Rationale for establishment Macquarie Harbour Penal Station

the penal station established place of banishment within australian colonies. took worst convicts , had escaped other settlements. isolated land ideally suited purpose. separated mainland treacherous seas, surrounded mountainous wilderness , hundreds of miles away colony s other settled areas. seaward access through treacherous narrow channel known hells gates.

strong tidal currents resulted in deaths of many convicts before reached settlement due ships foundering in narrow rocky channel. surveyor mapped sarah island concluded chances of escape next impossible . neighbouring grummet island, small island north west, used solitary confinement.

despite isolated location, considerable number of convicts attempted escape island. bushranger matthew brady among party escaped hobart in 1824 after tying overseer , seizing boat. james goodwin pardoned after 1828 escape , subsequently employed make official surveys of wilderness had passed through. sarah island s infamous escapee alexander pearce managed away twice. on both occasions, cannibalized fellow escapees.

lieutenant-governor william sorell wanted new penal colony economically viable. reimburse british government expense of establishment. convicts employed in shipbuilding industry. short period, largest shipbuilding operation in australian colonies. chained convicts had task of cutting down huon pine trees , rafting logs down river. heavily forested island cleared convicts. tall wall built along windward side of island provide shelter shipyards roaring forties blowing harbour.

conditions

as sarah island not produce food, malnutrition, dysentery, , scurvy rampant among convict population. penal colony had supplied sea. living conditions particularly bad in years of settlement. settlement crowded, convicts unable sleep on backs in communal barracks. punishment involved solitary confinement , regular floggings - 9,100 lashes given in 1823.

in 1824 prisoner named trenham killed convict in order executed rather face further imprisonment @ macquarie harbour penal station.

it closed in late 1833. of remaining convicts relocated port arthur. ten convicts remained behind in january 1834 finishing construction of brig; however, seized opportunity escape in frederick escape.