Join us for a virtual tour of Point Puer, the British Empire’s first purpose-built boys prison.

This talk first explores how archaeological research and historical records have been combined to create a detailed digital recreation of the site as it may have appeared in the 1840s. We will then step inside the 3D model and explore the prison in virtual form, moving through its buildings and spaces to gain a deeper sense of what life may have been like for the young boys imprisoned at Point Puer. John's work offers an insight into how digital technology is transforming the way archaeologists interpret and explore our past.

This talk is presented in conjunction with 'Little Depraved Felons: The Boys of Point Puer', an exhibition at Port Arthur Historic Site exploring the first purpose-built juvenile prison in the British Empire.

About the speaker: John Stephenson was introduced to the field of archaeology by accident while working in the oil and gas industry. He was lucky enough to be involved in unanticipated finds in WA, Egypt, and Papua New Guinea, which sparked an interest in the application of digital technologies to identify, record, and interpret archaeological sites. On returning to Tasmania to live, he undertook formal studies in Archaeology, and has applied digital technologies to record and recreate many Tasmanian historic sites. He is currently the Registration Manager at Heritage Tasmania.

This talk is part of Unearthed 2026, a series of programs recognising the contributions of archaeology to our knowledge and understanding of Australian convict heritage hosted by Port Arthur Historic Site. Find details for all four talks here.

When: 12.30-1.30pm AEST, Thursday 28 May 2026

Where: Online (via Teams)

Registration: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/922bae97-2c2f-4866-9e7a-a7114603db59@f8518a28-b2e6-4c41-8f1e-bff24bcf0121

Image: Digital reconstruction looking east of the workshops, barracks, and officers’ quarters at Point Puer. Image courtesy and © John Stephenson.