Point Puer, located on a finger of land jutting out across the bay from Port Arthur, was the first prison anywhere in the British Empire where child prisoners were kept separate from adult prisoners. Here they were given basic education and taught trades. Conservation professionals Marita Perry, John Stephenson and David Stone will discuss conservation work at Point Puer in which collapsed portions of the Chapel/School structure were cleared of slumping earthwork and temporary bracing was established. Marita Perry will speak about the project intentions and process, the issues, and results, and David Stone will discuss the workmanship, issues that arose and material used.  Through collaboration between Flinders University and PAHSMA, John Stephenson will show how mapping and modelling software has been used to combine historic and archaeological information to digitally reconstruct in 3D how the Point Puer Boys’ Prison may have looked over 170 years ago. Marita Perry has worked in the cultural heritage industry since 2006, and graduated from the University of Canberra in 2008 with a Bachelor of Environmental Science.  She worked at Old Parliament House from 2006-2011, then moved to Port Arthur in 2011 to take up the position of Conservation Project Officer. David Stone trained in NSW and has 25 years experience as a stonemason and bricklayer.  He has been employed as a contractor at Port Arthur since 2005. John Stephenson is currently the Geospatial Coordinator at Heritage Tasmania and is studying archaeology at Flinders University.  He has a keen interest in applying his geophysics and surveying experience towards the interpretation and visualisation of historic sites.  John began his association with Port Arthur almost 10 years ago on a geophysical survey of the Dockyard. All interested are welcome to attend this free Port Arthur Talk, on Wednesday 23 January, 2013, 5.30pm at the Junior Medical Officer’s Conference Room, Port Arthur Historic Site For more information call 6251 2324 Further information

Point Puer lays just across the harbour from the Port Arthur Historic Site

Some of the ruins of the Point Puer Boys Prison at Port Arthur

The story of Point Puer is told in daily guided tours of the site, accessed from Port Arthur by ferry