Sarah Island

After touring the Gordon River, on our return trip we stopped at the site of the former penal colony at Sarah Island. These convicts were actually turned into an effective workforce by a Scottish naval architect, but they were later transferred to Port Arthur as the governor of Tasmania thought life on Sarah Island was too soft. The convicts built some 60 odd ships here.

Sarah Island

Disembarking

Here we can see the old shipways from which the ships being built were launched.

Our knowledgable guide (a member of the local historical society) explains a few things to us.

Here we see the remains of the old bakehouse, including the oven.

Here are the remains of the gaol (jail). There were 6 cells in the facility. Apparently prisoners preferred the lash to confinement.

Here is the remains from a lime pit.

This is a locally manufactured (although some of the clay came from elsewhere) brick. The thumbprint of the maker can be seen in the lower left hand corner.

Chuck is waiting for the rest of us to re-embark.

We can see the remains of the old penitentiary (dormitory) from this side of the island.