The island was settled by English people in l703.   Tasmania played a major part in the l9th century transportation of convicts from England to Australia.  Between l830 and l877 Port Arthur was a dreadful place of punishment for those convicts who re-offended after their arrival in Tasmania.  Conditions were harsh and discipline was very severe.

Today, Port Arthur is one of Tasmania’s most popular tourist destinations. Although most of the settlement has been lost there are enough of the major buildings remaining to provide a dramatic impression of the conditions in which the convicts lived over 140 years ago.

There is a tour which includes a stop at the new Tasmanian Devil Conservation Park to see the devils feeding time.   This shows why the devils gained their name. You can also wander among the grazing kangaroos, wallabies, and poteroos.   You can see of the rare Tasmania birds.