This book is the result of five years intensive research into the history of Port Arthur and its outstations on Forestier's and Tasman's Peninsulas. It draws its material entirely from documents and reports of the period 1827 - 1898, although the introduction utilises earlier papers. The story has been told chronologically in order that the reader might, more readily, appreciate the inter-relation of events. Extensive use has been made of extracts from documents and reports to ensure accuracy and the sources of these are listed in the references.