Carpark
The Hobart Penitentiary was the dark heart of the convict system in Tasmania. Founded as the Hobart Prison Barracks in 1821, the two acre site was the processing centre for more than 50,000 male convicts who arrived in Van Diemen’s Land from 1821 to 1853.
The Penitentiary Chapel was built in 1830-34. Its design included 36 cramped solitary cells under its elevated floor. Solitary confinement was a cruel experiment in reforming convicts through sensory deprivation and forced introspection. It could lead to madness.
After 1853, the barracks became the Hobart Gaol and two wings of the chapel were refitted as courts, connected to the Gaol by tunnels. The Hobart Town gallows was moved to the site in 1857. Over four hundred people had been executed on the gallows in its original location in central Hobart. A further thirty-two people were hanged at the gallows’ present location between 1857 and 1946.
Pick up your lantern and join this 90 minute tour that will bring you face-to-face with the convicts executed on-site, stories of hauntings and the experiences from previous guests. What will the lost souls whisper to you on the night?
Ages 12+ only. While this tour is family-friendly, some content and experiences are not recommended for children. Please consider whether this experience is suitable for your family before booking.
Paranormal investigations and lockdowns also available.
