Port Arthur News Archive

If you'd like to ask a question or two about what happened at Port Arthur, to save you time wandering around reading articles, you can contact the author of these pages.

A brief summary of what happened:
On April 28 and 29 of 1996, a 29 year old male named Martin Bryant murdered 35 people, injured 18 people, attempted to murder 20 people, set fire to a car he had stolen from four of his victims, and set fire to a bed-and-breakfast cottage (image above) belonging to two more of his victims. A full account is included in the sentence, and a list of people and charges is in this article.

Since that time, at least three books have been published on the matter.
Suddenly one Sunday by Mike Bingham published in 1996 by HarperCollins. Mike is a columnist for the Hobart Mercury, which he joined in 1979. He had previously written for Brisbane's Courier Mail, The Sydney Morning Herald, the Sun in Melbourne, and as a foreign correspondent for the Herald & Weekly Times in London.
Port Arthur: A Story of Strength and Courage by Margaret Scott, published in 1997 by Random House. Margaret is a fairly well-known "older lady" who emigrated to Tasmania in 1959, taught English for 24 years at University, and is now a full-time writer.
To Have and to Hold by Walter Mikac, published in 1997 by Macmillan. Walter lost his wife, Nanette, and two daughters, six-year-old Alannah and three-year-old Madeline, at Port Arthur. He established the Alannah and Madeline Foundation, which provides financial and other support to child victims of violent crime or the sudden loss of family.

What the papers were saying in 1997...

What the papers were saying in 1996...

You cannot request headlines or an article from a newspaper here:

Other news items, articles and stories...
CNN: April 28, 29a, 29b, 30a, 30b, May 1, 3, 4, 10, 19, 22, June 15, July 14, September 30, November 7
NBC: November 8a, 8b
People Magazine: May 13, 1996
Reuters: April 29, May 1, and June 2, 1996
Time Magazine: April 30, 1996 and September 8, 1997
Anglican Communion News Service
Beware the Locals
Gun Sales Soar as Australians Cash in on Disarmament Plan
Julian Palmer's article on the possible motivations of Martin Bryant
Profile of a "Tasmanian Devil"
Social Issues Bulletin on gun control
Suara Pembaruan CyberNews
WA counsellors to help Tasmanian authorities

Other relevant links:
Alberto's Soapbox
Alt.angst archive by Rachel Chalmers
Ausmarket's donation page
A Case for Gun Control by Jason Gottlieb
Centacare Tasmania
Christian Commentaries: Horror at Port Arthur, An Eye For An Eye, Gun Control all by Rod Irvine
Coalition for Gun Control
Commonwealth Law Enforcement Board
Firearms Buyback Scheme
Firearms Reform, Dept of Justice, Victoria
Internet Crime Archives
Memorial page to the victims of Bryant
Memorial for the Innocents
Nesan Kistan's testimony
News Papers on the Internet
Port Arthur Tragedy Memorial
Queensland News Page one
Senator Selwyn Johnston's view on gun laws
Shooters Party
Shooter's plea to the media
Sporting Shooters Association of Australia
The Tasmania FAQ
Tasmanian Firearms Owners Association
Zan's Thought for May 1, 1996

GreenWeek: 1996 in review
Article by Bruce Parry
Where we told the truth about the Port Arthur tragedy?

Verse:
Port Arthur and Dunblane by James Boswell

Tourist information:
Port Arthur Historic Site
About-Australia
Australia Tourism Net
Cycle tour around the Apple Isle
Dale Paget's Journey
Go Australia Holidays
The "Lady Nelson"
Mark's Photo Gallery
Port Arthur Historic Convict Site
Port Arthur & The Tasmanian Peninsula
Port Arthur Prison
Riv and Charlie's Drive to Port Arthur
TasTour: Port Arthur and the Tasman Peninsula
Tas-Trek Port Arthur
Tourism Department: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
The Township of Port Arthur
Travelling Australia
Where To Stay
Port Arthur Commemorates Australia's Prison Past
Port Arthur Holiday World

Special Thanks to Niamh Henshaw and her Irish relatives for the Dublin Star.

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