THE DROP BEAR DIARIES - CHAPTER 5 "ROAD TO PORT ARTHUR"

The drive from Hobart to the Port Arthur Historic Site on the Tasman Peninsula took us through an area that had been ravaged by fire in January 2013 - the fishing village of Dunalley.  The world looked in horror at the iconic picture of the Holmes family taking refuge in the water under the dock, a wall of orange flame around them. 

Miracle after the fire
Eucalyptus regeneration

Bush fires are a part of Australia’s landscape.  Nature has adapted in interesting ways.  Eucalyptus trees are a case in point - fast growing, they allow light to get to other trees and plants growing around and beneath them. 

A fire will consume what is in its path but triggers the Eucalypt to drop its seeds into the newly fertilized ground once the fire has passed. Bright green buds sprout from scorched and blackened bark within weeks of a blaze - an amazing regeneration as the Eucalypt takes over the landscape while eradicating the competition.  

Port Arthur Historic Site

Port Arthur was originally founded in 1830 as a timber station but its isolation made it the perfect location for a prison. Converted into Australia’s most notorious prison colony, the facility was designed to house convicts who had re-offended since their transportation for other crimes. 

The concept of corporal punishment slowly gave way to new methods of rehabilitation, including hard labour and enforced silence. Those who did not survive the ordeal were buried on a small offshore Island cemetery.

Ferry from Port Arthur to the Boys prison on Point Puer

The first of its kind in the British Empire, an experimental boys prison on nearby Point Puer island was established in an attempt to rehabilitate, educate and provide skills training for the youngsters away from Port Arthur’s hardened criminals. 

Room with a view

Escape from the prison was next to impossible. Surrounded by water on three sides, the narrow stretch of land beyond the prison was guarded by an interesting sentinel - a dog line.

Cellblock ruins

Dogs were stationed across the Eaglehawk neck isthmus to act as an early warning system for prison sentries that an inmate had escaped. 

Today the Port Arthur Historic Site is akin to an open air museum, set in tranquil, expansive grounds. There was a lot to see and experience.

Making our way home to Kettering we stopped at a Tasmanian Devil conservation park, arriving just in time for supper - theirs not ours! 

Tasmanian Devil - I get a lot of bad press

This endangered carnivorous marsupial is Tasmania’s poster child but sadly a facial skin cancer has reduced its numbers dramatically and conservation efforts are working hard to reduce the impact of the disease.  

The size of a small dog, the Tasmanian Devil is stocky and muscular with black fur and an ear piercing screech.  Complete with bad table manners, the Devil is positively ferocious while eating.  As it rips flesh from the bone, it snarls and snorts, exposing impressive teeth that pulverise food, bones and all.

Back in the day, the powers that be had considered using Drop Bears as sentinels for the Prison rather than dogs. The plan failed because the prison inmates had been in Australia too long and were now considered "locals".  As you have learned Drop Bears only target non-Australians.