Port Arthur Massacre Timeline

Bryant Reaches Port Arthur - First Blood Spilled

Apr 28, 1996

11am
Martin Bryant reaches the outskirts of Port Arthur where upon his arrival he shoots David and Noelene Martin inside their family cottage and then continues on his journey.

Martin Bryant Departs Hobart

Apr 28, 1996

9:45am
Martin Bryant departs Hobart and embarks on the 90 mile journey to Port Arthur.

Lunch At The Broad Arrow Cafe - The Next Shooting

Apr 28, 1996

1pm
Martin Bryant enters a prestigious Port Arthur Cafe, The Broad Arrow. Here he eats lunch on the front perch and is described by witnesses as being happy and joyous, smiling at people as they walk past his table. Upon finishing his meal, Bryant enters the cafe, kills 22 and injures a further 12 in a timespan of 5 minutes.

Parking Lot Shooting

Apr 28, 1996

1:30pm
Bryant exits the Broad Arrow Cafe and enters the parking lot. Here a shoots a further 5 people.

Port Athur Bay Toll Booth Family Shooting

Apr 28, 1996

1:40pm
Martin Bryant departs the Broad Arrow Cafe and drives to the Port Arthur Bay Historic Site Tool Booth 10 minutes down the road. On his arrival he gets out the car and kills a mother and her 2 daughters.

Bay Entrance Killings

Apr 28, 1996

1:45pm
Martin Bryant then drives up the road to the car park of Port Arthur Bay where he carjacks a BMW and shoots the cars 3 occupants, killing them instantly.

Petrol Station Murder & Kidnapping

Apr 28, 1996

1:50pm
Martin Bryant departs the historic Port Arthur Bay and drives to a nearby petrol station. Here he murders the staff member behind the counter and takes a man hostage.

Road To Seascape

Apr 28, 1996

2pm
Martin Bryant then departs the petrol station, forcing his hostage into the boot of the stolen BMW. He drives on the highway, randomly shooting at passing motorists and injuring them severely. He arrives at his desired destination of the Seascape Cottage, the cottage where he first killed its two occupants. He takes his hostage inside and sets fire to the BMW.

Police Arrive At Seascape

Apr 28, 1996

2:30pm
The local police arrive at Seascape Cottage and begin negotiating with Bryant.

The End

Apr 28, 1996

5:30pm
After a full of shooting sprees Martin Bryant is captured by police. His capture after the arrival of The Special Ops Group and the Tasmanian Special Police. The police constantly ordered Bryant to exit the cottage and after 18 hours of negotiations, Bryant exited the building, but he wasn't doing without a fight. He set the house alight and exited it with severe burns, he was taken to hospital by ambulance under police guard. He killed the hostage during the 18 hour stand off.

The Aftermath

Apr 29, 1996

The day after the massacre, Port Arthur was swamped by reporters, you couldn't escape it, it was on every television chanell for the duration of the day. The Australian community realised the full extent of this disaster, where the accused murderder, Martin Bryant, killed 35 and injured a further 12. Bryant remained in hosptal for a week, before being realised and locked in prison. He was later found guilty and given a life sentence.