A home for convicts

The Penal Settlement of Macquarie Harbour recalls the first discovery and settlement of Macquarie Harbour in particular, Sarah Island, first used to house the convict rogues of Hobart in January 1822. The Government of the time found the island ideal and thought that no-one could possibly escape from such a hostile environment. Throughout its eleven year history, many men, such as Matthew Brady and Alexander Pierce ('The Pieman'), escaped.

Most escapees perished while trying to forge their way through the bush to settled country; however, some survived only to be recaptured and punished or hanged. In 1834, ten men managed to escape and sail as far away as Chile, South America.

During the final settlement years George Robinson, a protector of Aborigines, used the island to house the last remaining aboriginal natives before their transport to Flinders Island.

Today people can take a boat cruise to Sarah Island and up the Gordon River to see for themselves how isolated and beautiful this part of Tasmania is.