In one of the biggest penal settlements in the British Empire, many thousand convicts served their time here, and some never made it out. Ever since then, Port Arthur has been one of the most haunted places in Australia.
The Separate Prison and the historic building around, located in Port Arthur, Australia, is a place that is steeped in history and intrigue. Built in the 19th century, the prison was designed to be a place of punishment and reform for some of Australia’s most notorious criminals as well as for petty criminals and families living in Port Arthur. The prison was known for its strict regime of silence and solitary confinement, and the conditions inside were brutal.
Read More: Check out all ghost stories from Australia
However, there is more to the story of the Separate Prison than just its history. Many people believe that the prison is haunted by the ghosts of the past, and there have been countless reports of paranormal activity over the years.
The History of Port Arthur and its role in Australian history
In the 19th century, Port Arthur was home to one of the largest prisons in the world. The prison was established in 1830 and was designed to be a place of punishment and reform for convicts who had been transported to Australia from Britain.
More than 1000 people are said to have died at Port Arthur during its 47 years as a penal settlement. After their death they were sent to the nearby Isle of the Dead where 1646 unmarked graves belong to the convicts.
Named after Lieutenant-Governor George Arthurs, the place was known as one of the strictest prisons in the colonies. The prison was known for its harsh conditions, and prisoners were forced to work long hours in difficult conditions. However, despite the harsh conditions, the prison was seen as a progressive institution at the time. The prison was designed to be a place of reform, and the authorities believed that prisoners could be rehabilitated through hard work and discipline.
In newer times, there is also a dark history that put Port Arthur on the map. In 1996, a gunman shot dead 35 people and injured 23. This was one of the events that changed Australia forever and gave new and strict gun control laws.
The Purpose and Life of the Separate Prison
The Separate Prison was built in 1849 as part of a new approach to prison reform. The prison was designed to be a place of punishment and reform, but it was also designed to be a place of isolation and silence. The authorities believed that prisoners could be reformed through reflection and introspection, and the only way to achieve this was through solitary confinement. Sort of like a prison within the prison.
The prison was designed with this in mind, and each cell was designed to be completely isolated from the outside world. The cells were small, and prisoners were only allowed to leave for a short period each day to exercise in a small courtyard. The rest of the time, they were confined to their cells in complete silence.
Life as a prisoner in the Separate Prison was brutal. Prisoners were confined to their cells for up to 23 hours a day, and they were only allowed to leave for a short period each day to exercise in a small courtyard. The cells were small and cramped, and prisoners were only allowed to bring in a Bible or other religious text.
The conditions inside the prison were harsh, and prisoners were forced to live in complete silence. The only sound they heard was the sound of their own breathing, and the only light they saw was the dim light from a small window. The food was basic and unappetizing, and prisoners were forced to perform hard labor for long hours each day.
Despite the progressive intentions of the Separate Prison, the reality was much darker. The prison was known for its harsh punishments and brutal treatment of prisoners. Punishments included flogging, solitary confinement, and hard labor.
In some cases, prisoners were subjected to even more extreme forms of punishment. The “dark cell” was a punishment cell located in the basement of the prison. Prisoners were confined to this cell for up to three days, and the conditions were unbearable. The cell was completely dark, and prisoners were forced to stand in ankle-deep water for the entire time they were confined.
The Haunted History of the Separate Prison
The Separate Prison has a long and haunted history as the buildings of the penal settlement turned into ruins. Over the years, there have been countless reports of paranormal activity in the prison. Many people believe that the ghosts of the past still haunt the prison, and there have been numerous sightings of ghosts and other unexplainable phenomena.
There are the stories about the ghost of a boy that is forever waiting for his execution and that his screams can be heard in the night.
In the cell where the prisoner William Carter hanged himself, visitors have been said to be overwhelmed by sadness, some found huddled on the bed or the floor as they cry hysterically.
The Gothic Church and the Lady in Blue in the Accountant’s House
There have been countless reports of ghost sightings and paranormal activity around the gothic church that the convict slaved away on. A lot of blood was spilt on the ground here, like when William Riley beat Joseph Shuttleworth to death with a pickaxe. For this he was hanged.
Visitors have reported hearing unexplainable sounds, feeling cold spots, and even seeing apparitions of the past. But strangely, it isn’t the ghosts of the violent convicts that are mostly spotted here, but a Lady in Blue.
She is believed to be a young lady married to a Port Arthur accountant. The Accountant’s house is right next to the church. They are said to have lived in the penal colony in the 1800s and who died during childbirth and is now wandering on the grounds, searching for her child she never got to meet in life.
Especially in the bell tower of the church she appears in front of people with her bonnet and her pale blue or gray crinoline dress, before fading away. Sometimes she is said to talk with children.
In 2011, visitors claimed that a three year old girl jumped out of her mothers arms to “play with the nice lady who lives her.” She ran down the veranda with her arms outstretched and was picked up by someone not visible to anyone else.
The Haunted Parsonage and the most Haunted House in Port Arthur
The most haunted building at Port Arthur historic site is said to be The Parsonage or Reverend George Eastman’s home.
Reverend George Eastman worked as a parson at Port Arthur for almost fifteen years. One day the weather was terrible, but a dying convict needed him. When he came back from the storm, he fell ill and died in his bed two days later. It is said that when he was lowered out of his window in his coffin, the rope broke, the coffin smashed open and his body fell out on the ground. Near where his body landed, visitors sometimes complain on the stench of rotten flesh.
There are plenty of stories circulating of flashing lights in the dark, loud banging when and the sound of footsteps although no one is there. It is said that it is the reverend who is haunting the place and is said to be a particular aggressive ghost. Some of the more extreme experiences people claim to have is the strangling feeling as they enter the building.
Just a couple of weeks after his death, the new family moved into the parsonage and the haunting started. Reverend Hayward moved to Port Arthur together with his wife and six children for a fresh start at his new posting.
Everyone became convinced that the house was haunted except Mrs Hayward. In 1870, she wanted to get to the bottom of what was going on in her home and made a trap one night after the children had gone to sleep.
She tied several threads zigzagging the stairs and waited hours without hearing anything. She decided to call it a night when she suddenly heard something and got her husband. Together they checked the stairs where every single piece had snapped on the stairs, but they saw nothing. They did feel hot air if someone was breathing next to them and hearing footsteps coming down the stairs. The Haywards packed up and left Port Arthur forever.
As mentioned, it is not a new haunted place, and we have written documents back to 1893 about the strange things happening in the house. This is an article from The Clipper:
“On one particular night, Mrs. Price was unable to sleep… Suddenly she became conscious that somebody had entered her room, and glancing towards the door beheld a human figure draped in white. Her first thought was to make a move or to speak, but it struck her that the intruder might be a burglar in disguise intent upon robbing her of her jewel-case… and that to attract attention to herself might possibly mean something serious against her life. She therefore lay motionless, but with half open eyes followed the movements of the supposed burglar.
The mysterious figure having entered the room went through the motion of striking a match upon the wall, and immediately afterwards there was the appearance of light as from a lucifer. This done it then made its way round the foot of the bed to a cot in which one of the children slept. For a moment it stood looking at the sleeping child, then turning round, glided silently out of the room and was gone.”
It’s not only old stories about the hauntings either. In recent times, although how recent is debated, two builders and their apprentice spent the night at the house. They were working long hours restoring the house and decided to just sleep there.
One night their apprentice woke up pinned to the bed and felt like he was strangling. Both of the builders had to pull him up and when he recovered, he said he felt like there was something heavy, sitting on his chest. When he had opened his eyes, he saw a bearded man telling him to leave his house and never return.
There is also a story of a mother, asking what her daughter was doing, seeing her talk to no one outside the house. Her daughter answered that she was talking and playing with another child.
When the parsonage was converted to a restaurant for a while, it is said they had to close it down because of strange occurrences with flying cutlery, the light that kept going on and off and the furniture that kept moving around in front of the customers.
The Medical Officer’s House
There is also a ghost story about a little girl seen outside the Medical Officer’s Residence. People inside have seen out the window and claim to have seen her face pressed up against the glass, looking in at them.
There is also a story of when some contractors had sanded and varnished the floors in 2003 in the Junior Medical’s House. They locked the doors and let it dry overnight, but when they came back the next morning, they had found footprints, looking like a woman and a child by the fireplace.
Other Ghosts Roaming Port Arthur
There is also said to be a soldier wearing red around the Tower Cottage and people have seen a head without a body, hovering in the dissection room underneath the Visiting Magistrate’s House.
A little girl has been seen in The Commandant’s House. They think she died after falling down the stairs as she is seen laying at the bottom of the stairs in a pool of blood with her arm twisted as if broken. There are also those claiming that the rocking chair, called The Nanny’s Chair has been seen rocking on its own.
In the asylum right next to the separate prison, there have been stories of an elderly woman and a young girl. The light is flickering and there is supposedly the sound of footsteps. This building also functioned as a schoolhouse for a while.
A short boat ride from Port Arthur is the Isle of the Dead, where over 1,100 people were buried—including convicts, soldiers, and settlers. The tiny island is known for its uneasy silence and ghostly apparitions and visitors have reported on spirits standing above the graves..
The Haunted Legacy of the Separate Prison and Port Arthur
The Separate Prison in Port Arthur, Australia, is a place that is steeped in history and intrigue. It was designed to be a place of punishment and reform, but it was also a place of isolation and silence. The conditions inside the prison were harsh, and prisoners were subjected to brutal punishments and torture.
Despite its dark past, the Separate Prison is also a place of great historical significance. It provides us with a glimpse into the past and reminds us of the importance of prison reform and the need to treat prisoners with dignity and respect.
The haunted history of the Separate Prison is also a reminder of the power of the past. The ghosts of the past still haunt the prison to this day, and their presence serves as a reminder of the harsh conditions that prisoners were subjected to in the past. By exploring the history and hauntings of the Separate Prison, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the past and the lessons it has to teach us.
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References:
Dark Tasmania – Port Arthur Ghost Tour
Full article: Ghosts of the Anthropocene: spectral accretions at the Port Arthur historic site
Australia’s most haunted place: The story of Port Arthur and the Blue Lady.
Marimari.com : Ghosts of Port Arthur
