Sarah Island Historic Site in western Tasmania, south of the coastal town of Strahan, operated from 1822 to 1833 as Tasmania's oldest convict settlement.
The Sarah Island convict site predated that of Port Arthur by at least a decade.
The island is also known as Settlement Island.
Largest shipbuilding yard
While Sarah Island achieved the reputation of being one of the severest Australian penal settlements in colonial times, it also gained renown as the site of Australia's largest shipbuilding yard with labor provided by the island's convicts.
World Heritage area
Sarah Island is located within the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage site and is a stopover on wilderness cruises out of Strahan. World Heritage Cruises operates in the area.
These cruises take in the lower reaches of the Gordon River and may reach the narrow Hells Gates entrance to Macquarie Harbour.
Yachts may also be chartered at Strahan for Sarah Island.
