Unshackled – The Convict Memorial wins at the Tasmanian Architecture Awards

In 2020 a digital Convict Memorial was initially proposed for the Hobart Treasury Buildings by Hunter Developments, a consortium consisting of Robert Morris-Nunn, Prof. Hamish Maxwell-Stewart and Craig Dow Sainter of Roar Film. The Treasury Buildings proposal did not proceed but in 2021 the Tasmanian Government committed $1.25m for the development of a Convict Memorial Hub at National Trust Tasmania’s Penitentiary Chapel and Criminal Courts Historic Site in Hobart. The project was managed by the National Trust Tasmania in collaboration with Heritage Tasmania and the Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (PAHSMA).

The Convict Memorial is an exciting new digital history presentation that allows visitors to explore the records of 75,000 convicts who came to Tasmania in 1803-1853. It aims to provide visitors with a deeper involvement with Tasmania’s convict legacy. As a result of male convict arrivals being processed at the Hobart Penitentiary from 1821 to 1853, Tasmania’s uniquely complete convict records were housed on site. They were discovered in the Gaoler’s House in 1963, transferred to the Tasmanian Archives and Heritage Office collection and inscribed on the UNESCO Memory of the World Register in 2006. Volunteers have transcribed the records over the past 20 years.

The Convict Memorial has returned the digitized data from these records to the site. The Memorial seeks to re-unite built heritage, moveable cultural heritage and the documentary record. It will send tourists on journeys of discovery to convict sites across Tasmania, activating these sites as tourism resources and thereby contributing to their economic sustainability.

The Tasmanian Institute of Architects Jury Citation for the award was:

‘Unshackled’ unlocks the stories of Tasmania’s convict history and invites viewers into an immersive experience within the confines of the eerie 1860 Courtroom 2 at the Hobart Penitentiary. This is a project which demonstrates in a visceral way, the power of technology when combined in an intelligent way with the built environment.

The digital panels and projections are simple yet highly effective in creating a deeply engaging environment. The addition of small design gestures, such as strip lighting under furniture, accentuates existing components of the courtroom, creating additional drama and intrigue.

This small project opens a door to new interpretations of Tasmania’s past and holds the attention of users in its interactive functionality. Most importantly, in the context of these awards, it will bring new and welcome attention to some of Tasmania’s most significant historic buildings.

The Circa Morris-Nunn Chua team responsible for delivering Unshackled! – a convict memorial within the refurbished Penitentiary Chapel Court 2 consisted of:

 

BUILDER

MONA Technical Services

 

PROJECT PRACTICE TEAM

Robert Morris-Nunn AM, Design Architect

Dik Jarman, Project Architect

 

PROJECT CONSULTANT AND CONSTRUCTION TEAM

Steve Thomas, ROAR FILM, Digital Design Director

Mat Daniels ROAR FILM, Digital artist, creator of digital content

Prof. Hamish Maxwell Stewart, Historian, this project represents 20 years of Hamish’s research coming to fruition

Hobart Penitentiary Heritage Works

As acknowledged in the Jury Citation above, contemporary interventions in historic sites derive their impact from the contrast between their design aesthetics and materials and the original build, in this case the 1860 Courtroom 2, that was conserved as part of the Tasmanian Government-funded project. The Hobart Penitentiary Heritage Works involved removal of a 1969 suspended acoustic ceiling, repairs to the 1830s structure, reconstruction of past decorative schemes, lighting and flooring. The program continued across Court 1, the courts offices and the building’s exterior ahead of the official launch of the Convict Memorial by the then Minister for Heritage, the Hon. Nick Duigan MLC, in November 2023.

The Tasmanian Government-funded project was delivered by the National Trust team: Scott Carlin, Jim Ward and Emma Boyce with the following:

Greg Edwards of R. B. Edwards Builders of Woodbridge

Michael Power, Heritage Solid Plastering

Michael Bremer-Trainor, historic paint finishes expert

Young’s Decorating Services

Eddie Storer and William Yee electricians

Ros Stockman, Richmond Plumbing

 

We would especially like to credit James Dwyer and Dylan Banks from MONA Technology Services for their design response to the complex engineering needs of the Convict Memorial – achieving an aesthetically outstanding result while transferring the load of a one-ton column across a series of 1830s trusses.

At the Hobart Penitentiary, the Convict Memorial, the film Pandemonium and the Rogues’ Gallery are contemporary interventions in one of Australia’s richest convict sites – wrought by convict labour for convict use – incorporating courtrooms, subterranean tunnels, cells and the gallows.  Under the leadership of Professor Hamish Maxwell-Stewart, the project will continue to evolve over 2024, enabled by a $540,000 Australian Research Council grant that will support ongoing content development.

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