Travel Theme : Pathways into the convict past of Tasmania

Today I headed south from Hobart on the “convict trail” that leads me back into the 1800’s and into the horrific reality that was the penal system set up to receive the criminals from the over-flowing English goals.

The Tasman Peninsular was the chosen site to build an unescapable prison to house the worst of the murderers and re-offenders. The site was ideal because the only way in was via a very narrow causeway. To prevent escape by this path a line of 18 savage dogs were chained.

 

 

 

Path to the dog lines

 

If the prisoner tried to escape this is what they would find waiting for them

No prisoner was known to escape and get past the dogs

Description of dogs given in 1837

 

We have slowly driven along the peninsular. The weather, again, was perfect and we managed to safely pass the dog lines and find a bed for the night as tomorrow we will be going inside the notorious Port Arthur Penal Colony.

I was reminded of Ailsa’s travel theme when I walked along this board-walk pathway today.

This is just a short post as we are on the road at the moment and I will tell you more when we get back to base.

In the mean-time click here to follow more pathways and byways that other bloggers have been down.