Charles O'Hara Booth portrait (Libraries Tasmania PH 30-1-295)

Portrait of Lieutenant Colonel Charles O'Hara Booth. In March 1833 he was appointed commandant of the Port Arthur convict settlement, with jurisdiction over all stations on Tasman Peninsula. In 1840 his jurisdiction was restricted to Port Arthur and the juvenile establishment at Point Puer, and his designation changed to civil commandant under the probation system. Under his command the township of Port Arthur was laid out on an extensive scale, harbour construction carried out and reclamation undertaken, a government farm established at Safety Cove, a convict-pwered tramway built, and the semaphore telegraph system brought to a high degree of efficiency for helping to arrest escapers. His administration of the convict system was extremely efficient, his rule was impartial, never capriciously tyrannical, and, though by present standards justice then seemed merciless, he was as prompt to reward as to punish; he had patient attention for the most trivial cases.