World Heritage Listing for Australia's Convict Sites
02/08/2010
Eleven
sites that combine to tell the epic story of Australia's convict
heritage have been inscribed on the World Heritage Register.
Federal Minister for Environment Protection and Heritage, Peter
Garrett, and Tasmanian Minister for Environment, Parks and Heritage,
David O’Byrne have welcomed the addition of 11 convict sites across
Australia to the World Heritage List.
Five of the 11 convict sites in the World Heritage listing are located in Tasmania. They include:
- The Cascades Female Factory, in Hobart - a self-contained,
purpose-built institution intended to reform female convicts. The
inmates did laundry and needlework services, offsetting some of the
colony’s penal costs.
- The Port Arthur Historic Site - operated as a penal station
for secondary offenders until 1877, and developed into a major
industrial complex.
- The Coal Mines Historic Site - located on the north side of
the Tasman peninsula, played an important role in the development
of the colony, and held up to 500 convicts. It was regarded as a
particularly severe place of punishment.
- Brickendon and Woolmers Estates - located near Longford,
were private farms that utilised assigned convicts, both male and
female, who worked largely in agricultural jobs and contributed to
the development of Tasmania’s pastoral industry.
- Darlington Probation Station - located on Maria Island off
Tasmania’s East Coast, where there are some 16 surviving sites
dating in some cases to the 1820s.
(For technical reasons, Woolmers and Brickendon Estates are counted as a single site within the listing.)
“Australia is a relatively new country in terms of its European
history. However, our early history coincided with one of the great
historical phenomena, penal migration. This is reflected in the
pre-eminence of our convict sites and their worldwide relevance and
interest,” Peter Garrett said.
Mr O’Byrne said obtaining World Heritage recognition of Australia’s convict past is a significant milestone.
“Forced penal migration had a particular impact on Tasmania
because of its sheer scale in relation to the general population. It’s
not surprising that nearly half of the listed sites are in this State,”
David O’Byrne said.
“This is a major part of the Tasmanian story.
“I’m quite proud to own up to some convict ancestry - my family
is descended from four brothers, the O’Byrnes, who were convicted in
Ireland and transported. Three of them survived the crossing and came to
Tasmania, and went on to become free settlers. Many Tasmanians share
similar stories.
“I think most people find it fascinating to look back in time and
connect with their ancestors, even visit the actual places where they
lived and worked.
“We are at a particular point in time, not just here but right
around the world, where people can acknowledge convict heritage and feel
comfortable to explore that heritage.
“Regardless of ancestry, we can all get a sense of perspective of
the past by visiting Port Arthur, the Female Factory and Coal Mines in
the south of the State or Woolmers and Brickendon in the North, even
Darlington on Maria Island.
“Visiting the actual places gives us tremendous insight into the
lives and conditions that convicts endured and how they came through
that adversity.”
Both Ministers said the World Heritage nomination was a thorough
process, and involved considerable cooperation and liaison between
Federal, State, Territory and local Governments.
“The listing reflects well on Australia’s commitment at every level to conserving our heritage,” said Peter Garrett.
“A strong case had to be made to convince the World Heritage
Committee that inclusion on the prestigious World Heritage List would
hold relevance beyond Australia and for the world.”
Mr O’Byrne credited communities around the sites with helping
enable the listings, which are expected to generate environmental,
social and economic benefits for Tasmania.
The other sites that make up Australia’s 18th World Heritage listing are:
- Old Government House and Domain, Hyde Park Barracks, Cockatoo Island Convict Site and Old Great North Road in New South Wales.
- Fremantle Prison in Western Australia.
- Kingston and Arthur’s Vale Historic Area in Norfolk Island.
The 11 sites are also included on the National Heritage List and are protected under national environment law.
Further details on the listing are available from UNESCO's World Heritage Centre website
Heritage Minister David O'Byrne discusses the inscription with local media at the Cascade Female Factory
Chapel, Brickendon Estate
Woolshed, Woolmers Estate
Darlington, on Maria Island
Cascade Female Factory
Port Arthur Historic Site
Coal Mines Historic Site