Cascades Probation Station at Koonya

Hobart Town (1804) First Settlers Association NEWSLETTER Quarterly June 2015

CASCADES PROBATION STATION AT KOONYA

Patron: The Rt. Hon The Earl of Buckinghamshire (Lord Miles Hobart)

Hobart Town (1804) First Settlers Association Inc. Email: [email protected] CONTENTS Postal Address: P.O. Box 337, GLENORCHY TAS, 7010 PRESIDENT’S REPORT 3

Website: www.htfs.org.au CONVICTS WITH A HINT OF LAVENDER 4

Hon. President: CASCADES PROBATION STATION 6 Gwen Hardstaff Ph. 6273 7356 THE WRITING’S ON THE WALL 7 Mob. 0427 620 264 Email: [email protected] OUT AND ABOUT 8

Hon. Vice-President: HIGH PEAK 10 Warwick Risby Ph. 6225 1711 THE TOWN ON FAT DOE RIVER 11

Hon. Secretary: ROSES FROM THE HEART 12

Stephany Fehre THE LADY WITH THE FLAG 14 Ph. 6247 6956

WHILE VISITING NORFOLK ISLAND 15 Hon. Treasurer:

Mavis Richards NEW BOOKS 15 Ph. 6249 2230 DATES FOR YOUR DIARY 15 Hon. Historian: Kath Lonergan NEW MEMBERS 15 Ph. 03 6228 7479 [email protected] MEETINGS are held the first Tuesday of the month, February to December, at the Parish Room, St Hon. Public Officer: George’s Church, Cromwell Street, BATTERY POINT, Michael Seabrook commencing at 10.00am.

Hon. Auditor: MEMBERSHIP PAYMENT David Baulch Members may pay Annual Subscriptions $25.00 (due 1st January) by direct credit to our Association’s Hon. Webmaster: Commonwealth Bank Account. Alastair Douglas BSB 067-006 Account No. 2800-1110 quoting Member Number/Surname. Committee: “The reference number information is essential in Warwick Risby 6225 1711 order for the Treasurer to identify YOUR payment”. Beverley Richardson 6225 3292 No fees or charges. Margaret Long 6243 8606 Charles Hunt 6286 7058 Members may post a cheque for $25.00 direct to the Treasurer at P.O. Box 337, GLENORCHY TAS 7010. Guy McDougall 0448 816 305 Teresa Kingsbury 0488 520 400 All articles and information contained in our Carol-Ann Hooper 6273 1529 Newsletter are accepted in good faith and opinions set down therein are of the authors and Newsletter: correspondents and are not necessarily the Editors: Warwick Risby Stephany Fehre policy or views of HTFS Assn. Inc. Compiler: Guy McDougall 2

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

I am happy to have this opportunity to convey all my thanks for the support and confidence shown to me in my new role as President.

I have been a member since around 1990, when I was first introduced to the Association on one of the wonderful bus trips Irene Schaffer conducted in the early years.

As I had been researching Family History for around 10 years at that stage, the Association was a very welcome gateway for continuing research and furthering knowledge of early settlers of VDL.

Work commitments and living away from Hobart made it difficult for me to attend monthly meetings but my interest and contact has continued over the intervening years.

My earliest ancestors (on paternal tree) sailed to Risdon Cove with Lt John Bowen’s party and others (both paternal and maternal) with David Collins to Sullivan’s Cove.

The more I came to know of our early settlers, I quickly realised how much more I did not know and how much was yet to be learned; a fact that I’m sure all members would readily acknowledge.

HTFSA acknowledges the death, in early May, of Keith Johnston a former Life-Member. Keith will be remembered as a reliable and willing helper, in diverse roles, during the early years of the Association. I know many members still have Membership Cards endorsed with Keith’s distinctive handwriting – another task he attended to for many years.

Vale Keith; and sincere condolences to the Johnston family. Since the last quarterly Newsletter, our very efficient and hardworking secretary, Stephany Fehre, has organized the wonderful trip to High Peak, ‘Roses from the Heart’ representation at the formal Dinner, the Hunter St gathering of members in their bonnets, plus a trip to Tasman Peninsula. All proved to be very successful ventures.

Every organization relies on efficient office bearers and it is evident that the HTFS Assn. is very fortunate in having a group of willing helpers, thus ensuring that all runs smoothly.

Gwen Hardstaff PRESIDENT

CONVICTS WITH A HINT OF LAVENDER Day at the Tasman Peninsula

It was an early start to a full day on the Tasman Peninsula, on May 16, when a busload of our members and friends left Hobart on a cool autumn morning. Our first stop was the ‘Cascades’ property at Koonya, the home of Donald and Sue Clark. It was originally one of six probation stations on the Peninsula, set up in the 1840s. Don and Sue live in what was the hospital, a two-storey brick home rescued from degradation into a fine residence.

Cottage at Koonya As the sun slowly warmed, we walked around the grounds viewing the buildings which Don and Sue have gradually restored. At one stage they were used for holiday accommodation, but are now homes Group shot at the Cascades Probation Station

for the family. There is a purpose-built museum portraying the history of the settlement and the orchard. The remaining buildings give some idea of the extent of the probation station which only ran for 13 years, closing in 1855. It has been in the Clark family for 100 years.

From Koonya we went to Premaydena for a meet- and-greet with members of the Tasman Peninsula Historic Society in the Old Court House which they use. James Parker spoke to us about the project they had undertaken to recognise the servicemen from the Peninsula who went to the Great War and did not return. Of course we found connections and enjoyed

the opportunity to meet with others who share a love of history and heritage.

This was a brief stop on our way through Nubeena to a farm and restaurant called Port Arthur Lavender, north of Port Arthur. We had lunch in the purpose-built facility showcasing Tasmania’s produce. From scallop pies, rabbit pies, fish and chips, frittata and much more. We succumbed to the pleasure of our meals served in sparkling sunshine. The Tasman Peninsula Historical Society’s From there it was a short drive to the Tasman Old Court House in Premaydena Historical Museum, at Taranna, run by Colin Lowe and Marje Turner. They erected the building to house their ever-increasing collection of historic memorabilia. It focused on the local history and raising awareness of the lives of the Aboriginals and the pioneer families.

Port Arthur gains a lot of the attention on the Tasman Peninsula but I hope people were able to discover some of the other attractions in this interesting part of the state.

Our driver, Stewart of Walker’s Coaches, took us safely and competently on our way and we were able to sit back and relax. A great day out! Stephany Fehre

Port Arthur Lavender Farm

CASCADES PROBATION STATION

The Cascades Probation Station was built at Koonya in 1842 as an outstation for the main Port Arthur prison and by 1845 it reached its peak when the convict population reached 442. While it operated for “procuring timber for general purposes”, many buildings were being constructed including convict accommodation, the superintendent’s quarters, hospital, cookhouse, bakehouse, more convict cells, school, officers’ quarters and workshops. Some of these buildings still remain.

The place was originally known as ‘Newman’s Bottom’ and was an obvious site as it had a good stream of water throughout the year and while a gang of convicts was clearing the land near a small waterfall so the area became more known as Cascades. ‘Rotten Row’ at the Cascades Probation Station The first buildings at Cascades were of wood and bark construction and just three months after the first buildings were completed the once sleepy little bay was now a busy settlement.

For the prisoners life was tough being locked up at night and toiling by day in damp and leech ridden gullies. By any standards Cascades, despite its idyllic setting overlooking Norfolk Bay, was not a pleasant place and nor were the occupants of its numerous buildings the most pleasant of men. They were there for a purpose and the niceties of life were not part of this isolated and disciplined existence. The Cascades Probation Station was closed in 1855.

The Cascades has had several owners, but the current owner is Don Clark. It’s been in his family since 1915 his great-grandfather, Moses Clark, worked here for the then owner, Henry Chesterman a well-known timber merchant.

The Clark family have converted many of the remaining convict buildings, which originally housed the married officers, but later it operated as a very successful tourist accommodation.

‘Rotten Row’ at the Cascades Probation Station 6

THE WRITING’S ON THE WALL Early Wallpaper in Hobart

Alan Townsend is very well-known for his knowledge and reproduction of wallpaper of the mid-1800s. We invited him to our April meeting to enlighten us on early wallpapers. His interest in historic wallpapers stems from the discovery of layers of fragments in his 1820s Kempton home and simply went on from there.

Alan shared with us that wallpaper was originally used in Hobart when the cottages were lined with timber boards. Since inside the cottage was very draughty, the early settlers responded by gluing newspaper with animal glue over the hessian on the walls. The accumulation of wallpaper that was stripped off the walls were up to 26 layers thick. It showed how fashions and tastes had changed over the decades. However some wallpapers were actually a health hazard since they had arsenic in them. He also brought samples in to show how the patterns have changed through the years. By the 1840s it was not only the elite who could afford to use wallpaper, it had become cheaper becoming available to those on low incomes. One such paper is made of muslin, adorned with hundreds of minute rose buds. These wallpapers tell a story about how people lived, as much as their tastes.

While the well-known building of ‘Narryna’ was being refurbished in 2012, Alan Townsend was contracted to duplicate the style of wallpaper in the drawing room, as if to be original. He gained samples from the original wallpaper of ‘Summerhome’ in Moonah, built in 1844. The wallpaper resembles silk held in place by cords and decorative rosettes in a diagonal fashion. As an English version of a French wallpaper, it is in the tradition of Pompeian wall decorations. It was commissioned by the Empress Josephine from Percier & Fontaine for the Château de Malmaison in the early 1850s.

Alan said he had spent many hours refining the six different shades of grey to achieve the three-D effect. Apparently the effect was so successful that many visitors to Narryna could be seen trying to smooth out the ripples in the wallpaper. Alan described that the screen printing which he uses to reproduce the paper is the last step in a laborious and meticulous process of tracing and piecing together the original design, separated sometimes into many layers of subtle shades of ink.

Alan Townsend is the Heritage Officer for Clarence City Council and is involved in Southern Midlands Heritage Centre programs.

OUT AND ABOUT

TASMAN PENINSULA OUTING

Our group was found roaming in the courtyard

Stephany Fehre, Barry and Margaret Lewis and Maree Ring

Kath Lonergan standing at the plaque where her mother and grandparents are shown

Going over a display of Don Clark’s handy work in his workshop (see vintage car in background)

Inspecting the Tasman Peninsula Historical Tasman Historic Museum’s village display 8 Society’s display

SNAPSHOTS OF THE HIGH PEAK OUTING

A photo of High Peak, probably taken in the 1910s Gwen Hardstaff with Kate Dell looking over the illustrations of the house plans

Carol-Ann Hooper and Kath Lonergan in the dining room Marilla Lowe, Dorothy Holmes and David Fehre on the tiled verandah

Annabelle Grant with a broom to 9 sweep away the road tax Carol-Ann Hooper and friends outside the original cottage

HIGH PEAK A Family’s Summer Chalet

‘High Peak’ is the home of the Grant family at Neika, about a ten minute drive from Fern Tree towards the Huon. On Saturday, March 14, 2015, 16 members and friends were fortunate to have the opportunity to visit the house and gardens following a suggestion by Carol-Ann Hooper. The weather was cool but fine when we were welcomed into the house by the owners, Jim Grant and his wife, Annabelle. Morning tea was served in the conservatory towards the rear of the house. Glimpses of the interior as we entered were an enticing foretaste of what was to come. Jim spoke about his family’s Jim Grant leading a group through to the garden connection with the property.

Charles Henry Grant purchased 23 acres of land in 1888 and in 1891 he employed a prominent architect George Fagg to design a chalet for his family as a summer residence.

Charles Grant, who was an engineer came to Tasmania in 1872 to oversee the construction of the Hobart to Launceston railway. Grant's business activities also included directorships of the Cascade Brewery, Perpetual Trustees Executors and Agency, Hobart Gas, Hobart Coffee Palace and the Parattah Hotel, several mining bodies, and a driving force behind the Hobart Electric Tramway Co. He was described as 'pre-eminently a money making machine and successful speculator'. He was also returned unopposed twice as Legislative Council member for Hobart. Grant died in 1902 and in 1914 the locality of Granton was named in his honour.

High Peak is a two-storey Victorian-Tudor style building with an asymmetrical roof featuring gables. The exterior woodwork is King Billy Pine being felled on the site and the windowsills are Huon Pine. The lower floor was built of rubble-stone also collected on the property and the upper storey featured stucco over timber lathes and wire mesh.

There is a grand formal entrance hall, dining and drawing rooms, seven bedrooms, large kitchen with a butler’s pantry and servants’ quarters. Exquisite stained glass windows were brought out from Belgium and featuring rare cranberry glass roundels adorn the front door. The home has Jacobean-style oak furniture hand carved in France.

After admiring the house, we moved into the garden and noticed a magnificent Sequoia tree and a grand Monkey Puzzle tree. Annabelle said they had stopped counting after finding 52 rhododendrons. Other trees included the English yew, conifers, Norfolk Island Pine and cedar. Jim told us about the 1967 bush fires and the efforts of a man to extinguish burning embers landing in the roof. Many years later it was found that the barge-boards had been charred, evidence of how closely the house came to being burned.

Later, Marilyn Kremmer was our hostess at the delightful St Raphael’s Church at Fern Tree. It is a small wooden building dating from the end of the 19th century and has survived two serious bush fires. Wood features in the interior and two The sequoia tree in the grounds of High Peak stained glass windows link the church to the Grant family. 10

THE TOWN ON FAT DOE RIVER

Bothwell is a central Tasmanian town situated on the Clyde River, or what was known then as Fat Doe River which runs from the Central Lake district to the Derwent River near Hamilton.

Mary Ramsay lived in Bothwell for over 20 years and researched as much as she could about the history of the area and its people. In her talk at the February meeting she referred to some of the early settlers and convicts in the 1820s.

Mary was inspired by Thomas Laycock who was a lieutenant in the New South Wales Corps, stationed at Port Dalrymple. In 1806 the new colony was dependent for its supplies from New South Wales, but when the Hawkesbury River overflowed its banks, caused by drastic floods, supplies to Van Diemen’s Land were discontinued. Also ships from other parts of the world failed to bring urgently needed food. During this time there were about 500 people living in Mary Ramsay the south and about 300 in the north. The Lieutenant-Governor of the northern settlement, William Patterson decided to try and obtain relief from the south by dispatching Thomas Laycock with a party of four men to find their way on foot through the centre of the uncharted colony. In the evening of the fifth day out, on February 8, 1807, they made camp near a river close to where the present town of Bothwell stands. Lt. Thomas Laycock

Michael Howe, one of the most callous bushrangers at the time, was captured on the banks of the nearby Shannon River. It was a significant event in Bothwell’s history. He had been living in a remote stock hut until where he was cornered and clubbed to death on October 21, 1818. He was buried on the spot but his head was exhibited in Hobart.

When George Augustus Robinson came through the area in January 1831, a group of Aboriginals of the Big River Tribe performed a dance outside the hotel that was built by James Vincent in 1828. Confrontation took place on the street between the Aborigines and the settlers. However Robinson’s visit reassured the settlers and they felt safer in his confidence.

Two headstones of interest in the Bothwell Cemetery are those of Arthur Connelly who was the postmaster at Bothwell with his wife, Sarah. A few of the well-known names associated with the area were Edward Lord, an early settler involved in the wool industry. His property, ‘The Hermitage’ was by the Shannon River. Others were Governor Sorell, Thomas Poole, and John Miles who had been a convict on the ship Calcutta.

‘Grantham Farm’ was sold to William North, a political prisoner. William was one of the Machine Breakers or rural labourers who rebelled in England. John Frost was part of the Newport Rising and became the assistant to the George A. Robinson "The Conciliation" schoolteacher, John Martin. painting by Benjamin Duterrau, 1840

John Mitchel, one of the ‘Young Irelanders’ who were tried for treason and sent to Australia and wrote Jail Journals.

English political prisoners were treated worse than the Irish. The political prisoners met at Interlaken and had picnics at Cooper’s Hut. Thomas Meagher was one of the men. There is no longer evidence of the hut.

Bothwell flourished for about ten years but became static by the 1840s. Many of the settlers’ sons had deserted the town for the goldfields in Victoria. Another heyday came when nearby Waddamana’s Hydro Power Plant was built in 1909 and the population grew to about 1000 with the workers and their families. The current population of Bothwell is now 370. There have been great commercial families with graziers and early settlers but no real tradespeople. Rowcrofts were not successful settlers but the Reids at Bothwell and the Nicholas family at Nant were profitable landholders. Stephany Fehre

Bothwell’s main street in 1870

ROSES FROM THE HEART

Several hundred people gathered in white bonnets in Hunter Street, Hobart, on Sunday May 10 2015, to mark the end of the ‘Roses from the Heart’ program founded by Dr Christina Henri, Artist- in–Residence at the Cascades Female Factory Historic Site at South Hobart. The weather was cool but fine with a strong breeze. We stood Christina Henri together for the welcome by Hobart Lord Mayor, Ald. Sue Hickey and speeches by The

Stephany Fehre, Gwen Hardstaff, David Fehre, Wilma Nichols, Kath Lonergan gathered at the Monument

Hon. Elise Archer, Speaker of the House of Assembly and Liberal Member for Denison and Dr Christina Henri.

We had been asked to dress completely in black to accentuate the bonnets in an aerial photograph taken by a camera mounted on the drone. Our Association was represented by Gwen Hardstaff, Kath Lonergan, Wilma Nichols, Janine Hunt, Stephany and David Fehre. Teresa Kingsbury and Paul O’Donnell. Roses from the Heart is the first memorial to the 25,566 convict women who were transported to Australia between 1788 and 1853. Their very existence was not recognised for a long time. The over- riding impression was that only men had been transported, an opinion expressed by one onlooker at the event. The bonnet pattern was based on that of a servant’s from the mid-1860s. Though Christina was 800 bonnets short of the total, she aims to have them all in a permanent display close to the spot where the women arrived in Van Diemen’s Land would have stepped ashore.

Chris Wisbey, radio presenter for ‘Weekends’ on 936 ABC, spoke live from Hunter Street to many of the attendees, one being our President, Gwen Hardstaff. She took the opportunity to invite people to become members.

Gail Mulhern came from Queensland especially to attend the program, which included a dinner on the Saturday night before. Gail had quite a story to tell, as she has 15 convict ancestors. One she is very proud of is Eliza Davis whose story has been dramatised at the County Wicklow Gaol in Ireland, where Eliza spent time prior to transportation. She arrived in Hobart on December 4, 1845. Three years ago Gail went to Ireland and was able to add her story of Eliza Davis after her arrival in Hobart. Stephany Fehre

Gail Mulhern

The crowd of bonnets in Hunter Street

THE LADY WITH THE FLAG

If there was anyone who personified patriotism on the home front during World War I, it was Catherine May Roberts – the Lady with the Flag.

Mrs Roberts was seen at the head of every military procession in Hobart waving the Union Jack cheering hundreds of soldiers on their departure or return from the Great War. It was thought she had lost a son in the Boer War, as it was at this time she sprang into prominence. Invariably she carried a big Union Jack which had been given to her by Sir Harry Barron, Governor of Tasmania from 1909-13.

Her concern for soldiers’ welfare was such that in January 1918 she was a guest at the first anniversary of the opening of the AIF Lounge. At the end of the month she attended ‘Reinforcement Day’ and it is probable that about this time the governor presented her with a new silk flag.

On Empire Day, 1918, wreaths were placed on memorials around the city and Mrs Roberts, celebrating her 78th birthday, was presented with a purse of notes by returned soldiers. When it was seen that the end of the war was near, a parade was organised with 170 motor vehicles and 55 horse- drawn vehicles. The procession was led by the mounted police, the Claremont Band and then the Lady with the Flag.

In 1920 she was there when the Prince of Wales visited Hobart. The future King Edward VIII shook hands and spoke to her. Later, he commanded that a chair should be provided for Mrs Roberts and this was the signal for a round of cheers.

More fundraising for her benefit was carried out in 1923 after a fall saw her admitted to hospital with a fractured thigh.

Now in her 80s, it was expected Mrs Roberts would need careful recuperation. She did not survive her fall and died in April 1923. The cathedral was full for her funeral and the crowd outside was so dense police had difficulty managing traffic.

One of Mrs Roberts ‘flags was buried with her and the other still hangs in St David’s Cathedral. She was buried in Cornelian Bay Cemetery, where a headstone was erected by her fellow citizens.

This article was written by Maree Ring and published in the Mercury in the April 23, 2015 edition. It was placed on the centre-page commemorating the Centenary of the Anzacs. Maree is also a researcher at the University of Tasmania. 14

OTHER ITEMS

GRETA REASON - THANK YOU The Hobart Town (1804) First Settlers Association wishes to acknowledge our appreciation for her long-serving and reliable effort catering of morning tea after each monthly meeting. The tea and coffee were readily available, which has been ideal for our post-meeting chats. Best wishes to her in retiement.

WHILE VISITING NORFOLK ISLAND Warwick Risby mentioned that he come across Raylee Anderson on Norfolk Island, Raylee is one of our Victorian members. He said, “She recognised me at the Pitcairn Settlers Village straight away”. Raylee was delighted to have found the land where her ancestor, Daniel Stanfield had lived and farmed and further delighted to be told by her tour director that she actually now owned and lived on a section of this same farm. Raylee said that she recognised me from photos in our newsletter and expressed her enjoyment in reading it.” I replied that I also had found the land (Lot 22) yhat my ancestor Edward Risby had been granted”.

NEW BOOKS

FONTHILL: A True Story of Love, Luck, Murder and Scandal by Judy Tierney & Bob Casey (Knocklofty Press, 2015) Foreword by Leo Schofield. Former ABC journalist Judy Tierney writes about the history of this Midlands property ‘Fonthill’ dating back to 1830. It includes the personalities of the families and their tribulations, scandals and their successes. 199 pages: illustrations and portraits (some in colour); 25 cm

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY June to December 2015

June 2: Lorraine Cooley, author of ‘Building on Firm Foundations’, will speak about the Cooper family in Tasmania, who were builders and architects.

July 7: David G. Boon will speak on the ‘St George's Cemetery’.

August 4: Warwick Risby will speak on ‘Norfolk Island and the Wrecking of HMS Sirius’

September 1: Paul O’Donnell will speak about ‘Aspects of Art in Van Diemen’s Land’.

October 6: Malcolm Kays will speak about ‘A Legacy in Stone’.

November 3: Simon Cocker will speak on ‘William Caffey’.

December 1: Members’ meeting

The speakers listed are correct at the time of printing.

NEW MEMBERS

Katrine Benjamin, Member 796, of Tasmania. Early Settler Member. Ancestors: James Sprent, arrived on the Norval in 1830.