Historian and Musicologist

Peter H. MacFie about 2000

Peter MacFie was a sixth-generation Tasmanian with many years’ experience as a public historian, including eight years as the resident historian at Port Arthur Historic Site from 1983-91. His areas of special interest were:

• Colonial life: craftsmen, tradesmen, artists
• Land use: farming, gardens, forestry, mining, conservation
• Convict period and related sites (especially Port Arthur and Tasman Peninsula)
• Convict subcultures: gangs, bushrangers, musicians
• Military history: Colonial era, World Wars I and II
• Social history: colonial towns, immigration, communities

Since 2004 Peter has written books, articles, reports and many professional papers plus tour and trail guides for local governments and businesses, appeared on radio frequently and delivered a paper on musicology at Cambridge University, UK.

Peter’s background and early life are shared in his memoir ‘See No Evil’, an account of a small boy growing up on The Glebe above Hobart.

Peter was recently awarded a ‘Distinguished Service Award’ from the College of Arts, Law and Education’ from the University of Tasmania on 25 September 2020. This was in recognition of ‘Exceptional and sustained contributions to historical research and as an alumnus and staff member at the University of Tasmania’ . This was presented via FaceTime to Peter by Prof. Kate Darien Smith in the presence of some of Peter’s family on 17 October 2020. See Photos.

Peter unfortunately developed a neurodegenerative illness which  deprived him of much of his mobility. He had to sell his Dulcot house and move into care, but despite all the difficulties, he continued with plans for the publication of as many as possible of his remaining works in progress and sought frequent updates from his editor.

Peter died on 28 April 2022, aged 78.

At his request, Peter was interred in an eco-burial in the bush area ‘up the back’ of Kingston Cemetery on 9 May 2022 following a service led by Rev. Dennis Cousens at Graham Family Funerals, New Town. Of course there was music, including songs Peter had composed and recorded when he sang with musician friends, such as ‘Lean Too‘ and ‘Everyone Is Dancing At The Forcett Hall‘. Peter’s siblings and sons shared stories, with brother Rob’s eulogy given on behalf of friends and colleagues, of times spent with Peter throughout his life, as a musician, as a teacher, as a ‘farmer’ and as a historian and author. It was a fine farewell.