In 1916 the Tasmanian government established the Scenery Preservation Board, which acquired Isle of the Dead and listed it as a Scenic Reserve.
With a rapid increase in tourism following World War II, this board established the Port Arthur Scenic Reserves Board, which developed a scenic attraction by clearing overgrowth and planting trees.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) took over the management of the isle in 1971 and introduced conservation methods to minimise further erosion by removing exotic species and planting native trees to act as wind breaks to protect the headstones.
They also restored monuments with concrete and mortar.

From the 1970s tourism was promoted through “Isle of Dead Tours” facilitated by a new jetty and boat trip on the O’Hara Booth departing from Port Arthur's Mason Cove.
These tours were not guided and attempts to limit tourist movements were made by pathways and chains around headstones.

The Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (PAHSMA) has managed the Isle of the Dead from 1987.
PAHSMA receives government funding and generates further revenue through tourism.
This revenue has funded conservation and heritage activities such as: maritime research uncovering artefacts of convict boat transport, old jetty and moorings on the Isle of the Dead's coastline; monitoring headstone deterioration and restorations; and, geophysical investigations of the layout and physical characteristics of the burial ground.

Conservation schemes have focused on minimising the impact of tourism on the cemetery by construction of barriers and walkways.
Limiting access by offering only guided tours and alternative activities such as boat only trips and night-time tours of Point Arthur.
At the same time, funding projects have increased tourist accessibility through building new jetties at Mason Cove and Isle of the Dead and improving walkways and viewing platforms.

PAHSMA, under its conservation aims, succeeded in having Isle of the Dead, as part of the Port Arthur Historic Site, inscribed on the Tasmanian Heritage Register in 1995 and Australian National Heritage List in 2005 for its historic and cultural significance, giving it protection under the Environment and Protection and Biodiversity and Conservation Act 1999.
PAHSMA also succeeded in having the site listed with UNESCO as a World Heritage Property on 31 July 2010 making it one of 11 Australian Convict Sites representing convictism and its development in the punishment of crime.
In 1916 the Tasmanian government established the Scenery Preservation Board, which acquired Isle of the Dead and listed it as a Scenic Reserve. With a rapid increase in tourism following World War II, this board established the Port Arthur Scenic Reserves Board, which developed a scenic attraction by clearing overgrowth and planting trees. The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) took over the management of the isle in 1971 and introduced conservation methods to minimise further erosion by removing exotic species and planting native trees to act as wind breaks to protect the headstones. They also restored monuments with concrete and mortar.
From the 1970s tourism was promoted through “Isle of Dead Tours” facilitated by a new jetty and boat trip on the O’Hara Booth departing from Port Arthur's Mason Cove. These tours were not guided and attempts to limit tourist movements were made by pathways and chains around headstones.
The Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (PAHSMA) has managed the Isle of the Dead from 1987. PAHSMA receives government funding and generates further revenue through tourism. This revenue has funded conservation and heritage activities such as: maritime research uncovering artefacts of convict boat transport, old jetty and moorings on the Isle of the Dead's coastline; monitoring headstone deterioration and restorations; and, geophysical investigations of the layout and physical characteristics of the burial ground.
Conservation schemes have focused on minimising the impact of tourism on the cemetery by construction of barriers and walkways. Limiting access by offering only guided tours and alternative activities such as boat only trips and night-time tours of Point Arthur. At the same time, funding projects have increased tourist accessibility through building new jetties at Mason Cove and Isle of the Dead and improving walkways and viewing platforms.
PAHSMA, under its conservation aims, succeeded in having Isle of the Dead, as part of the Port Arthur Historic Site, inscribed on the Tasmanian Heritage Register in 1995 and Australian National Heritage List in 2005 for its historic and cultural significance, giving it protection under the Environment and Protection and Biodiversity and Conservation Act 1999. PAHSMA also succeeded in having the site listed with UNESCO as a World Heritage Property on 31 July 2010 making it one of 11 Australian Convict Sites representing convictism and its development in the punishment of crime.
Isle of the Dead (Tasmania)