The Port Arthur massacre took place on April 28, 1996 , in Port Arthur, Tasmania, Australia. This tragic event saw 35 people killed and 23 wounded by gunman Martin Bryant, marking modern Australia's deadliest mass shooting.

Event Timeline

The attack unfolded rapidly around 1:30 p.m. local time at the Broad Arrow Café in the historic Port Arthur site. Bryant first targeted tourists and staff there, killing 20, before continuing a spree at nearby locations including a guesthouse. The violence spanned into the evening, ending with his capture after a fire and standoff.

Immediate Aftermath

Bryant, a 28-year-old with intellectual disabilities, received 35 life sentences. The massacre prompted Australia's swift National Firearms Agreement, banning semi-automatic weapons and launching a massive gun buyback—over 700,000 firearms surrendered. These reforms are credited with reducing gun deaths nationwide since 1996.

Lasting Legacy

Port Arthur remains a somber tourist site with memorials, symbolizing both colonial history and gun reform triumph. Conspiracy theories persist online, often debunked, but forums like Reddit still spark debates around its "true history" as recently as 2025. Nearly 30 years on (as of 2026), it underscores violence's profound societal ripple effects.

"On 28 April 1996, 35 people were killed... leading to fundamental changes in Australia's gun laws."

TL;DR : April 28, 1996—35 dead, transformative gun laws followed. Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.