The past springs to life at fascinating historic sites
Tasmania is rich in history, including the Port Arthur Penal Colony from the 19th century, which is included on the World Heritage List. British prisoners were transported here to endure imprisonment, harsh labor, and punishment, and almost 7,000 died there between the 1830s and 1870s. There are several different tours available, including lantern-lit ghost tours that visit the location's most notorious structures and ruins.
The historic feel of the island is particularly evident in Hobart, the island's main city, where the waterfront Salamanca Place's cobbled alleyways and ancient Georgian sandstone warehouses play host to vibrant Saturday markets with more than 300 sellers and a booming restaurant and bar scene.
About 20 minutes from Hobart is the historic town of Richmond, which is a wonderful place to travel back in time. More than 50 heritage-listed colonial structures may be found there, along with Australia's oldest and most picturesque sandstone bridge, which was constructed by convict labor in the 1820s. The oldest Catholic Church in Australia (St. John's) and the country's oldest jail are both located in Richmond. Additionally, because the nearby Coal River Valley is a rapidly expanding wine region, travelers may simply and amicably combine history with gastronomy thanks to the region's thriving gastronomic scene.
