It's a bit hard to visit Tasmania and not got to Port Arthur. What was originally going to be a flour mill was converted to a penitentiary to house the convict at night. They were working during the day.

The silent prison. Convicts here were in solitary confinement in silence not allowed to speak. This was seen as more lenient than flogging with the cat of 9 tails. And was a genuine attempt to reform convicts. The went to church for an hour each day and worked in their cells in silence to consider their ways.

What is left of the exercise yards. Only one convict at any time as allowed in the yard.

We had a guide tour of the island of the dead where the dead were buried. This is the headstone of the headmaster of the prison school. He made the mistake of writing a report criticising the schooling for convict children (Children as young as 9 were transported). He was then given the job of headmaster to implement his recommendations.

There are over 1,100 convicts buried on the island but only about 10 headstones. This is one of those few.

We came back a second day to walk around ourselves and cover he things we missed yesterday.

The commandants house.

Inside the drawing room complete with original piano from the time. The widows look out to the bay away from the convicts.

The remains of the hospital.

Smith O'briens Cottage. O'Brien was political prisoner from Island. To ensure that he didn't stir up insurrection among the convicts he had is own cottage and wasn't allowed to mix with anyone.

The church.

The church. It did have a full octave of bells. These have all been return bar one.

Final different view of he penitentiary.