rehabilitation. Over the decades, Port Arthur’s high-security prison became infamous for its harsh conditions and brutal treatment, with the “separation system” being one of the most severe forms of incarceration, where prisoners were kept in solitary confinement for nearly all of their days.

Join Holly & Matthew as they uncover the harsh realities of life at Colonial Port Arthur, from its brutal penal system to its legacy as a chilling historical landmark.

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Sources cited:

• Convict Records – James Travis (2017)
• The Colonial Times. 1836. "Supreme Court—Criminal Side." January 12: 7. Accessed August 24, 2021. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/8648830.
• Katie878. 2009. The Rocking Chair. July 28. Accessed August 24, 2021. https://www.yourghoststories.com/real-ghost-story.php?story=6759.
• Birch, A.J. 2007. Convict Ghost. March 24. Accessed August 24, 2021. https://www.yourghoststories.com/real-ghost-story.php?story=526.
• Andy. 2018. Dark Tasmania—Port Arthur Ghost Tours. February 12. Accessed AUgust 24, 2021. https://www.yourghoststories.com/real-ghost-story.php?story=526.

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