Air Adventure Australia

Destination Profile - Sarah Island, Tasmania

The Sarah Island Historic Site is Tasmania's oldest convict settlement, operating from 1822 to 1833. Located on the rugged west coast and separated from the settled east by a vast tract of mountainous wilderness, Sarah Island was proposed by Lt Governor Sorell as a "place of banishment and security for the worst description of convicts" and as such developed the reputation as one of the severest of the penal settlements established during the history of transportation. He recommended that a small settlement be established at Macquarie Harbour to exploit the timber and coal.

The rugged and remote setting was seen as particularly suited to a convict station. However, the island was also a successful centre of industry. Pining and shipbuilding were among the trades carried out by the convicts. Indeed, in its day, Sarah Island was the largest shipbuilding yard in Australia.

This destination is part of the Tasmania and her Isles Australian Adventure.