When I was at school, I hated history! It was boring! Why learn about the past? I felt that the present and future were more important, so I didn't want to concentrate on history!
However, over time, I have become more and more interested in history. Now, I feel that it is very important to know where we came from and how we got to where we are. Everything that happened in the past has shaped where we are now.
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| Blacksmith |
There are no convicts in my family history, but I still enjoy learning more about penal settlements and such. It amazes me how much we have changed in such a relatively short period of time.
This is what prompted our visit today to St Helena Island. The island, in Moreton Bay, is now a National Park but was a Penal Establishment from 1867 - 1932. Not much remains of the original establishment. The guides (dressed as prisoners and a warder) kept us entertained with their stories and antics.
You can find out more about St Helena Island,
here and
here.
We boarded the ferry at Manly marina and about 20 minutes later we were on St Helena Island. We were provided with a guided tour of the historical sites on the island and lunch; about 5.5 hours in total.
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| Cat O' Nine Tails at Manly Marina |
My tips;
- There is not much shade or shelter so make sure that you are wearing sunscreen and a hat.
- Take some water and snacks (the provided lunch was not very satisfying).
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| Limestone Kiln |
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| Prisoners Cemetery |
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| Shark proof swimming pool |
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| Museum |
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Can you see the Kangaroo?
They roam St Helena Island |
Very interesting Sharon, thanks. On my visit list too as my ancestor Stephen Melvin had an excursion there in the 1880s.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed learning about the history of the island but I would have liked to hear more of the personal stories about the visitors and staff but they do more of this in the Ghost Tour.
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