Monday 22 October 2007

WORK COMMENCES ON SEPARATE PRISON AT PORT ARTHUR
For the first time in many years, special bricks are being manufactured in Tasmania close to the size of those made by convicts.

The bricks are a different dimension to their standard modern counterparts and will be used in conservation works on the Separate Prison at the Port Arthur Historic Site.

The conservation project includes reconstruction of the perimeter yard walls of the prison.

“The decision to reconstruct was based on an extensive process of research and consultation within the heritage conservation industry by PAHSMA staff,” Port Arthur Conservation Project Manager Jo Lyngcoln said.

“It’s one thing to tell people how this incredibly rare building would have looked – and quite another for visitors to experience it for themselves.

“The dominance of the Separate Prison over the Port Arthur landscape can only be translated in this way,” Ms Lyngcoln said.

After an extensive tender process, K&D Bricks & Pavers in New Town was selected to manufacture the odd-sized brick, using a special mix of local clay high in shale to reduce shrinkage.

“The total order of 200,000 bricks has occupied our entire production for over a week, with the manufacturing process taking a fortnight,’ K&D Bricks & Pavers Marketing Manager, Steven Watson, said.

Before being used to reconstruct the walls next February, the bricks will be stored on site to allow them to stabilise, in a process known as ‘grassing’.

Ms Lyngcoln said this would allow the bricks to grow, which they do after firing, before construction begins.

“Normally in every day construction this is not usually a problem, but it is a factor here given the tight engineering tolerances of this project,” she said.

Production of the special bricks is just one component of the complex works being undertaken at the Separate Prison between now and June 2008.

Stonemasons have commenced work stabilising internal corridor walls and taking down a chimney, which will be rebuilt following the reinstatement of the original roof structure.

Some parts of the building are currently off-limits to visitors. Signs explaining the project have been installed, and some tours and activities will be re-routed until this phase of the project is completed in June next year.

The Department of Environment and Water Resources jointly fund the project with the Federal Government under the National Heritage Investment Initiative.

The Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority is matching the NHII grant using the Tasmanian Government’s annual funding for conservation at Port Arthur along with funds raised from visitors’ fees.

For further information contact Tourism Tasmania's Communications Unit

(03) 6230 8244
email mediainfo@tourism.tas.gov.au