The Tench guided tour is well worth a stroll for tourists and locals, alike. I fall somewhere in the middle there, being that I'm a local but have only been for the last five years, and I love learning about Hobart (although I don't really actively seek it out much these days). Sometimes working in the industry gives me perks like visits to tours like this for free, and sometimes people are slack and don't book these tours and I end up getting an almost-personal (there was one other lady) tour on a drizzly Saturday morning.
The Penitentiary is owned by the National Trust, and enthusiastic volunteers run guided tours through the remains of the building, giving you a history lesson at the same time. It's close to the centre of town, which is a bit amazing when you learn about the history of the place. The Tench as it stands is the remains of what held the convicts that were brought to Hobart, before becoming Hobart's gaol, before finally being closed down in the 1960s. Only bits of the original Penitentiary remain, and only bits of those bits remain (the Chapel building is the most remarkable and it's had certain bits and pieces pulled/knocked down, as people did a lot before realising how important it can be to preserve history). You get to hear about the full evolution of the space over the years, with a rather grim ending at the hanging corner. It was an hour absolutely well spent and if you're taking the time to visit Port Arthur on an historic bender then you'd best look after yourself and add a visit to the Tench as well. read more