ABN 65 008 512 158 A HISTORICAL STUDY OF CAMBRIA ESTATE ‘The Government House of the East Coast’ Picture: TAHO NS1570/1/1, reproduced with permission Researched, written and submitted on behalf of the Glamorgan Spring Bay Historical Society Inc by: Malcolm Ward [email protected] Maureen Ferris [email protected] 20 April 2016 © 2016 The Glamorgan Spring Bay Historical Society Inc A historical study of the Cambria Estate The Glamorgan Spring Bay Historical Society A large, well-built, cheerful-looking house, with its accompanying signs of substantial comfort in the shape of barns, stackyard, (sic) stabling, extensive gardens, and all other requisite appliances on a large scale, is most pleasant to look upon at all times and in all places, even when tens or twenties of such may be seen in a day’s journey; but when our glimpses of country comfort are so few and far between as must be the case in a new country, and when one’s very belief in civilization begins to be shaken by weary travelling day after day through such dreary tracts as we have traversed, it is most delightful to come once more among sights and sounds that tell of the Old World and its good old ways, and right heartily did I enjoy them. Louisa Anne Meredith My Home in Tasmania Vol 1, pp 89-90 i A historical study of the Cambria Estate The Glamorgan Spring Bay Historical Society TABLE OF CONTENTS About the Glamorgan Spring Bay Historical Society Inc and the authors ................................................................ vi About this report .................................................................................................................................................... vii Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................................ vii 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ......................................................................................................................................... 1 2. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................................... 2 2.1 ‘The Government House of the East Coast’ ................................................................................................. 2 2.2 Other studies on Cambria ............................................................................................................................ 2 3. STUDY AREA ......................................................................................................................................................... 3 4. GEORGE MEREDITH AND THE INITIAL SETTLEMENT............................................................................................ 4 4.1 Pre emigration ............................................................................................................................................. 4 4.2 Emigration and arrival in Van Diemen’s Land .............................................................................................. 4 4.2.1 The voyage and first inspections at Great Swan Port .......................................................................... 4 4.2.2 First presence at Great Swan Port ....................................................................................................... 5 4.3 George Meredith’s involvement in colonial affairs ...................................................................................... 6 4.3.1 Freedom of the press .......................................................................................................................... 6 4.3.2 Colonial independence ....................................................................................................................... 7 4.3.1 The law and colonist’s rights ............................................................................................................... 7 4.3.2 Convicts ............................................................................................................................................... 8 4.3.3 Whaling ............................................................................................................................................... 8 4.3.4 Social life ............................................................................................................................................. 9 5. THE EVOLUTION OF THE WIDER CAMBRIA ESTATE ............................................................................................ 11 5.1 Beginnings .................................................................................................................................................. 11 5.1.1 Creek Hut ........................................................................................................................................... 11 5.1.2 Peripheral to Cambria - Red Banks and Spring Vale .......................................................................... 13 5.1.3 The establishment of the Cambria Homestead Block ....................................................................... 13 5.2 Growth of the Wider Cambria Estate ........................................................................................................ 14 5.2.1 Dolphin Sands Block and ‘West Block’ .............................................................................................. 14 5.2.2 Belmont ............................................................................................................................................. 14 5.2.3 Riversdale .......................................................................................................................................... 16 5.3 The later history of the Cambria Homestead block ................................................................................... 16 5.3.1 John Meredith’s acquisition of Cambria ........................................................................................... 16 5.3.2 Death of George Meredith ................................................................................................................ 19 5.3.3 John Meredith’s tenure and the break-up of the Cambria estate ..................................................... 19 5.3.4 Charles Henry Bayles and his sons .................................................................................................... 23 5.3.5 Edward Brettingham-Moore ............................................................................................................. 23 5.3.6 David John Burbury and Nicholas David Burbury .............................................................................. 24 5.3.7 Cambria Green .................................................................................................................................. 25 ii A historical study of the Cambria Estate The Glamorgan Spring Bay Historical Society 6. THE HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF BUILT STRUCTURES, GARDENS AND FARMING FEATURES AT CAMBRIA26 6.1 Cambia homestead .................................................................................................................................... 26 6.1.1 Selection of site ................................................................................................................................. 26 6.1.2 Early planning of Cambria ................................................................................................................. 26 6.1.3 Design by George Meredith and probably others ............................................................................. 26 6.1.4 Construction by ‘Old Bull’.................................................................................................................. 30 6.1.5 Modifications to the homestead ....................................................................................................... 33 6.2 Gardens and associated structures ............................................................................................................ 36 6.2.1 From c1830 - Gardens ....................................................................................................................... 36 6.2.2 c1839 – Blacksmith’s shop and implements shed (gone).................................................................. 41 6.2.3 1840s – Orchard buildings? (gone) ................................................................................................... 41 6.2.4 1840s – Workers cottages, bark house south of the main road (Tasman Highway) (gone) .............. 41 6.2.5 By 1841 – Buildings along the Meredith River bank, close to the homestead (gone) ...................... 45 6.2.6 Pre 1861 – Barn and stables .............................................................................................................. 47 6.2.7 1861 – Proposed sale ........................................................................................................................ 51 6.2.8 Post 1880 – Greenhouse and Althouse windmill .............................................................................. 51 6.2.9 1883 – Proposed sale ........................................................................................................................ 52 6.2.10 c1883 – Tennis court ......................................................................................................................... 52 6.2.11 1920s and later – Shearing shed ......................................................................................................