Darlington Probation Station
Maria Island
historic national heritage site in Darlington Tasmania, Australia
Contents
8 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Darlington Probation Station1:47
Welcome to Darlington Probation Station on Maria Island, a site of profound historical complexity and one of the eleven Australian Convict Sites listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Register. As we step off the ferry and walk into…
Listen in the app2The Penitentiary — Architecture of Control1:37
The centerpiece of the Darlington settlement is the Penitentiary, a large, austere building that housed hundreds of convicts during the probation era. As you walk through the central corridor, the sensory experience is one of…
Listen in the app3The Commissary — The Island's Lifeline1:39
Standing near the water's edge is the Commissary, one of the oldest and most imposing buildings at Darlington. Built in 1825 during the first convict era, it served as the vital supply hub for the entire island. …
Listen in the app4The Mess Hall and Chapel — Spiritual Reform1:30
Continuing our walk, we come to the large communal building that served as the Mess Hall and the Chapel. In the probation system, religious instruction was just as important as physical labor. …
Listen in the app5The Separate Apartments — Solitary Reflection1:32
In stark contrast to the communal penitentiary are the Separate Apartments, or solitary cells. These were reserved for those who broke the rules of the probation station. …
Listen in the app6The Miller’s Cottage and the Convict Gardens1:32
Away from the main barracks, we find the more domestic side of the settlement at the Miller’s Cottage and the site of the former gardens. During the probation era, Darlington was meant to be as self-sufficient as possible. …
Listen in the app7The Industrial Ruins — Bernacchi’s Grand Dream1:38
Our final stop at Darlington explores its third life: the industrial era of the late 19th century. After the probation station was abandoned in 1850, the buildings fell into disrepair until Diego Bernacchi, an Italian…
Listen in the app8Closing1:27
As we walk back toward the jetty at Darlington, take a final look at the stone buildings standing silent against the green hills of Maria Island. We have traveled through layers of time, from the early days of convict punishment…
Listen in the app
What is Darlington Probation Station?
Darlington Probation Station is a place in Maria Island with 8 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | Maria Island |
|---|---|
| Type | Heritage |
| Story sections | 8 |
| Total length | 12 min 42 s in all |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | -42.5819, 148.0651 |
| Last updated |