Old Trinity Church, Penitentiary Chapel, Criminal Courts

By the late 1820s, Hobart Town was experiencing overcrowding in both its convict accommodations and its only Anglican church, St. David’s. To address this, Lieutenant-Governor George Arthur commissioned Colonial Architect John Lee Archer to design a second place of worship that could serve both convicts and free settlers.

In 1831, construction commenced on what would become the Penitentiary Chapel, also known as Old Trinity. The site was chosen adjacent to the Hobart Barracks, ensuring easy access for male convicts. Archer designed the chapel in the shape of a T-cross, forming three wings. Each wing contained tiered benches capable of seating 500 prisoners, while beneath the floors lay twelve brick, barrel-vaulted solitary confinement cells. These cells were cramped, dark, and poorly ventilated, serving as punishment chambers for disobedient convicts.

The chapel was completed in late 1833, though construction delays had pushed back its opening. A two-storey brick tower facing Brisbane Street was added that same year, allowing free settlers to enter via the north wing without encountering convicts. The walls were constructed from sandstone, with snecks—small stones stacked between larger ones—to reinforce the structure. The tower also housed a dual-faced clock, manufactured by Thwaites and Reed of Clerkenwell, London.

Despite its grand design, the arrangement of convicts and free citizens worshipping in close proximity proved problematic. By 1834, discussions were underway to build a new Holy Trinity Church in North Hobart, which would eventually replace the chapel for free settlers.

By 1857, the Murray Street Gaol was in a state of disrepair and was subsequently closed. Around 500 prisoners were transferred to the Penitentiary Chapel, which was officially repurposed as the Hobart Town Gaol.

In 1859, two wings of the chapel were converted into Criminal Courtrooms, complete with judges’ chambers, jury rooms, and associated offices. The tiered wooden floors were removed, and stone-lined passageways were constructed to connect the docks with the gaol entrance.

By the 1940s, the gaol was described as unsafe and ruinous, leading to the construction of a new maximum-security prison at Risdon in the 1950s. The last prisoners left the Campbell Street site in 1960, though the courts continued to operate until 1983. In the 1980s, the National Trust took stewardship of the chapel, restoring it to its original condition and preserving its historical significance.

This building is on the Tasmanian Heritage Register as a place of importance and significance to Tasmania's history.

Today, the Hobart Convict Penitentiary is one of Tasmania’s most important heritage sites, offering visitors a glimpse into the harsh realities of convict life. The site features guided tours, including ghost tours and paranormal investigations, allowing guests to explore historic courtrooms, subterranean tunnels, solitary cells, and the gallows. The Pandemonium Experience, an immersive film shown in the original chapel, brings Tasmania’s convict history to life.

Visitors can also explore the Convict Memorial, a digital history experience that traces the lives of the 75,000 convicts transported to Tasmania between 1803 and 1853. The site remains a powerful reminder of Australia’s convict past and continues to attract history enthusiasts from around the world.