A stonemason by trade, Rohan will discuss general masonry processes including quarrying and the working of stone for building construction, with a particular focus on Point Puer. He'll compare modern and traditional techniques and discuss the skillsets the boys would have developed over time, using examples and archaeological evidence, as well as offer perspective on the heavy labour endured by the Point Puer boys.

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: Rohan George studied a BA in Visual Arts majoring in sculpture, a trade certificate in stone masonry, and postgraduate degrees in both project management and heritage conservation. As a stonemason he has worked for both private firms and NSW Public Works, working on a range of buildings including the vernacular, churches, law courts, galleries, prisons, hospitals, fire stations, incinerators, railway stations, military barracks, schools, and universities. Rohan is currently Conservation Project Officer - Buildings for the Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority.

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 14 May 2026

Where: Online (via Teams)

Registration: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/a0743912-7f22-4dc3-8736-002aaa51dfa9@f8518a28-b2e6-4c41-8f1e-bff24bcf0121

Image: Stone foundations of the chapel at Point Puer. Image courtesy: PAHSMA.