Citation
Eaglehawk Neck – Prison or Pleasure?: Peter MacFie, Tasman Peninsula Chronicle No 4, p27, Nubeena, 1988
Tasman Peninsula Historical Society
Outline
Eaglehawk Neck on the Tasman Peninsula, Tasmania was a key part of security for the convict station at Port Arthur. However, it was very appealing to the general public as well, and as soon as the convict station was closed, tourists started to visit this isolated but fascinating spot by any means they could.
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Eaglehawk Neck – Prison or Pleasure
Excerpt
The dramatic-romantic contrasts that has attracted people to the Tasman Peninsula for 150 years is typified by Eaglehawk Neck. The thin sandy isthmus was after all part of the reasons for Port Arthur’s existence, allowing the Peninsula to become an un-natural gaol, as the British and Colonial governments exploited its abundant timber stands with convict labour.
Unusual natural features of the Giant Causeway, Blowhole and Devil’s Kitchen – contrasting with the heavy surf of Pirates Bay and placid narrows of Eaglehawk Bay. These scenic attractions were commented on by the official visitors from the 1840s onward.
A military guard was in place on The Neck by 1831; by early 1832 a line of nine dogs recommended by Ensign Peyton-Jones were chained across the narrow neck. A series of weatherboard-brick-rock structures were in place by 1836, similar in style to the Shipwright’s House, Port Arthur (1834).
In this cottage stayed The Neck’s first “tourists”, Governor Denison and family, a visit recorded in his journal and in that of another military visitor, Major Stoney, in 1852.
“The Guard House is situated in front of the canine phalanx, who are treated somewhat like the soldier, receiving their regular rations of one pound of bread and one pound of meat each day”.
“On the rise of the hill, some 500 yards from The Neck, are the barracks for about thirty men: and to the right of it the officers’ quarters, with a neat garden round it. Lately this cottage has been added to, as the Governor and family spent the summer there for the benefit of sea-bathing, the officer moving to Port Arthur during His Excellency’s visit”.
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Index
Blowhole……………………………………………………………. 1
Chesterman, Henry…………………………………………… 2
Cockburn, F.J……………………………………………………… 2
Denison, Governor……………………………………………. 1
Dennison family……………………………………………….. 1
Devil’s Kitchen………………………………………………….. 1
dog rations…………………………………………………………. 1
dog-line………………………………………………………………. 1
Eaglehawk Bay………………………………………………….. 1
Eaglehawk Neck……………………………………………….. 1
gardens………………………………………………………………. 1
Giant Causeway……………………………………………….. 1
Guard House…………………………………………………….. 1
Impression Bay…………………………………………………. 2
jetty……………………………………………………………………… 2
mail coach…………………………………………………………. 2
military barracks………………………………………………. 1
officers’ quarters……………………………………………….. 1
Peyton-Jones, Ensign………………………………………… 1
Pirates Bay…………………………………………………………. 1
Port Arthur………………………………………………………… 1
Risby’s sawmill………………………………………………… 2
ships
SS Koonya……………………………………………………. 2
SS Taranna…………………………………………………… 2
Shipwright’s House, Port Arthur……………………. 1
Taranna……………………………………………………………… 2
tessellated pavement………………………………………… 1
The Neck……………………………………………………………. 1
tourists……………………………………………………………….. 2
End of Index
Copyright Peter Macfie © 2018