Hobart Convict Penitentiary

Visited the Hobart Penitentiary yesterday which provided an in-depth look at life in colonial Hobart upon the arrival of the first British convicts.There are 4 guided tours per day, I paid $25 for a 90-minute tour starting at 2:30pm. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and respectful. The staff were helpful and lovely.Although 90% of the original site and buildings have been demolished, the chapel, court room and some cells remain in tact. If you have any imagination this will be a difficult and confronting visit, but necessary and worthwhile, nonetheless.The film, Pandemonium, is shown half-way through the tour. It is produced with a high quality and depicts the life and experiences of the convicts. The surround sound makes for a chilling experience and it may not be suitable for young children.Would definitely recommend this for a morning or afternoon out.

This tour has a 38 minute video section included which is quite confronting and not actually specific to the site. It is brutal without being relevant to the site. We had a 10 year old child in our group and no warning was given to us that the video might be too traumatic for a child. While I understand that the convict history of Australia is a gory and dark period, it would have been nice to have been made aware that the video is scary for kids.We were essentially rushed through the site with little to no time to wander around and read the information panels the site contains in every room, in order to then sit and watch this 38 minute video.Our guide knew his speech but did not answer our questions very clearly or knowledgeably. It was clear he was in a rush to start the next tour and had his eye on his watch.At the end of the tour, once again we were given no time to explore the gallows or read any information. We were ushered to the back gate and told that we could leave now.The inclusion of any first nations history seemed tokenistic, in that there were no elders or community leaders included in the long 38 minute video. What was included was bush visuals with captions overlaid regarding the first nation peoples, but nothing where they spoke for themselves concerning their experience of this terrible period of history.The site itself is amazing and very interesting. It would be great if there was a self led tour available with an add on video option. Perhaps an information booklet to guide you through and the video on a loop?

Great tour, very I formative. Highly recommend.

My visit to the Hobart Convict Penitentiary was a memorable and enriching experience. The admission fee of $25/pax includes a 90-minute guided tour, which also features a 30-minute film. It was our last stop in Tasmania, which completes the narrative after visiting Port Arthur and The Female Factory.I was impressed by the professionalism and dedication of the staff (Sky) and volunteer guides (Mike) who are passionate about preserving the history of the ex-convicts in Hobart. Their knowledge and enthusiasm shone through as they shared fascinating facts and stories about the history.The admission fees go towards ensuring the site's upkeep & the compounds are well-maintained. I was pleased to learn that the government has also provided funding for a new museum.Overall, I recommend a visit to the Hobart Convict Penitentiary for anyone interested in Tasmania's history and culture. The guided tour is well worth the cost, and the staff's commitment to their work is truly admirable. Thank you!

Awesome tour, was so interesting and the movie about the convicts and how the settlement came to be was 100% well worth seeing, brilliantly done. Highly recommend visiting

Very interesting place. Mattew, the volunteer guide did a great job of showing us around, sharing the history of various parts of the building & stories of some of the prisoners.

I visited here several years ago with my husband and at the time 1.5yr old. The tour was awesome and worthwhile doing. We loved learning about this history of the penitentiary. The tour guide was really knowledgable and answered any additional questions we had. No problem having a young child on the tour as long as you're prepared to carry them when needed. Definitely recommend visiting.

Fascinating tour of the Penitentiary Chapel, Supreme Court, Solitary Cells and Gallows. Informative guided tours and film present the harsh reality of convict era in Hobart Town

Really friendly helpful staff who are passionate about the place and history of the historic site. I’m sad to have missed the tour but they have a run down and let me in some of the open rooms to have a look around. Highly recommend visiting, local Hobartians have mentioned to me it is a good tour!

Visited for the ghost tour and was entranced by the amazing history of the place. This place is scary by night, especially when you're locked in the cells. It's a lot of fun and the tour guides are very knowledgeable. Make sure you wear flats or sneakers as the old stone floors are very uneven.