Sarah Island and The Gordon River

Today was our boat cruise. We got up early and made good time walking around to the port to join our cruise. The vessel was a very large catamaran – when we booked this trip we decided to get the best possible views – and that’s what we got, and that included morning tea and lunch.
We left Port MacQuarrie with a full load of passengers on a clear and sunny morning. The sailing was magical, and the first place of note was a channel near a light house known as Hell’s Gate – the very narrow entrance to the harbour – and it was too, we motored through the gap, turned around and motored back in to the harbour. The water is brackish, half salt water and half fresh from the Gordon River. The whole harbour area is quite shallow and historically has been tricky for shipping. The Hell’s Gate has also been a problem for ships.
Then we motored past large salmon pontoons on our way to Sarah Island.
We all disembarked at Sarah Island – this was a prison for secondary prisoners – those sent from Britian who had reoffended or tried to escape. We were lucky to have as our guide on the Island, David – who is part of a historical show in town each night (we wanted to go, but it was sold out). David was an amazing orator, clever, knowledgeable, and told all the historical stories about the island.
In short Sarah Island was a hell hole and 50 to 100 lashing punishments were the norm – a 100 lasing punishment would take over 1 hour and most would be unconscious or dead by the end.
The prisoners here became boat builders - the ships were made from the Huon Pine that this area is known for – I think they built over 100 ships – some ships were built at the end of the prisons life when the men worked for a wage.
The Island was operating as a prison in the 1820’s and before Port Arthur, but ironically Lord Arthur did his apprenticeship here before returning to Hobart and setting up the Port Arthur prison complex.
For me visiting this site and Port Arthur has been an eye opener and has had an effect too – these were tough times - the British were very cruel, we can to a much lesser degree see what happened in our own little islands. The forced deportation of people; men and women and children just to help set up a new branch of Britian – forcing them to work on creating the infrastructure. And too, the forced removal of the Aboriginal peoples.
Sorry; should move on!

David gave us an hour’s history lesson and it was sad, funny, extremely interesting all in one. We are so pleased to have been there and learned.
Back on board we had lunch and cruised up stream of the Gordon River and most people went outside to enjoy this magnificent place. The cat cruised at a very low speed and sun was shining and we all just relaxed and watched the forest move quietly by.
This area is part of a very large World Heritage site – it was granted in 2007 and is the only site of 15 in the world that qualifies on all 4 criteria. It ticks the cultural box on account of the Aborigines who have lived here for 40,000 years. I admire the Australians for taking this honour so seriously – they have gone to great lengths to ensure the Heritage Site is retained in its pristine state.
In the late 1970’s there was a proposal by the Hydro Commission to build a dam on the Gordon River. The Tasmanian State government was unable to stop the proposal from going ahead, but a local group began a protest that became a huge Australian movement that descended on the area. After months of protests it became quite political and the Bob Hawke government on gaining office put a stop to the dam. Cruising in the confines of the river today makes you realise what a save it was.
The cruise up and down the river was relaxing and I saw quite a number of oldies like us asleep. Then at 2:00 it started to rain, light showers a first and then heavier as we sailed into the front and the showers.
We got back to the port at around 3. We went for a walk to the “town” to see if there was anywhere to eat, most places were closed – the pub might have been open, but we decided we’d check out the pizza place. Gran phoned in our order – “Meat Lovers” and chips – I picked them up and bought some caramel ice-cream too.
So that’s today – another fantastic day – health wise we felt good today and feel confident that we are on the mend.
Gran has booked a campsite at New Norfolk – it will be a long drive, our longest, but it will put us very close to Hobart and we can pick up the car and return the camper.
I think we have enjoyed the experience of camping – it was something we’d never done – there is not much room in the thing, and we had to learn to be kind to each other, passing in the hall, not standing on Gran’s bare toes – climbing over one and other to get out of bed! – the van things like the power and turning the gas on and off, hooking up the hose and the grey water hose. Booking ahead, the shower rooms (some with a 4-minute auto cutoff). The day we sat in the sun having lunch near Gravelly Beach Gran said “I think I could do this again” – I’m not sure that is still the case, but we have had some great experiences and stories to tell – isn’t that’s what it’s all about?Læs mere