On my visit to Tasmania back in February, it was the this part of the Port Arthur prison that I found particularly haunting.
It was called the Separatist Prison.
The Prison operated from 1833 until 1877 and held many of the convicts transported to Van Demons land, primarily from the UK. Sometimes for quite petty crimes such as my great grandfather (though he never ended up in Port Arthur). After awhile, Corporal punishment was viewed as counterproductive as it was thought to harden criminals further so they came up with a new more “enlightened” form of punishment based on Britain’s Pentonville Prison- A prison of complete Silence.
The inmates were kept in line with forced social, visual, auditory isolation. The institution used the “Silent System,” in which all inmates were only referred to as numbers and remained quiet at all times. They wore hoods or masks during the short times they were allowed out of their cells, mainly to visit the chapel. Even there they were separated by booths and watched by 4 armed guards but it was a time where they were sometimes able to sneak notes to each other. For any misdemeanour a man was locked in total darkness and silence for between several hours and 30 days on bread and water. After 3 days he was taken out for an hour’s exercise each day. Inmates spent from 4-12 months in this part of the prison.
The theory was intended to give prisoners time to reflect upon their crimes. However, the result of sensory deprivation - no human contact, sound and touch -is now known as torture. This often resulted in severe mental illness from which many did not recover.
This image is a blending of two. The window which reflects one arm of the prison with tiny cells either side and the other is photographs of many of the men that were held here. Some were teenagers.
We know now the importance of human connection for our health and wellbeing. Even more so in these pandemic times when many of us are separated from those we love.
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