Hobart Convict Penitentiary

In the early 1830’s, a service in the chapel of the Van Diemen’s Land Prisoners’ Barracks Penitentiary was far from a serene and holy experience.

The building, in the shape of a cruciform, was designed by John Lee Archer to make additional space for the growing number of convicts arriving in the colony. The design included thirty-six solitary confinement cells beneath the chapel floor, which were later declared inhuman.

The Penitentiary is home to incredible stories of crime and punishment in Van Diemen’s Land, with courtrooms and underground tunnels, to the chapel, solitary cells, and still-working gallows of this fascinating historic convict site, which later became Hobart’s old Gaol and Supreme Court.

Access to the site is by Guided Experience only.

The Penitentiary is also available for private bookings, school tours and conference cocktails, contact us for more information.

National Trust properties throughout Tasmania are open Saturdays and Sundays from 10am – 4pm. However we encourage all visitors to either contact the property or call 6344 6233 prior to visiting, as hours may change due to the changing nature of requirements as a result of the impact of COVID-19. Stay safe. 

Address: Campbell St &, Brisbane St, Hobart TAS 7000, Australia
Phone: +61 3 6231 0911