Since its creation in 1987, the Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (PAHSMA) has been responsible for preserving and maintaining one of Australia’s most important heritage sites and major tourism destinations, the Port Arthur Historic Site on the Tasman Peninsula, approximately 100km south east of Hobart, Tasmania.

In 2004 the Authority was also given responsibility for the Coal Mines Historic Site, located near Saltwater River, about a half hour drive from Port Arthur on the Tasman Peninsula. During 2011, the Authority was also given management responsibility for Cascades Female Factory Historic Site, in South Hobart.

All three sites under PAHSMA’s management are included on the World Heritage List as three of the eleven sites that constitute the Australian Convict Sites World Heritage Property, inscribed in 2010.

Due to its responsibility for multiple sites, reference is often made to the Port Arthur Historic Sites.

PAHSMA is a Government Business Enterprise and operates under the provisions of the following principle acts of Tasmania’s State Parliament:

PAHSMA is committed to the aims and objectives of the Public Interest Disclosures Act 2002 (the Act). It does not tolerate improper conduct by its employees, officers or members, or the taking of detrimental action against those who come forward to disclose such conduct.

The Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority is globally recognised for excellence in telling the Australian convict story through outstanding conservation and tourism experiences.

To conserve and enhance the heritage values of our World Heritage convict sites and to share the stories of these places and the people connected to them.

Members of the Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority’s Board are appointed by the Tasmanian Government.

Members bring a wide variety of skills and knowledge from across a range of disciplines and arenas of business, heritage management and public life to the organisation.

Grant O’Brien AICD, Chair

Tasmanian born, Grant O’Brien was appointed as Chair to the PAHSMA Board in December 2019. His 29 year career with one of Australia’s largest publicly listed companies, Woolworths, has provided extensive skills in Finance, Commercial and Business Operations, Marketing and Retail. Grant was a former Chairman for both Australian Leisure and Hospitality and Hydrox Holdings in addition to being a member of the Business Council of Australia, a Director of the Global Consumer Goods Forum and Chairman of the Retail Council of Australia.  Grant is currently a member of the Tasmanian Government’s AFL task force, a Director of the Avners Pancreatic Cancer Foundation and is Deputy Chairman of the Stars Foundation.
He enjoys keeping fit, bushwalking and family time.

 

 

Kristal Buckley AM

Image of PAHSMA's board member, Krystal BuckleyBA (Hons), DipSocSci, MPubPol, GradCertHigherEd

Kristal Buckley is a lecturer in Cultural Heritage at Deakin University. She is an experienced cultural heritage practitioner with more than 30 years’ professional experience in cultural heritage practice and environmental policy and holds professional qualifications in the disciplines of anthropology, archaeology and public policy. Before joining Deakin University, she worked in government, consulting and the community sector. Her work includes indigenous and non-indigenous cultural heritage assessments, teaching and management projects, with an emphasis on community involvement, the cultural values of nature, and cultural landscapes. She is currently involved in the processes for cultural heritage evaluation and conservation through implementation of the World Heritage Convention and other international instruments.

Kristal is an international Vice President of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) and a past president of Australia ICOMOS. She has represented ICOMOS at the annual session of the World Heritage Committee since 2007. Kristal was appointed a member of the Order of Australia in 2013 for services to cultural heritage and education.

Hon Peter McKay

Image of PAHSMA's Board member, Peter McKay.Peter McKay’s varied and challenging business and working life has provided him with a comprehensive understanding of the political process and a strong empathy with the needs of rural and regional Australia. He has successfully combined business investments with an extensive political career in the Tasmanian Legislative Council between 1976 and 1999.

Peter served as a Cabinet Minister from 1986-89 and again from 1992-98, including as Minister for Community and Health from 1996-98 and as Deputy Leader of the Legislative Council from 1986-89. His business interests have included primary production of sheep, vegetables, poppies and cereals, vegetable seed production and vineyards as well as tourism developments including jet boating on the River Derwent and as a member of the Navigators management team, ferry operators in Southern Tasmania.

Peter’s background has provided him with an extensive network across all political spectrums, in business and industry. He has wide experience in community consultative processes and in the particular challenges and processes associated with the implementation of Government policies. His strong business background has proven an invaluable adjunct in determining a balance between commercial realities and Government policy directions.

Roseanne Heyward

Image of PAHSMA's Board member, Roseanne Heyward.Roseanne Heyward has longstanding and strong ties with the local Tasman community, having grown up in Koonya, attended school at the Tasman District School then as a boarder at The Friends’ School in Hobart.   After travelling overseas and returning to Hobart to work and raise a family she returned to Koonya to live in 1995.   Ms Heyward is actively involved as a volunteer with a number of community organisations.

Roseanne has served the Tasman community in the role of Councillor on the Tasman Council while also demonstrating leadership, stakeholder engagement, communication skills and sound judgement in her roles as both Deputy Mayor (2007-2014) and Mayor (2014-2018). Prior to the Tasman Council roles, Ms Heyward was employed as a Practice Manager of a specialist medical clinic for 15 years.

Melinda Percival

Melinda PercivalMelinda Percival is an experienced leader having worked in multiple sectors including; aviation, tourism, energy and telecommunications. She has held a number of executive positions including the General Manager Product and Marketing at Aurora Energy, Manager National Markets at Tourism Tasmania and General Manager Corporate Affairs and Aviation for Hobart Airport focusing on areas of business development, strategy, customer experience, marketing and corporate affairs.

Melinda has held board positions for the Australian Airports Association, Tourism Industry Council Tasmania, and Antarctic Tasmania.

 

 

Our Values give us our sense of identity as an organisation, describing the core qualities that underpin how we work together to support the goals and future success of PAHSMA;

  • Unity – We work as one to achieve PAHSMA’s Purpose and vision
  • Accountability – We hold ourselves, and each other, accountable for our actions and behaviours
  • People Matter – We acknowledge and show respect to our people – past, present and future
  • Passion and Pride – We are committed to being world class

Statutory Management Plan (currently under review)

Management of the Authority and of the Historic Sites is guided by the Port Arthur Historic Sites Statutory Management Plan.

This plan provides a framework for the effective use, development and management of the Port Arthur Historic Sites, particularly in relation to their heritage values.

This management plan acts as an overarching policy document under which operate a number of secondary and tertiary plans, and various management documents and policy guidelines.

It sets out a summary of the Historic Sites’ heritage values, examines current management issues and provides strategies for effective conservation, tourism operations and visitor management.

 

Annual Report

PAHSMA publishes an annual report detailing its key achievements, activities and performance for the year.