Point Puer

Wednesday 26th February 2014

Cliffs at Point Puer

Point Puer is the site of the first reformatory built for boy convicts, aged 9 - 15, in the British Empire and operated from 1834 to 1849. It is part of the Port Arthur historic site and tours can be booked there to get information on the site. There is no historical data to be viewed at the Point so it is more or less impossible to determine what the ruins are, but never the less, it is interesting to explore the area.
We stayed at Burilda Waters and I commenced my walk from there. I walked along Big Possum Beach, around Brick Point, having to dodge under a jetty, along Little Possum Beach, around Tramway Point, under another jetty, and on to Briar Paddock Beach - all very interesting names. The rocks were quite slippery in places and I was always looking for the dry line. From here the shoreline started heading out to Point Puer and the walking was

Big Possum Beach

sometimes on rock and sometimes on sandy beach. There was quite a lot of seaweed and kelp washed up on the beach and it smelled pretty bad in places. I walked along to Old Station Beach and when I could see the road next to the beach I opted to take it into the site. There were ruins of buildings and some walls etc. but as I said previously, I did not know what they were. I wandered over to the west side of the peninsula and was pleasantly surprised by the high cliffs that existed there, one of which was named Suicide Cliff, for obvious reasons, I guess.
I spent some time looking around and then walked back along the Point Puer Road and Safety Cove Road to the start.
This was a very pleasant short walk and I enjoyed it immensely.
Distance: 7.7 kms.
Time: 1'53"
Ascent: 90 metres
Click here to download GPX track.

Briar Paddock Beach

Point Puer Ruins

Point Puer Ruins

Looking towards Budget Head

Point Puer Ruins

Point Puer Ruins

Sign on access road