Point Puer
Point Puer from the Isle of the Dead, photographed in 1880 (AOT, PH30/1/1203)
Point Puer operated from 1834 to 1848 on the
Tasman Peninsula, the first British purpose-built reforming institution for criminal boys. It predated Parkhurst Prison on the Isle of Wight by four years and was initiated by Lt-Governor
Arthur at a time when children were being seen in their own terms, rather than as small adults. The objective of making constructive colonial citizens out of transported teenagers was to be achieved by separation from adult convicts, with education, trade training and religious instruction being the vehicles to change immoral habits.
Point Puer peninsula and buildings can be seen in the background in this sketch by N Remand, 'Etablissement penitentiare de Port Arthur' (ALMFA, SLT)
A combination of management and resourcing issues, together with the defiant culture of many boys, resulted in the establishment producing mixed results. While some boys continued to offend as adults, others used their trades and pursued honest and successful lives. (See also
Port Arthur.)
Further reading: P MacFie &, N Hargraves, 'The empire's first stolen generation',
THS 6/2, 1999.
Nigel Hargraves
Copyright 2006, Centre for Tasmanian Historical Studies