DOCSLIB.ORG

The Birds of Hogan Island, Bass Strait by S

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Birds of Hogan Island, Bass Strait by S Vol. 6 MARCH 15, 1976 No.5 The Birds of Hogan Island, Bass Strait By S. R. MORTON* and R. W. BRAITHWAITE# INTRODUCTION The Hogan Group of islands (39° 13' S, 146°59' E) lies in Bass Strait between the Kent Group and Wilson's Promontory. Of the five main islands, Hogan Island is the largest at 133 hectares. Pre­ vious lists of the birds of Hogan Island indicated that only about ten species were present (Mattingley, 1938; Hope et al., 1974). We visited the Island from April 18 to 23, 1975, and observed an avifauna more diverse than that found previously. This report sum­ marises our observations. Six plant communities occur on Hogan Island (Scarlett et al., 1974), but the most extensive community is tussock grassland, and areas of shrubland are small. Although the vegetation has been burnt and cattle are grazed on the Island, Scarlett et al. ( 1974) con­ cluded that shrubland was never the dominant vegetation. Little Penguin, Eudyptula minor. Breeds on the Island; both adults and juveniles were present. Short-tailed Shearwater, Puffinus tenuirostris. Breeds on the Island; only juveniles were present. Black-faced Cormorant, Phalacrocorax fuscescens. Common around the shores of the Island. Little Grebe, Podiceps novaehollandiae. One seen resting in an inlet during daylight hours; it had gone the following morning. White Egret, Egretta alba. Two individuals seen on two successive days. White-faced Heron, Ardea novaehollandiae. At least 20 individuals seen every day. Black Swan, Cygnus atratus. Eight seen flying north towards the mainland from the direction of the Kent Group. Cape Barren Goose, Cereopsis novaehollandiae. Mr. P. A. Rawlinson, who· accompanied us to Hogan Island, counted 28 individuals during one day; he estimated that four to six pairs were resident. White-breasted Sea Eagle, Haliaeetus leucogaster. Two adults and one juvenile were observed. Peregrine Falcon, Falco peregrinus. One seen on one occasion. * Department of Zoology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria- 3052 # Department of Zoology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria- 3168 Bird 140 MORTON and BRAITHWAITE [ Watcher Nankeen Kestrel, Falco cenchroides. One seen on several occasions. Brown Falcon, Falco berigora, At least four individuals present. One was found feeding on the corpse of a Short-tailed Shearwater, and pellets tentatively attri­ buted to this species contained fur of the Swamp Rat, Rattus lut­ reolus. Brown Quail, Synoicus ypsilophorus. Very common; aggregations of at least 20 individuals were dis­ turbed several times. Land Rail, Rallus philippensis. One seen in low shrubland. Sooty Oystercatcher, Haematopus fuliginosus. One pair present. Pacific Gull, Larus pacificus. Both this and the previous species were common, but we found no evidence of breeding by either on the Island. Silver Gull, Larus novaehollandiae. Fantailed Cuckoo, Cacomantis pyrrhophanus. A sub-adult individual seen in low shrubland. Boobook Owl, Ninox novaeseelandiae. One disturbed from dense tussocks in a shallow gully; no pellets were present. Pipit, Anthus novaeseelandiae. Very common. Blackbird, Turdus merula. Common. Golden Cisticola, Cisticola exilis. Several seen among low shrubland of Melaleuca ericifolia. Brown Scrubwren, Sericornis frontalis. One seen among dense tussocks in a shallow gully. It was observ­ ed closely for several minutes, had no visible brow-mark, and appeared dark brown in colour. Flame Robin, Petroica phoenici':!. Numbers appeared to fluctuate during our visit, suggesting that some movements to and from the Island were occurring. The greatest number seen was about 12, there being equal numbers of males and females. Grey Fantail, Rhipidura fuliginosa. At least 20 individuals were seen; the numbers appeared to fluctuate as in the Flame Robin. Eastern Silvereye, Zosterops lateralis. At least 50 individuals were present. Goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis. Nearly as common as the Eastern Silvereye. Wood-Swallow, Artamus sp. Large groups were observed but could not be identified speci­ fically. Their dark appearance indicated that they may have been cyanopterus. March ] Birds of Hogan Island 141 1976 Raven, Corvus sp. One pair was present; their slow deep calls suggested that they were probably tasmamcus. DISCUSSION Comparison of the above list of birds of Hogan Island with those provided by Mattingley (19 3 8) and Hope et al. (1974) indicate that the avifauna is more diverse than previously thought. Mattingley ( 1938) recorded only six species - Stubble Quail, Coturnix pectoralis, Sooty Oystercatcher, Silver Gull, Pacific Gull, Pipit and Blackbird. Hope et al. (1974) reported all these plus four further species - Little Penguin, Prion (probably Pachyptila turtur), Short-tailed Shearwater and Cape Barren Goose. We observed all these species expect Stubble Quail and Prion, and compiled a list totalling 29 species. Hence at least 30 species of birds can be found on Hogan Island; of this number, only seven are sea-birds. Two of the most interesting records for Hogan Island are the Golden Cisticola and the Brown Scrubwren. The only other island in Bass Strait from which the Golden Cisticola has been reported is King Island (Abbott, 1973). In view of its supposed sedentary habits, it seems likely that it is also a breeding resident on Hogan Island. If this is so, then the species is capable of existing in very small areas of suitable habitat, and may yet be found on islands of the Furneaux Group and in north-eastern Tasmania (see Sharland, 1972). The Brown Scrubwren is known from the Kent Group (Whinray, 1971), and a recent report suggests that the species may occur on Wilson's Promontory (Cooper, 1975). Our observations, although not supported by specimens, indicate that this species does extend further north than previously thought. It is worth noting that the taxonomic status of the species is uncertain, and Schodde ( 197 5) considers it to be con specific with the White-browed Scrubwren, Sernicornis frontalis. At first sight the number of species of birds found on Hogan Island is surprisingly high. Whinray ( 1971) reported approximately forty species from the Kent Group, even though Deal Island supports areas of Eucalyptus nitida and is ten times the size of Hogan Island. However Abbott (1974) found only sixteen species on Curtis Island, which is slightly larger than Hogan Island and carries areas of dense Melaleuca armillaris. There are two possible reasons for these differences. First, Hogan Island has several per­ manent freshwater soaks; and· secondly, the period of our survey coincided with the season of migration across Bass Strait. It is likely that most of the species were not resident on the Island, but were en route from Tasmania to the mainland. One special feature of the islands of eastern Bass Strait is their inter­ visibility and their regular spacing along a migratory route. If Hogan Island is the intermediate step between the Kent Group and the mainland, then a relatively small difference between the numbers of species utilising these two groups of islands may be Bird 142 MORTON and BRAITHWAITE, Birds of Hogan Is. [ Watcher expected. Further, if the difference between the numbers of species of birds recorded from Curtis Island and Hogan Island is not merely a reflection of the time of survey in relation to the _period of migra­ tion, then it is possible that Hogan Island provides a more con­ venient stopping place for migratory birds. REFERENCES Abbott, I., 1973. "Birds of Bass Strait". Proc. Roy. Soc. Viet., 85: 197-223. Abbott, I., 1974. "Natural history of Curtis Island, Bass Strait. 5. Birds, with notes on mammal trapping". Pap. Proc. Roy. Soc. Tas., 107: 171-174. Cooper, R. P., 1975. "The avifauna of Wilson's Promontory. Part 6B. Passerines". Australian Bird Watcher, 6: 87-102. Hope, G., Brown, G., and Mcintosh, B.S., 1974. "Natural history of the Hogan Group. I. Physical environment and vertebrate fauna". Pap. Proc. Roy. Soc. Tas. , 107: 65-72. Mattingley, A. H. E., 1938. "Birds of the Hogans and other islands of Bass Strait". Emu, 38: 7-11. Scarlett, N. H., Hope, G. S., and Calder, D. M., 1974. "Natural history of the Hogan Group. 3. Floristics and plant communities". Pap. Proc. Roy. Soc. Tas., 107: 83-98. Schodde, R., 1975. "Interim List of Australian Songbirds. Pas­ serines". Melbourne: RAOU. Sharland, M., 1972. "Tasmanian Tailor Bird puzzle". Bird Observer, No. 484: 4. Whinray, J., 1971. "A list of birds of the major Kent's Group islands". Tasmanian Nat., 24: 2-3. EDITORIAL NOTE Readers of The Australian Bird Watcher will regret to learn that its Hon. Editor, Roy P. Cooper, has had to undergo a very serious operation and will, for some time, be unable to perform Editorial duties. In his absence Jack Hyett of 39 Alwyn St., Mitcham, 3132, Victoria will be acting editor and editorial correspondence should be sent to him at the above address. .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Island Studies Journal, Vol. 3, No. 2, 2008, Pp. 153-162 Writing Tasmania's “Different Soul” Danielle Wood School of Engli
    Island Studies Journal , Vol. 3, No. 2, 2008, pp. 153-162 Writing Tasmania’s “Different Soul” Danielle Wood School of English, Journalism and European Languages University of Tasmania Australia [email protected] Abstract: The narrator of Christopher Koch's 1958 novel The Boys in the Island claims for Tasmania “a different soul”, distinct from that of the Australian mainland to the north, in the same breath in which he claims for the island “a different weather”. Observations of the distinctiveness of island geography and weather – and of the quality of the light – are recurrent in narratives set not only in Tasmania, but also on those islands to which Tasmania itself acts as a ‘mainland’. This paper surveys a range of texts, including Koch’s The Boys in the Island , Joanna Murray-Smith’s Truce , and my own The Alphabet of Light and Dark , in which a Tasmanian island functions both as a setting for the protagonist's idealized childhood and as a metaphor for the protagonist’s “true self”. It explores the representation of islands in these texts, examining how a specific tradition of writing about Tasmania intersects with a broader tradition of writing about islands. Keywords : Australia, distinctiveness, islands, mainland, Tasmania © 2008 - Institute of Island Studies, University of Prince Edward Island, Canada Introduction “Tasmania is an island of hills, a fragment separated from the parent continent by a wide stretch of sea. It is different from the hot Australian mainland; it has a different weather and a different soul” (Koch, 1958: 8). For as long as Tasmania (formerly Van Diemen’s Land) has been written about, it has been defined in terms of what it is not, depicted always in opposition to the mainland of continental Australia.
    [Show full text]
  • Rodondo Island
    BIODIVERSITY & OIL SPILL RESPONSE SURVEY January 2015 NATURE CONSERVATION REPORT SERIES 15/04 RODONDO ISLAND BASS STRAIT NATURAL AND CULTURAL HERITAGE DIVISION DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES, PARKS, WATER AND ENVIRONMENT RODONDO ISLAND – Oil Spill & Biodiversity Survey, January 2015 RODONDO ISLAND BASS STRAIT Biodiversity & Oil Spill Response Survey, January 2015 NATURE CONSERVATION REPORT SERIES 15/04 Natural and Cultural Heritage Division, DPIPWE, Tasmania. © Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment ISBN: 978-1-74380-006-5 (Electronic publication only) ISSN: 1838-7403 Cite as: Carlyon, K., Visoiu, M., Hawkins, C., Richards, K. and Alderman, R. (2015) Rodondo Island, Bass Strait: Biodiversity & Oil Spill Response Survey, January 2015. Natural and Cultural Heritage Division, DPIPWE, Hobart. Nature Conservation Report Series 15/04. Main cover photo: Micah Visoiu Inside cover: Clare Hawkins Unless otherwise credited, the copyright of all images remains with the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment. This work is copyright. It may be reproduced for study, research or training purposes subject to an acknowledgement of the source and no commercial use or sale. Requests and enquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the Branch Manager, Wildlife Management Branch, DPIPWE. Page | 2 RODONDO ISLAND – Oil Spill & Biodiversity Survey, January 2015 SUMMARY Rodondo Island was surveyed in January 2015 by staff from the Natural and Cultural Heritage Division of the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment (DPIPWE) to evaluate potential response and mitigation options should an oil spill occur in the region that had the potential to impact on the island’s natural values. Spatial information relevant to species that may be vulnerable in the event of an oil spill in the area has been added to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s Oil Spill Response Atlas and all species records added to the DPIPWE Natural Values Atlas.
    [Show full text]
  • Great Australian Bight BP Oil Drilling Project
    Submission to Senate Inquiry: Great Australian Bight BP Oil Drilling Project: Potential Impacts on Matters of National Environmental Significance within Modelled Oil Spill Impact Areas (Summer and Winter 2A Model Scenarios) Prepared by Dr David Ellis (BSc Hons PhD; Ecologist, Environmental Consultant and Founder at Stepping Stones Ecological Services) March 27, 2016 Table of Contents Table of Contents ..................................................................................................... 2 Executive Summary ................................................................................................ 4 Summer Oil Spill Scenario Key Findings ................................................................. 5 Winter Oil Spill Scenario Key Findings ................................................................... 7 Threatened Species Conservation Status Summary ........................................... 8 International Migratory Bird Agreements ............................................................. 8 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 11 Methods .................................................................................................................... 12 Protected Matters Search Tool Database Search and Criteria for Oil-Spill Model Selection ............................................................................................................. 12 Criteria for Inclusion/Exclusion of Threatened, Migratory and Marine
    [Show full text]
  • South-East Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network Management Plan 2013–23
    SOUTH-EAST COMMONWEALTH MARINE RESERVES NETWORK MANAGEMENT PLAN 2013–23 ©Director of National Parks 2013 This document may be cited as: Director of National Parks 2013, South-east Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network management plan 2013-23, Director of National Parks, Canberra. ISBN: 978-1-921733-71-0 This Management Plan is copyright. Apart from any use permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from the Director of National Parks. Requests and enquires concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to: Manager South-east Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network GPO Box 787 Canberra ACT 2601. 2 | South-east Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network – Management Plan 2013-23 Foreword The Proclamation of the South-east Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network (the South-east network) in 2007 was a huge and historic step forward for conservation. Its 14 Commonwealth marine reserves cover approximately 388 464 km2 and include a diverse range of temperate marine environments, supporting important ecosystems and species, some of which are new to science and found nowhere else in the world. These marine reserves were established to protect and maintain marine biodiversity, to contribute to the National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas (NRSMPA) and to help ensure the long-term ecological viability of Australia’s marine ecosystems. The South-east network plays a central role in ecosystem-based management of the marine environment, providing for ecologically sustainable use as well as the protection of many species that face serious threats to their survival in other areas of the world. There are a range of shallow shelf, slope and deep water ecosystems that provide important habitats for a variety of bird and sea life.
    [Show full text]
  • CB 229 Tasmanpw
    ‘It’s OK if you don’t look back’ WAVE RIDER How a lightly-built – but, says owner and skipper Robert Ayliffe, brilliantly designed – 23ft Norwalk Island Sharpie proved more than a match for the dreaded Bass Strait run to Tasmania Winging it – Charlie Fisher with Robert and Ian, and a comparatively calm sea 24 CLASSIC BOAT JULY 2007 BASS STRAIGHT CROSSING Running at 17.5 Knots before steep seas in 40 knots of breeze ou are totally irresponsible!” My their small boat on its back. Towed on can be deceptive: the NIS 23 looks light, “ planned departure was just one about 100m of rope tied to a stern cleat, but was designed by Bruce Kirby – who Yweek away when, at a friend’s the drogue was in water several swells really understands structures. birthday party, news that I would sail my behind, and since most of the molecules in Simplicity, too, is key. The American NIS 23 Charlie Fisher across Bass Strait to a wave are simply rising and falling, the Sharpies, used for oyster gathering – flat Hobart met with strong criticism: resistance of the drogue held the boat back bottomed, flare-sided centerboard boats “You shouldn’t entertain this in anything while the breaking wave passed under- with unstayed cat ketch rigs – are a perfect other than a heavy displacement, deep-keel neath. Again, and again. example. It was their simplicity of design boat. Your boat is far too lightly built, the This time it would be different. My sail- and construction, along with their shallow plywood is too thin, it’s only held together ing companion, Ian Philips, and I knew the draught and legendary seakeeping, that in with epoxy.
    [Show full text]
  • Narrative of the Expedition Promoted by the Australasian Ornithologists
    Vol. VIII.1 White, Expedition to Islands of Bass Strait. 1909 j *95 Narrative of the Expedition Promoted by the Austral¬ asian Ornithologists* Union to the Islands of Bass Strait. By (Capt.) S. A. White, Adelaide. In connection with the Melbourne session of the A.O.U., the Council resolved to have an expedition to the various islands in Bass Strait, and appointed Mr. A. H. E. Mattingley, C.M.Z.S., sole organizer and leader. On the 24th November last, at midnight, the following ornithologists and friends met on the South Wharf, Melbourne, and boarded the specially chartered s.s. Manawatu, namely :— W. N. Atkins, H. Baker (Consul for U.S. America), J. Barr, C. L. Barrett (The Herald), Captain J. Gilkison, W. Grattan, Z. Gray, G. T. Howard, B.A., B.S., M.D, W. Kendall, M.R.C.V.S., A. H. Kenyon, J. A. Kershaw, F.E.S., A. C. Langmore, J. Leach, M.Sc., C. L. Lempriere, M.B., C.M., Edin., A. ^ H. Mattingley, C.M.Z.S., J. W. Mellor, D. Macdonald (The Argus), E. B. Nicholls, M.A.C.D., H. Huntington Peck, O. G. Perry, G. M. Robertson, Q. W. Rosenhain, A. Scott, A. N. B. Were, Captain S. A. White, and Mrs. S. A. White. Under easy steam we brought up the following afternoon off Seal Rocks, Western Port, and the deep, wailing cry of these strange animals could be heard several miles to leeward. A strong wind was blowing arid a heavy sea was running, but in spite of this Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • Deal Island an Historical Overview
    Introduction. In June 1840 the Port Officer of Hobart Captain W. Moriarty wrote to the Governor of Van Diemen’s Land, Sir John Franklin suggesting that lighthouses should be erected in Bass Strait. On February 3rd. 1841 Sir John Franklin wrote to Sir George Gipps, Governor of New South Wales seeking his co-operation. Government House, Van Diemen’s Land. 3rd. February 1841 My Dear Sir George. ………………….This matter has occupied much of my attention since my arrival in the Colony, and recent ocurances in Bass Strait have given increased importance to the subject, within the four years of my residence here, two large barques have been entirely wrecked there, a third stranded a brig lost with all her crew, besides two or three colonial schooners, whose passengers and crew shared the same fate, not to mention the recent loss of the Clonmell steamer, the prevalence of strong winds, the uncertainty of either the set or force of the currents, the number of small rocks, islets and shoals, which though they appear on the chart, have but been imperfectly surveyed, combine to render Bass Strait under any circumstances an anxious passage for seamen to enter. The Legislative Council, Votes and Proceedings between 1841 – 42 had much correspondence on the viability of erecting lighthouses in Bass Strait including Deal Island. In 1846 construction of the lightstation began on Deal Island with the lighthouse completed in February 1848. The first keeper William Baudinet, his wife and seven children arriving on the island in March 1848. From 1816 to 1961 about 18 recorded shipwrecks have occurred in the vicinity of Deal Island, with the Bulli (1877) and the Karitane (1921) the most well known of these shipwrecks.
    [Show full text]
  • BYC Cruising Group Long Cruise 2020 Three BYC Boats, Tahiti, White Rose
    BYC Cruising Group long cruise 2020 Three BYC boats, Tahiti, White Rose (Sandringham YC – affiliated with BYC) and Phase Three, headed for the east coast, bound for Melbourne, in February 2020. Why Melbourne? Several reasons: White Rose wanted to get to its owners’ home marina, Phase Three wanted to go to a show, and Tahiti wanted to go to Docklands, for some unknown reason. Maybe just to catch a tram from the marina. There were a few conditions set for this cruise: don’t rush; try to get good sailing conditions; sail mostly in daylight; catch some fish. The first few legs went smoothly, with a nice sail to Norfolk Bay and a transit of Denison Canal the next morning. A brisk westerly saw double digit speeds up Marion Bay and through Mercury Passage. However Tahiti experienced an unusual vibration in the drive shaft. We had to slow down, lock the drivetrain, and wish we had a folding propeller. At Orford it was discovered that a large clump of seaweed had fouled the prop and put it out of balance. Problem easily solved. However this was a recurring issue up the coast as the big NE swells generated by the tailend of a tropical cyclone had broken off massive amounts of seaweed that was floating everywhere and impossible to avoid. Swimming under the boat to clear seaweed became a daily activity. Orford was a pleasant stop-over. Phase Three picked up an extra crew. Half the group stretched their legs with a coastal walk through to Spring Beach. The fellows opted for a chin wag on Tahiti, enjoying the sunshine and some elbow bending.
    [Show full text]
  • Overview of Tasmania's Offshore Islands and Their Role in Nature
    Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania, Volume 154, 2020 83 OVERVIEW OF TASMANIA’S OFFSHORE ISLANDS AND THEIR ROLE IN NATURE CONSERVATION by Sally L. Bryant and Stephen Harris (with one text-figure, two tables, eight plates and two appendices) Bryant, S.L. & Harris, S. 2020 (9:xii): Overview of Tasmania’s offshore islands and their role in nature conservation.Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania 154: 83–106. https://doi.org/10.26749/rstpp.154.83 ISSN: 0080–4703. Tasmanian Land Conservancy, PO Box 2112, Lower Sandy Bay, Tasmania 7005, Australia (SLB*); Department of Archaeology and Natural History, College of Asia and the Pacific, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601 (SH). *Author for correspondence: Email: [email protected] Since the 1970s, knowledge of Tasmania’s offshore islands has expanded greatly due to an increase in systematic and regional surveys, the continuation of several long-term monitoring programs and the improved delivery of pest management and translocation programs. However, many islands remain data-poor especially for invertebrate fauna, and non-vascular flora, and information sources are dispersed across numerous platforms. While more than 90% of Tasmania’s offshore islands are statutory reserves, many are impacted by a range of disturbances, particularly invasive species with no decision-making framework in place to prioritise their management. This paper synthesises the significant contribution offshore islands make to Tasmania’s land-based natural assets and identifies gaps and deficiencies hampering their protection. A continuing focus on detailed gap-filling surveys aided by partnership restoration programs and collaborative national forums must be strengthened if we are to capitalise on the conservation benefits islands provide in the face of rapidly changing environmental conditions and pressure for future use.
    [Show full text]
  • Nowhere Else on Earth
    Nowhere Else on Earth: Tasmania’s Marine Natural Values Environment Tasmania is a not-for-profit conservation council dedicated to the protection, conservation and rehabilitation of Tasmania’s natural environment. Australia’s youngest conservation council, Environment Tasmania was established in 2006 and is a peak body representing over 20 Tasmanian environment groups. Prepared for Environment Tasmania by Dr Karen Parsons of Aquenal Pty Ltd. Report citation: Parsons, K. E. (2011) Nowhere Else on Earth: Tasmania’s Marine Natural Values. Report for Environment Tasmania. Aquenal, Tasmania. ISBN: 978-0-646-56647-4 Graphic Design: onetonnegraphic www.onetonnegraphic.com.au Online: Visit the Environment Tasmania website at: www.et.org.au or Ocean Planet online at www.oceanplanet.org.au Partners: With thanks to the The Wilderness Society Inc for their financial support through the WildCountry Small Grants Program, and to NRM North and NRM South. Front Cover: Gorgonian fan with diver (Photograph: © Geoff Rollins). 2 Waterfall Bay cave (Photograph: © Jon Bryan). Acknowledgements The following people are thanked for their assistance The majority of the photographs in the report were with the compilation of this report: Neville Barrett of the generously provided by Graham Edgar, while the following Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) at the additional contributors are also acknowledged: Neville University of Tasmania for providing information on key Barrett, Jane Elek, Sue Wragge, Chris Black, Jon Bryan, features of Tasmania’s marine
    [Show full text]
  • Tasmanian Aborigines in the Furneaux Group in the Nine Teenth Century—Population and Land
    ‘I hope you will be my frend’: Tasmanian Aborigines in the Furneaux Group in the nine­ teenth century—population and land tenure Irynej Skira Abstract This paper traces the history of settlement of the islands of the Furneaux Group in Bass Strait and the effects of government regulation on the long term settlements of Tasma­ nian Aboriginal people from the 1850s to the early 1900s. Throughout the nineteenth century the Aboriginal population grew slowly eventually constituting approximately 40 percent of the total population of the Furneaux Group. From the 1860s outsiders used the existing land title system to obtain possession of the islands. Aborigines tried to establish tenure through the same system, but could not compete because they lacked capital, and were disadvantaged by isolation in their communication with gov­ ernment. Further, the islands' use for grazing excluded Aborigines who rarely had large herds of stock and were generally not agriculturalists. The majority of Aborigines were forced to settle on Cape Barren Island, where they built homes on a reserve set aside for them. European expansion of settlement on Flinders Island finally completed the disen­ franchisement of Aboriginal people by making the Cape Barren Island enclave depend­ ent on the government. Introduction In December 1869 Thomas Mansell, an Aboriginal, applied to lease a small island. He petitioned the Surveyor-General, T hope you will be my Frend...I am one of old hands Her, and haf Cast and have large family and no hum'.1 Unfortunately, he could not raise £1 as down payment. Mansell's was one of the many attempts by Aboriginal people in the Furneaux Group to obtain valid leasehold or freehold and recognition of their long term occupation.
    [Show full text]
  • Bass Strait Anchorages: Deal Island
    Bass Strait Chris Danger and Wade Bishop live and work in Melbourne four days a week while their catamaran Take it Easy is moored in Paynesville in the Gippsland Lakes. Most weekends are sailing long weekends and every holiday is spent cruising in southern waters. With some 16 Bass Strait crossings under their hulls, they have had plenty of opportunities to explore Bass Strait anchorages. In this article, Chris takes us to Deal Island. any yachties frequent the between them, a fast flowing passage lichen that covers the rocks above the coastline of the eastern with eddies and overfalls when the tide water line. It is a stunning time to arrive seaboard. These are and strong wind work against each and a breathtaking destination to sail to. beautiful, warm, and very other. There are a number of anchorages well-travelled waters. But These granite islands hold particular around Deal and Erith, the most Mwhenever we think of stunning, unspoilt attraction for us because of their popular being East Cove on Deal and and less frequented anchorages, we remoteness, their imposing cliffs jotting West Cove on Erith, on either side of think of places like Deal Island, bang in out of the ocean, and once atop in the Murray Pass. It is not unusual to the middle of Bass Strait. Deal is the clear weather, the sweeping views have a fleet of half a dozen yachts largest of six islands in the Kent Group around Bass Strait to the distant shores doing the shuffle from one anchorage which lies between Wilson’s Promontory of Hogan Island to the north west, to the other, at the whim of the weather at the southern tip of Victoria and Flinders Island to the south east and gods, especially during popular times Flinders Island in Eastern Bass Strait, on Judgement Rocks to the west.
    [Show full text]