Darlington Convict Probation Station Chapel

The heritage listed ruins of the Darlington Convict Probation Station on Maria Island can be found in the Maria Island National Park. The site is inscribed on the World Heritage and UNSCO.

Maria Island was first established as a penal settlement between the years 1825 and 1832.

The second period (Probation) was from 1842 to 1852, with Darlington being the first settlement. The first catechist was Mr. Lindley who was quoted as saying:

to the greater part of the convicts, religious instruction is unwelcome and irksome.

Darlington is situated in the North West of the Island on a small bay, about eight miles by sea from Spring

Bay. Six wards contained sixty six men each, each having a high lofty room. Twelve huts

accommodated seventeen men each. With other detached buildings, altogether it could

hold seven hundred and thirty men.

Early baptisms appear in St John the Baptist, Buckland register.

The whole of the buildings upon the Station with the exception of the Chapel, are very good and were found in excellent order - great attention to proper training being observable throughout ...

The chapel here is a most wretched building. A new one will shortly be erected.

The Protestant religious services were held twice on Sunday's and the Roman Catholic convicts were marched into two adjoining yards where they received 5 minutes of prayers in the Mess Hall.