What makes the Port Arthur Historic Site famous?

The Port Arthur Historic Site is an open-air museum in Australia’s Tasman Peninsula. It is a part of the Australian Convict Sites, a World Heritage Site consisting of 11 former penal sites built during the 19th and 20th centuries. Australia had been a British colony at the time. Located along the coastal strip, these sites are an important part of Australia’s history and culture. Port Arthur became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010 as a part of the Australian Convict Sites.

Port Arthur was named after George Arthur, lieutenant governor of Van Diemen’s Land. It has around 30 buildings, ruins and restored homes dating back to the early 19th century. Though Port Arthur began as a timber station, it became a colony for convicts from 1830 to 1877. Nearly 12,500 prisoners had served their sentences-here. One of the most horrific events related to this site is the Port Arthur Massacre of 1996, when a mass shooter named Martin Bryant killed 35 people and left 25 injured. Port Arthur gets around 250,000 visitors every year, making it one of the most popular historical sites in Australia.

Picture Credit : Google

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *