Hansen Yuncken embraced the challenge of stabilising the fragile brick and stone perimeter walls of the iconic Port Arthur Penitentiary, one of Australia’s most recognisable convict sites. Built in 1843 as a flour mill and granary, this World Heritage listed site was converted into a penitentiary in 1857, and today is Australia’s most intact 19th century penal settlement.

The team expertly replaced the existing timber support structure and visitor walkways with structural steel elements, installing vertical Cintec dowels to pin and support the perimeter walls of the main penitentiary, and undertake masonry, footing and stone cornice conservation works. Delivered in partnership with HPA Projects, the Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (PAHSMA) also wanted to improve accessibility, provide protection from inundation of seawater from future storm surge threats, undertake a program of archaeological research and start a staged program of interpretation.

Hansen Yuncken developed construction methodologies that were sympathetic to the sensitive heritage structure

The solution included grout-injected anchors, a steel top-plate, steel columns, and horizontally bedded helical rods in a progressive structural design. Hansen Yuncken developed construction methodologies that were sympathetic to the sensitive heritage structure, completing all works while ensuring the ongoing precinct operations. BIM 360, a mobile digital collaboration software tool, was used extensively on the project.