Darlington Probation Station — Attraction in Maria Island

Entire island has no human inhabitants, no shops, no cars. It is a wildlife reserve. You can hire bikes or walk the many paths. Most wildlife species here are fairly tame. We got close up video footage of wombats, wallaby with young, and unusual geese. Someone we meet even saw a Tasmanian Devil, a species only recently introduced on the island in an attempt to save them from extinction. We were however very disappointed to find that all the bikes were hired out when we got there and our only option was to walk and see as much as we could in the limited time available - especially after the Tourist Information office had advised us that there was no need to...

The history here is incredible — it’s amazing how well-preserved the buildings are and how much you can learn just walking around the site. We especially appreciated how the signage brings the stories of the convicts and the era to life. It really gives you a sense of what life was like back then.

And the wombats! They were everywhere and absolutely adorable. We couldn’t believe how close they came, I’d have to get away from them — definitely a highlight of the day.

A perfect blend of convict history and beautiful natural surroundings. Highly recommend making the trip across to...

The Darlington Probation Station was a convict-era penal settlement from 1825-1832 and later a convict probation station (1842-50) on Maria Island. Today, a good number of the 19th-century buildings remain and are in good condition.

Now recognised on the Australian National Heritage List and as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (2010), many of these buildings are put to use as island Visitor Centre, museum space and even a bunk facility for those seeking to stay overnight on the Island. Well worth exploring the Darlington Probation Station as part of visits to...