The story of this place
Sarah Island in Macquarie Harbour was Tasmania's most notorious convict settlement from 1821 to 1833, operating as a shipbuilding station using Huon Pine. The ruins — stone foundations, the solitary confinement cell and the slipway — are now overgrown with moss and lichen, creating a haunting photography subject. The island is accessible only by the Gordon River cruise from Strahan. The surrounding harbour waters are dark and reflective, providing mirror-like surfaces for long-exposure compositions of the ruins. The contrast between the brutal convict history and the pristine wilderness setting is photographically powerful.