Photographer's Note
Port Arthur Church is part of the old convict ruins from the era of 'Van Diemens Land' (named by Dutch explorer Abel Tasman). The wooden roof was destroyed in a bushfire over a century ago, & only the stone work remains.
"The foundation stone of the substantial church of cruciform plan, 32m x 19m, was laid on 25 April 1836.[38] It is thought to have been completed in 1837, as were most of the buildings excepting the convict hospital (1842) and the four-storey Penitentiary (1848). Other buildings included cottages for the prison governor, doctors, hospital supervisor, and other officials; a powder magazine and administration offices (1835); lunatic asylum; the cruciform Separate Treatment (Model) Prison with three of its wings containing cells and the fourth a chapel.[39] The church was not consecrated to any particular denomination, but at first was used by all. Later a place of worship was created for Roman Catholic prisoners in a room in the former Granary which had been converted to a Penitentiary in 1857.[40]
Transportation of prisoners from England to Tasmania ceased in 1853 and the number of convicts at Port Arthur gradually reduced until the settlement was abandoned as a gaol in September 1877.[41] It was officially renamed Carnarvon, possibly after the Colonial Secretary, Lord ("Twitters") Carnarvon.[42] The first sale of Crown land on the site was made on 28 December 1877. An attempt was made on 12 March 1889 to auction buildings and land; the Model Prison and Superintendent's cottage were bought by Revd J B W Woolnough.[43] The tourist potential of the former gaol was soon recognised and today it remains as preserved ruins.
David Burn, who visited Port Arthur in 1842 described the church:
The Church at Port Arthur is a beautiful, spacious, hewn-stone edifice, cruciform in shape with pinnacled tower and gables. Internally it is simple but neatly fitted... There is no organ, but a choir has been selected from among the convicts, who chant psalms with considerable effect.[44]
On 29 February 1884 sparks from a nearby fire ignited the church roof and left only the walls standing. A bushfire on 28 January 1895 gutted the Hospital, the Model Prison and smaller buildings."
Source: http://avoca.vicnet.net.au/~ohta/document/articles/PortArthur.html
Critiques | Translate
carper
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Workshop Editor/Silver Note Writer [C: 9444 W: 441 N: 18]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-g-s.gif){kind=small}
(96) 2005-03-06 3:38
Nice one Chris,
I like the angle you took the shot, the composition is well taken, the colours are very nice, and the light is nice, very good job
Fixfocus
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2217 W: 89 N: 1633]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-g-g.gif){kind=small}
(9385) 2005-03-06 3:50
Hi Chris!
There΄a beautiful play of light and shadows in your capture.A fine compo with the tree in the foreground.Excellent sharpness!
RGatward
(20108) 2005-03-06 4:07
Interesting shot, could be almost anywhere in NW Europe, except for the lack of restoration, though maybe a few examples around. Good use of the tree for framing, but a slight drop in PoV would have left it clear of the church,
spence
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 1312 W: 174 N: 76]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-g-n.gif){kind=small}
(65) 2005-03-06 4:52
Lovely shot of this dignified old ruin Chris. Nice texture in the stonework and I like the way the light is seen through the arched windows. Port Arthur is so beautiful - I must get back there one day.
greg64g
(11193) 2005-03-06 5:51
Hello Chris,
old but a wonderful picure, i like this old church with the tree on the firstground.
this is a veryy different achitectural point of view than you showed us from China.
cheers
Greg
jhm
(211734) 2005-03-06 7:10
Hi Chris,
Its these walls repaired after the fire? The old church I can see that these very nice maintain, lovely picture between the green vegetation.
Greetings,
John.
papagolf21
(152605) 2005-03-06 7:20
Bonjour Chris,
Une ιglise oω l'on peut prier ΰ ciel ouvert (communion directe avec les cieux !).
Heureusement que la pierre reste, elle est le tιmoignage du passι. Des ruines, peut-κtre, mais de trθs belles ruines !
J'aime bien le jeu des ombres et des lumiθres sur les murs de l'ιglise.
L'arbre sur le devant dynamise la composition.
Amitiιs.
Philippe
bantonbuju
(51815) 2005-03-06 7:53
hi chris, i think i may say you have an exceptional talent to find interesting places like this one - and looke where: tasmania!
bpelvan
(3798) 2005-03-06 8:07
Hi Chris,
Tree branch and tree itself looks amazing at first sight. I do like such framing very much. I can not believe since 18 hundreds has been done nothing for this lovely architecture.
The shadows on the walls and on the ground increases the depth. Well management of light. Good job. Thanks for sharing...
Kenny10pin
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 4744 W: 0 N: 5667]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-n-g.gif){kind=small}
(19301) 2005-03-06 8:19
very ncie work and lighting, it looks very empty, but great capture though, well done
Zepi
(22848) 2005-03-06 10:26
TRθs belle architecture!
Bon cadrage,j'aime ces couleurs aussi!
Du trθs beau travail Chris!
Amicalement
Sιbastien
mumek
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1902 W: 31 N: 2944]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-s-g.gif){kind=small}
(20226) 2005-03-06 11:25
Very beautiful capture of the church ruins. Good light and details.Excellent composition.The note as usual very interesting and informative.
best regards
ziggy
chinchini
(31529) 2005-03-06 12:12
Bonsoir Chris,
Joli patrimoine que ces belles ruines en excellent ιtat ! Trθs bon job pour nous les prιsenter accompagnιes d'une riche note.
L'image est trθs rιussie pour une photo de 1980 !
Bravo !
Pierre
weswang
(18247) 2005-03-06 13:43
Chris, I visited that place the end of last year. It looked the same as in this picture, except that the white stones are not there. I did not know all the details until I read your note. Your POV of taking this picture is excellent.
nwoehnl
(122) 2005-03-06 15:49
Good use of the foreground tree as a framing element for this impressive old edifice, Chris. Great textural richness present in the remainders of the façade. I can't help but think the alignment of white stones by the road looks a little tacky, but that's certainly nothing you could be blamed for ;-) Nice shot.
bimbol
![Gold Star Critiquer [C: 60 W: 2 N: 2]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-n-n.gif){kind=small}
(132) 2005-03-06 18:16
Hello Chris!
Beautiful shadows and color. Fine bracketing from trunk and branch of tree.
I would like have such eye :-)
Best regards.
Roman
bazal
(7900) 2005-03-07 5:05
Very interesting shot and great note for a surprizing church that I'd rather imagine being in England or in Ireland... Good textures and light, and good crop. Good shot, Chris !!!
anakin
(2775) 2005-03-07 14:44
Really good work and view Chris...
very nice place ,colours,shadows and lights,good work
well done
saludos
naret
(826) 2005-03-07 21:19
Sawasdee Chris,
Nice composition. I prefer to see the lower angle in order to avoid the tree branch cutting the top of this chruch.
Naret
elihesamian
(26149) 2005-03-08 4:48
Great church,Philippe,..oh no!dear Chris!
:))
Excellent informative work,with a nice view of an old churc,and a fine and lovely sunlight and shadows which well captured,nice the tree in right side set in the frame with a beautiful bend branches in top,nicely composed and great work,and thanks for this note,excellent,Chris!
joseelias
(0) 2005-03-09 8:13
Very interesting history. It’s a pity that it burned down as it looks quite nice. You could get some very nice shots in this ruin taking advantage of the roof absence. Good POV with the tree in the right (although that branch disturbs me a little).
Photo Information
-
Copyright: Chris Jules (ChrisJ)
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 17140 W: 1065 N: 37717]](//i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(171172) - Genre: Τοποθεσίες
- Medium: Έγχρωμο
- Date Taken: 1980-04-00
- Categories: Ερείπια
- Camera: Minolta XG 1, Pentax A 28mm
- Έκδοση φωτογραφίας: Πρωτότυπη έκδοση
- Θέμα(τα): 100 Churches, 80 Countries [view contributor(s)]
- Date Submitted: 2005-03-06 3:31
- Αγαπημένα: 1 [view]
Discussions
- To nwoehnl: Port Arthur (1)
by ChrisJ, last updated 2005-03-06 11:42
