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 |