Port Arthur Historic Site
Port Arthur, Tasmania, Australia
Prison · established
The Story
Lantern-lit ruins and ghost stories reaching back to 1870 draw visitors into the haunting past of this Tasmanian settlement.
The Hauntings
Ghost stories have been associated with Port Arthur since at least 1870, according to the historic site’s own account. Its lantern-lit ghost tour follows tales of unexplained events that unsettled convicts, free settlers, soldiers and later visitors. Some local stories tell of souls who never left. Shared among the buildings and ruins after dark, these accounts have become a lasting part of the settlement’s memory.
The History
Port Arthur began as a timber station in 1830 and grew into a substantial penal settlement. Shipbuilding, brickmaking and timber work shaped life here until the last convicts left in 1877. Tourism later became part of the site’s story. Today, its conserved buildings and ruins form part of the Australian Convict Sites World Heritage Property, preserving the landscape of a difficult chapter in Tasmania’s history.
A sense of place.
Visitor Experiences
Have you experienced something here?
This future chapter will bring together stories from the PHASM community. An unexpected encounter, a lingering feeling, or a quiet visit—your experience will be welcome.
Submissions are not open yet.
Sources & further reading.
- Port Arthur — site history (history)
- Port Arthur — history timeline (history)
- Port Arthur — ghost tour and attributed stories (reports)
- Port Arthur — official visitor information (visiting)
Plan Your Visit
Ticketed public access, history experiences and guided evening ghost tours are offered. Book through the official site and review mobility, weather and age guidance. The pin marks the historic-site area, not a guaranteed entrance or walking route.