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One of the biggest tourist attractions of Hobart is the Saltwater River. It is
a major historical site of Tasmania, located nearly 23-kilometers from Port Arthur
and 106 kilometers from Hobart.
Saltwater River, Hobart is also known as Saltwater Creek. In ancient times
it was a penal colony, where a large number of prisoners were kept. This historical
region consisted of two penal settlements. One was an agricultural settlement,
which produced a large number of vegetables and wheat. This settlement was basically
a farmland and the better part of this huge settlements area. This settlement
also had a piggery. The agricultural farm supplied food to Port Arthur and other
cities in the Tasmanian Peninsula.
The other settlement consisted of a coal mine. This was the unpleasant part
of the Saltwater River settlement in Hobart. The living conditions of this area
were unpleasant thereby making it the most unfavorable part of this penal settlement.
Escaping from this part of the area was next to impossible and hence was dreaded
by the convicts.
At present, one can only see the ruins of the ancient settlements in the Saltwater
River. You can check out the underground cells where the convicts and the prisoners
were kept. These cells were restored in the year 1977. Signs placed in different
parts of the ruins clearly mention that one should be careful while taking a
look at the dark and dreary mines and cells.
It is thus the best place to get information about the history of Hobart. Saltwater
River is an isolated place, where one can spend hours taking a look at the ancient
ruins and the olden day mines, like the one in Plunkett Point. Apart from these
ruins, you can walk down the road and pay a visit to Ironstone Bay, which is
again a popular picnic spot. One must note that there are no restaurants and
hotels in Saltwater River, Hobart.
Visiting the Saltwater River, Hobart is an important itinerary when sightseeing
in Hobart. A symbol of the city's history, it is worth paying a visit to this
place.
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