Port Arthur Essay

Port Arthur was Australia’s largest and most notorious prison holding the most vicious and hardened criminals from 1837 to its closure in 1877. The aim of Port Arthur was to produce useful goods and useful citizens, reformed men who have rejected a life of crime and embraced a law-abiding future. It was known for its tough punishment and structure. This essay will discuss the daily life at Port Arthur for convicts, punishments convicts received, trades that were practiced there and the merchandise that was created through those trades and what become of Port Arthur after transportation finished.

The Port Arthur settlement relied of the continual structure of daily life just as much as keeping control of the convicts. The convicts had a daily routine that consisted of waking at 5am for bible reading and prayers, breakfast at 7am, practical trades or working in laboring gangs until midday, before washing and eating lunch then returning to work. At 5 they had supper before having lessons on reading and writing then prayers and scripture reading, being in bed by 7:30pm. The diet given to convicts was very basic, for breakfast and supper they were given 200g of bread and 0.8L of gruel made from flour and sweetened with sugar, for dinner they received 200g of bread, 400g of salt beef or 200g of salt pork, 0.8L of soup made with specific quantities of beef, vegetables, and flour. People who were in the punishment gangs received the same amount minus the sugar, while people in solitary confinement had a diet of bread and water. All convicts were given 14g of salt and soap each day.

Convicts received 2 sets of clothing a year, consisting of 1 jacket, 1 pair of trousers, 1 pair of boots , 1 cotton shirt, 1 waistcoat and 1 cap. The uniform w...

... middle of paper ...

...unable to do productive labour. In 1863 there were 888 people at Port Arthur, only 100 were convicts, in 1871 283 people resided at Port Arthur, 192 being paupers. From 1876 to its closing in 1877 there were 64 convicts at Port Arthur, while there were 126 paupers and 79 lunatics.

Although Port Arthur was a ruthless prison that prided itself in its severe punishments both physically and mentally for those that broke the rules, the convicts were still taught a trade in an attempt to better themselves, as well as being taught how to read and write, making it easier to find work once they were released. Port Arthur was considered one of the most successful penal settlements in Australia, being self-sufficient for the most part. It was known for its trade and quality of merchandise. On its closure in 1877 it was more recognised as a residence for paupers and lunatics.