The isthmus of land only a few hundred metres wide at Eaglehawk Neck is the reason Port Arthur was chosen as the site for a prison -- the tiny strip of land was easily patrolled, and in those times few were able to swim and make a break for it that way. A line of dogs, tethered at short intervals, roused the soldiers if anyone tried to get by. The Officers Quarters has been restored as a museum interpreting the history and life at Eaglehawk Neck. The 1832 quarters is reputed to be the oldest wooden military building remaining in Australia. Nearby is the Officers Mess, a modern restaurant and coffee shop, and also the information centre for the man-made features and natural phenomena in the surrounding area.
