HERITAGE TASMANIAN HERITAGE COUNCIL May 2009

A b oating party, NorthThere West isTasmania. also Northern a host Tasmanian of other Camera water Club, Courtesy themed National Trust Archives

Water theme flows through Heritage Festival There is also a host of other water themed events including films about lighthouse keepers, Tasmania's rich connection to its magnificent rivers, regattas, the fishing industry and shipwrecks, lakes and coastal waters is showcased in the talks on longitude, and exhibitions and Tasmanian Heritage Festival this month. theatrical events. The Minister for Environment, Parks, Heritage and Ms O'Byrne said a photographic exhibition titled the Arts, Michelle O'Byrne, launched the festival at Signposts showcases young Tasmanian artists Launceston’s Cataract Gorge. and their interpretation of the State's heritage "This year's festival environment. appropriately "These young artists have captured the celebrates the role of precious and diverse heritage signposts, which fresh water and the so many T asmanians celebrate and enjoy,” she sea in creating our said. landscapes and shaping our very Open Doors is also a fitting inclusion in this identity," Ms O'Byrne year's Festival with 10 doors open across the said. State, including entrances to unique places such as the Derwent ferry SS Cartela and

underground passages at the Kangaroo Bluff Minister O’Byrne launches the festival. Photography: Heritage Tasmania Battery. "The festival is called: "The festival gives us all the chance to 'Water: Our Island's Life Force', and with more than celebrate in our historic environment; an 100 events exploring this theme there is sure to be environment vital to our sense of community, something for everyone.'' place and our island state's identity," Ms The festival is an annual feature on the Tasmanian O'Byrne said. calendar. "I'd like to encourage all Tasmanians to get out The events include: ' by water' activities and enjoy our island's heritage by visiting one and the story of women convicts transported to the of the many festival events and activities. Cascade ; the launching of the book Congratulations to the National Trust for again The Water-getters: how quenched its thirst; co-ordinating such a terrific event." and a trout weekend at Liawenee.

The full program is available at www.heritage.tas.gov.au and www.nationaltrusttas.org.au or by calling the National Trust on 6344 6233. DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, PARKS HERITAGE AND THE ARTS

GPO BOX 1751, HOBART TAS 7001 PHONE: 1300 850 332 (local call cost) | FAX: 6233 3186 | EMAIL: [email protected] www.heritage.tas.gov.au

HERITAGE NEWS

New insight into Tasmania’s female c onvicts

The fascinating lives, trials and small triumphs of is of 'Mary Jane', who was born into slavery in the women and children who passed through the Barbados. Two years after the slaves were have been documented emancipated in Barbados in 1834, Mary Jane in a new book. was convicted of assaulting a child and sent to Van Diemen's Land. Convict Lives: Women at Cascades Female Factory, the first of a series of books to be Local convict historian Associate Professor published by the Female Factory Research Group, Hamish Maxwell-Stewart said the book will be was launched at the Cascades Female Factory of great value to Tasman ians and visitors to the Historic Site in South Hobart by supporter Larissa factory. Bartlett. "The contributors to this remarkable book do "I found the stories of the women and children to be much to strike the irons off the past, liberating very personal and told with real compassion and convict women from the confines of the empathy. They gave me a real sense of what life archive," Associate Professor Maxwell-Stewart must have been like for those who spent time in this said. place," Mrs Bartlett said. "The lives they have pieced together stand testimony to the rich and surprising diversity of colonial life."

The Female Factory operated between 1828 and 1856. More than half the 25,000 women transported to Australia came to Van Diemen's Land, and most had a connection or association with the factory.

More than 1,100 children are known to have died in its nurseries.

The Female Factory Research Group was formed in 2004 to foster research into the lives and experiences of these convict women and their children, and into the female factories

Launch of Convict Lives: Women at Cascades Female Factory. Photography Keiva designed to define and contain those Matheson experiences.

"These stories of the 33 women from 22 The Cascades Female Factory is one of the contributors provide an insight into Tasmanian and best documented female convict sites in female convict history as well as the lives of these Australia and is part of the Australian Convict fascinating women." Sites nomination for World Heritage listing.

Mrs Bartlett said she was struck by the diversity of Oatlands wins Tidy Town award the stories of the women and children. Congratulations to Oatlands for winning the "I congratulate the Female Factory Research Group Heritage and Culture and Community on producing such a fascinating and worthwhile Partnership categories of the annual Keep book," Ms Bartlett said. Australia Beautiful Australian Tidy Towns awards. Local author Trudy Cowley tells the story of Margaretta Sarah Brymer, who was transported to Keep Australia Beautiful noted that Oatlands Van Diemen's Land for life for housebreaking but has the largest collection of pre-1837 buildings made an advantageous marriage and died a rich in Australia and most of its buildings were and important woman, aged 72. constructed in the first half of the 19th century.

One of historian Professor Lucy Frost's stories

Heritage Bulletin May 2009 2 HERITAGE NEWS

Tidy Towns Judge Dick Olesinki said Oatlands Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery; two walks heritage is important to residents and the Oatlands on Mount Wellington with Heritage Tasmania District Historical Society is an extremely active archaeologist Angie McGowan and consultant group which seeks to showcase and preserve the archaeologist Anne McConnell; and a walk district’s history. around Sullivans Cove and the with local historian Tony Raynor. Bookings are “Well designed heritage lights complement the essential for all the tours. many historically restored buildings and street tree plantings to provide a welcoming ambience,” he Open places include: Hill Street Reservoir said. (bookings essential); former Carlton Post Office (bookings essential); the SS Cartela; the One of Oatlands’ major attractions is the Callington underground passages at Kangaroo Bluff Mill, which was built in 1836, and is the only Battery; Lisdillon Saltworks on the East Coast remaining tower of its kind in Tasmania. and the Customs House and Bond Store at Strahan. For the full program and booking information visit http://www.heritage.tas.gov.au/open_doors.html or call Heritage Tasmania on 1300 850 332.

Signposts

Heritage Tasmania’s Signposts exhibition is on at the Landmark Gallery, at the IXL Courtyard, 1/23 Hunter Street, Hobart. This exhibition celebrates Tasmania’s rich and Callington Mill, Oatlands. Photography: Heritage Tasmania diverse historic heritage. Three outstanding young photographers - Renee Hodskiss, Travis “The mill gardens are a great example of a Tiddy and Stewart Wells present photographic community project which complements the town’s images capturing the precious and diverse significant representation of cultural heritage. It is heritage signposts which Tasmanian s celebrate clear that there is a successful partnership between and enjoy. the community and Southern Midlands Council and is a testament to the numerous Tidy Towns-related tasks evident throughout the town,” Mr Olesinki said.

The Department of Environment, Parks, Heritage and the Arts congratulates Oatlands and the Southern Midlands Council on winning these awards and successfully showcasing their unique historic heritage.

Open Doors

Heritage Tasmania has A visitor views the Signposts exhibition. Photography: Robyn Shaw organised several once- only Artist Penny Malone’s work of photography, tours and the opening of graphic design and hand-printed patterns several historic heritage describe and celebrate Tasmania’s modern places as part of this heritage. Her textile buttons representing well- years ‘Open Doors’ for the known Tasmanian landmarks are sure to Tasmanian Heritage surprise. Festival. This exhibition will be on display until Sunday The tours include a 24 May 2009 from 10am to 5pm. ‘behind the scenes’ at the

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Voices in the Dark 30-31 May 2009, 2pm DIARY NOTES State Cinema, 375 Elizabeth St, Hobart

Tasmanian Heritage Festival - Water: Our Island’s Members of the public are warmly invited to two screenings of Voices in the Dark . This film documents Lifeforce 1 – 31 May 2009 Christina Henri’s epic project, Roses from the Heart, Statewide which involved the creation of 25,566 embroidered bonnets – one for every convict woman transported to Water in all its dimensions is the theme for the Heritage Australia from Great Britain. Fifty per cent of ticket sales go the Roses from the Heart project. To pre-book Festival 2009. There are almost 100 events on offer your ticket contact the State Cinema on 6234 6318. including tours of boats, historic gardens, natural heritage areas, wild rivers, and historic heritage places; films about Henry Hunter as a Church Architect lighthouse keepers, regattas, the fishing industry and shipwrecks; talks on longitude; and exhibitions and Tuesday, 26 May 2009, 7.30pm All Saints Church, 339 Macquarie Street, South Hobart theatrical events. All celebrate the way wild and tamed rivers and the sea have shaped our Tasmanian way of life. This illustrated lecture by Brian Andrews will explore Festival programs are available from the National Trust of the sources and influences which determined the Australia (Tasmania) by calling 63446233 or visiting the unique character of the church work of this most prolific nineteenth century architect, with particular reference to Trust’s webpage at www.nationaltrusttas.org.au the impact of Augustus Pugin. Mulled wine and cake follow the talk. Gold cold donation. For further information phone 6223 1795. Signposts: a portrait of Tasmania’s historic heritage Islands of Memory: Navigating personal and 9-24 May 2009 public history At the Landscape Gallery, IXL Courtyard, 1/23 Hunter Street, 17-20 September 2009 Hobart Launceston

This exhibition, organised by Heritage Tasmania, includes The national conference of the Oral History Association the photographic works of three young Tasmanian of Australia in Launceston will feature keynote speaker photographers, Travis Tiddy, Renee Hodskiss and Stewart Richard Whiteing of Robben Island Museum, South Wells, as they explore Tasmania’s historic heritage. Penny Africa who will speak on 'Remembering Nelson Malone’s textile artwork will also be displayed to describe Mandela on Robben Island'. Christobel Mattingley, and celebrate Tasmania’s modern heritage. Alison Alexander and Gwenda Beed Davey will be Open Doors among 54 other speakers over four days. 30-31 May 2009 Full details and registration at Various locations www.qvmag.tas.gov.au/oralhistoryconference

Participate in this year’s Open Doors program and learn Earlybird registrations close June 30. more Hobart’s historic water supply system from the 1831 Global Context: Australia’s archaeological water diversion above the Springs on Mt Wellington, to the evidence of the globalisation process West Hobart reservoir. Hear how the Hobart rivulet and harbour influenced the development of Hobart, have a 24-26 September 2009 behind the scenes look at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Inveresk, Launceston

Gallery. Visit the Lisdillon Saltworks by the sea, drop into The Australasian Association for Historical Archaeology the Strahan Customs House and Bond Store, or visit the and the Australasian Institute for Maritime Archaeology old Carlton Post Office on the Carlton River. will be holding a national joint conference at Inveresk, For details, including booking information, visit Heritage Launceston, from 24-26 September. The theme is “In a Tasmania’s website at www.heritage.tas.gov.au or phone Global Context: Australasia’s archaeological evidence 1300 850 332. of the Globalisation process”. If you would like to contribute information, advertise an upcoming event, subscribe More information about the conference, on-line booking to receive this bulletin via email, or cancel your subscription, please contact Robyn and accommodation options is available from the Shaw (Communications Co-ordinator) on 6233 2067 or email [email protected] conference website: http://members.iinet.net.au/~jodysteele/index.htm

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