Macquarie Harbour Penal Station

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The penal colony Macquarie Harbour (English Macquarie Harbour Penal Station) was located in the 19th century to Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania ). She lay in the west on the island Sarah Iceland within the bay Macquarie Harbour.

The camp, in which mainly male prisoners were housed, was from 1822 to 1833. During his only 11 years of existence, it received the reputation of being one of the bearings can withstand the toughest conditions for prisoners to be. Today the camp is part of the UNESCO World Heritage.

History

Due to the ever increasing number of incoming prisoners in Australia began the search for a site for the felons and prisoners who were delinquent again in other Australian penal colonies. Sarah Iceland before the Tasmanian coast seemed made ​​for it. An escape from the island was considered to be largely futile. Provided with compilation on the Tasmanian mainland would have succeeded, would have been there to cover several hundred miles through trackless wilderness to the then few settlements in the east of Tasmania. The escape by sea through the Hell's Gates, a strait with treacherous currents and several shoals, also appeared as good as impossible. In addition, recently discovered coal deposits there could be exploited by the prisoners.

In January 1822 the brig Sophia reached with a detachment of soldiers and 66 male and 8 female prisoners Sarah Iceland and it was started with the construction of the penal camp. On the small neighboring island of Iceland aftermath first the few female prisoners were housed, later they were also brought by Sarah Iceland due to " moral " and " disciplinary " problems.

True to the specification of the then Lieutenant-Governor of Tasmania, George Arthur, the prisoners were to be used for forced labor, "even if it only Consists of opening cavities and filling them up again." Where possible, the costs associated with the maintenance of the penal colony expenditures should by working the detainees are covered, but never fully succeeded. The prisoners were used for shipbuilding, since the pine species occurring there Lagarostrobos franklinii perfectly suited for it. After gradually went back to the forest cover of the island, also near the mainland along the Gordon River was cleared. Since the island, and with it the stock, now permanently the strong winds of the Roaring Forties was exposed, a wall was erected to protect the shipyard. Stronger prisoners were formed with the time to forging and ship or boat builders. At times, formed the camp, which came to a total production of 113 ships, the largest shipyard in Australia. The original plan to reduce existing coal deposits in the region, proved, however, after a few years as unworkable, since both the coal was of poor quality and it also lacked experienced miners.

Due to the poor soil quality only part of the needed food could be grown locally, and one was always of supplies by sea dependent. As a result of malnutrition and diarrhea were common, scurvy was among the prisoners on the agenda. Especially in the early years, the camp was so overcrowded that detainees could not even lie on your back in the barracks, but always had to sleep lying on one side. To punish for disobedience of the convicts were placed in solitary confinement and whipped regularly.

Despite the bad reputation spreads are reports which give a less harsh picture of the camp. So should have been released after serving two years for good behavior 100 prisoners.

The permanent dependence of the colony of ship deliveries in conjunction with the remote location of the island and the establishment of a new penal colony at Port Arthur in 1833 led to the closure of the camp. The remaining prisoners were gradually transferred to the camp at Port Arthur. A total of 1,200 prisoners were kept in the penal colony.

Escape attempts

The vast majority of the more than 180 escape attempts failed. The majority of prisoners came in their attempt to escape their lives. A small number of occupants managed to escape. In June 1824 overpowered a group of prisoners - including Matthew Brady - their overseer, stole a boat, reaching the Tasmanian capital Hobart. Brady was arrested again two years later.

1829 Cyprus ship was hijacked on the way towards Macquarie Harbour by a group of convicts. Seven escapees reached China, four were identified on the way to England. One of them was executed, returned the other according to Macquarie Harbour.

The Frederick - - In January 1834, the last produced ship was stolen by the ten convicts who were to remain behind to complete the ship. They sailed to Chile, where they went ashore. Six members of the group fled in the direction of Jamaica and North America, while the remaining four were initially able to live unmolested. After the change of the local governor but were arrested again and taken to Hobart.

The most famous escapee was Alexander Pearce, the twice even managed to escape, said he killed both times his Mitausbrecher and ate.

Today's state

The ruins of the camp are particularly protected today than Sarah Iceland Historic Site. They are a part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1982. The island can be reached from the village of Strahan by ferry or by chartered boat.

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