Friday 12 April 2024

Barracks

Stanley is on the North West Coast of Tasmania Australia and we've visited and stayed there many times over the years.  There are convict Barracks at Highfield up on the hill overlooking the sea and The Nut.  Excellent view for the convicts.
The map as to where Stanley is just after the post.

The Barricks were built in 1834 and occupied from 1836.  About forty convicts were assigned to Circular Head establishment in 1932 and by 1833 there were seventy-three.  The old convict barracks at Stanley were used by the Van Diemens Land Co as quarters for the employed men in the early days.  Unfortunately they are just in total ruin now.

A few photos of what is left and strangers are not permitted into the paddock to take photos, so these are taken  from the side of the road.






61 comments:

  1. Margaret, remains of constructions make us have and know a piece of the history of the past. Surely, what you show us was important for the city at that time.

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    1. Very important back then Norma, would have been the talk of the whole Island and beyond for sure.

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  2. You have a new header! Lovely!
    I like to read the history of different places.
    Thanks for sharing.

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  3. Such a shame to see wonderful old buildings gradually disappearing forever.

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    1. It is such a shame, and I suppose the authorities were somewhat hesitant to repair them, if they had done there would be a good tourist attraction in that area R.

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  4. The new header looks really nice.
    What a shame that they are now in total ruin.

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    1. Thanks re header Angie.
      It is such a pity, but they seem to remain as they are for a long time now.

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  5. I agree with River - and doubt that many (any?) buildings put up today would last as long.

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    1. I'm sure buildings of today wouldn't last as long, and the newer buildings are often demolished for some reason or other. Shame at times.

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  6. Awesome photos but it is a shame those old buildings are now just a few bits of ruined stonework

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    1. It is a great shame Jo-Anne but the old house nearby is still doing ok, and that is being kept repaired when needed and attracts tourists.

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  7. The ruins are looking so superb. Right up in my alley.

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    1. Interesting are ruins and buildings beginning to fall down.

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  8. They built so much with stone back then.

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    1. They sure did and many a house built like that are still standing and being lived in.

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  9. The ruins are interesting and we missed them. It's such a nice little town.

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    1. It's a sweet town and should not be bypassed but of course if there is no time, there is no time and we can't see everything on our travels Andrew.

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  10. You got some good photographs of the ruins.
    You've not included the map as to where Stanley is after the post?!

    All the best Jan

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    1. Thank you Jan.
      The map is below (on the front page of the blog) where it says 'location', you click on that and it gives you the map Jan.

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    2. Many thanks, I've now seen it :)

      All the best Jan

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  11. The ruins look fantastic.
    They built so much with large stones back then.
    Greetings Irma

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    1. They sure did build many buildings with stones as that is all they probably had apart from wood Irma.

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  12. Ruins are always intriguing... Good pictures

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    1. Always a fair bit of history attached to ruins Ashok...thank you.

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  13. If walls could talk...such history!
    Happy weekend!
    hugs
    Donna

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    1. There would be many a tale to tell that's for sure Donna. Thank you.

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  14. One can barely think of Australian history without bringing convicts to mind.

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  15. Wonderful photos...and you wonder what stories those stones could tell!?

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    1. I'm sure they would tell many a story of woe and good luck.

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  16. Cruelty of the highest order for the unfortunate convicts, some sent here for such
    "CRIMES" as capturing a rabbit from a bloody "Lord Almightys" manor estate.
    I suppose the unfortunate were suppose to starve??????????
    I have forebears of my father's ancestors - one a 14 year old boy who had already
    spent 3 years of a filthy boat on the THAMES River as the Americans fought their
    War of Independence. He was on the First Fleet convict ships in squalor with rats
    and of course foxes, must have fox hunting for the gentry!!!- When he got his ticket of leave, he did well. Married another female ex-convict and opened an Inn down the South Coast below Wollongong. Thus the family's Hotel history, I
    suppose.
    Yes not nice days then.
    Colin

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    1. So that's how it all came about Colin. The convicts didn't have to steal much back then to fill up the colony.

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  17. These old ruins tell a big story!
    It's sad to see them falling apart, but It's both fascinating and heartbreaking to think about the lives of those who lived and worked there
    Thanks for sharing these photos, Margaret!

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    1. You are welcome Veronica. Much history there in the ruins, if only we knew a bit more.

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  18. They are remnant, part of the history there,
    Happy weekend.
    Best regards

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  19. A place full of history. Great photos!
    Have a nice weekend.

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  20. Incredible old ruins Margaret, with such amazing history! I was interested in Hels comment about who were sent there. With my father being a police officer, I remember him showing me a booklet from the 1800s, full of names of people who were incarcerated. 12 year olds, 14 year olds who stole bread because they were starving. Hellish way to treat a child, to be sent off thousands of miles away from home, never to see their families again.

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    1. You are correct Denise, these young boys only stole a piece of bread so they could eat as an example. I believe the authorities wanted to fill the 'new colony'. It is very sad really what happened back then.

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  21. I like the history behind the old buildings. But it's a shame that some, even minors, went there unjustly.

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    1. Many minors were sent to Australia, Van Dieman's Land back then Katerina, such a shame and strong sturdy men were also sent, the journey on the ship was a big ordeal and many died along the way. Sad times.

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  22. È un peccato vedere che con il tempo queste costruzioni, che racchiudono un pezzo di storia, si siano rovinate così tanto

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    1. Totally agree with you Stefania. I can't ever remember these ruins being any different.

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  23. Hello Margaret,
    When I see such ruins, I always think about what happened in the past and how these structures came to be like this. Thanks for sharing. Have a good week :)

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    1. It's a reminder of the past.. Thank you and you are welcome.

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  24. Beautiful stood for the buildings, they are great.

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  25. Thanks for the history behind that, it amazes me how they're still standing!

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    1. You are welcome. It's not a lot of history as there is certainly more. Yes, it is amazing how those walls are still standing, and what a lovely view of the sea through what was a window.

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  26. Preserving ruins can keep chances for us, especially for children to learn our own history.

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  27. Ididn't know they existed when we visited Stanley. It is a lovely township and the penguins were cute. Its a shame the ruins can't be made into a tourist attraction.

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  28. Sí, si las piedras hablarán nos contarían muchas historias, seguro que muy tristes. Las fotografías te quedaron muy bonitas. Un abrazo Margaret.

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