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A long history
of toil and trouble
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Norfolk Bay Convict Station was built in 1838 as Australia's first
railway station. Ships bound for Port Arthur from Hobart faced
a dangerous journey across Storm Bay and round Cape Raoul.
It was much safer to stay in the sheltered waters of Norfolk
Bay, unload at the Convict Station and then load goods and passengers
into rail carts and transport them five miles (8kms) across land
where they could be unloaded and rowed to Port Arthur. The Port
Arthur Historic site is a 10 minute drive away from the Norfolk
Bay Convict Station.
The carts were powered by men, convicts of course, who pushed
the heavy carts up hill and rode down hill. It would have been
a hard life but it was a sought after position - outdoors, away
from the worst of the overseers, active (probably no worse that
football training) and there was always the chance of a tip from
a grateful passenger or some easy pickings.
After Port Arthur closed in 1877 the building became the first
inn on the Peninsula and then, around 1900, it was converted into
a guest house and local post office operated by the same family
for over 40 years.
Major renovations took place in 1990 and the house now has five
comfortable guest rooms, three en suite and two with their own
separate bathrooms. There is a guest lounge and a dining room.
Breakfast is generous and features home made muesli, our own jams
and marmalades (try the gin and lemon!), local bread and eggs
and home-grown fruit in season.
The gardens are our special pride and the view from the front
verandah across the bay is breathtaking. It is easy to spend an
hour or two with a glass of wine just watching the boats, seabirds
and sometimes dolphins and penguins. The more energetic might
like to fish from the jetty for flathead or cod.
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