This section includes various documents that Peter either asked to be included on his website, or that friends asked if they could include about Peter or about joint friends already mentioned.

Peter’s father Henry Hector MacFie was a Hydro engineer but was also much involved in the preservation of historic engineering sites about Tasmania. Peter has collected some of this work and in due course it will be included here.

In Memory of Peter MacFie

In Memory of Angus Downie

In Memory of Peter’s father, Henry H. MacFie

 

Peter was particularly interested in the convict era of Van Diemen’s Land, and especially that of the southern parts of the colony. However, his knowledge was wide and, as a social historian, he was always interested in taking contracts that wove together the stories of the lower classes. This page selects out some of the themes that he returned to many times, but some are not yet comprehensive.

Convicts and Settlers: Colonial life, craftsmen, tradesmen, artists

Convict subcultures: Gangs, bushrangers, black markets

History as a Process: How it has been dealt with, mistakes and untruths

Irish Tasmania: Social history: colonial towns, immigration, communities

Local History: Local communities, local issues, largely in southern Tasmania

Military History: Colonial era, World Wars I and II

Music and Musicians: Music, musicians, instrument makers, entertainers

Environment and Conservation: Gardens, wildlife, harvesting the wilderness

Port Arthur and Point Puer: Convict period: Port Arthur, Point Puer,Tasman Peninsula, related sites

Working Tasmania: Land use: farming, gardens, forestry, mining, conservation

All Works by Peter MacFie

*   indicates link page complete
**  indicates index online

*** indicates download available

Books

Year(s)	Topic	Index
2022	See No Evil: A childhood mostly on The Glebe, Hobart 1946 – 1953: Peter H. MacFie 2022	**
2022	The Wesleyans of Port Arthur: Peter H. MacFie 2022	**
2020	The Newsprint – A Social and Forest History of Maydena 1920 – 2020: Peter H. MacFie 2020	**
2013	A History of North West Bay and Margate, Tasmania 1792 – 2000: Peter H. MacFie 2013	**
2010	On the Fiddle from Scotland to Tasmania 1815 – 1863: Peter H. MacFie 2010	**
2008	Underground Hobart: The World Beneath the City: Peter H. MacFie, 2008	**
2002	Stock Thieves and Golfers: A history of Kangaroo Bay and Rosny Farm, Tasmania 1803 – 1998: Peter H. MacFie, 2002	**

DVDs

Year(s)	Topic	Index
2019	Pitt Water Fiddle Excursion: Peter H. MacFie et.al. 2016	*

Books – Unpublished

Year(s)	Topic
	Dulcot: A Surviving Colonial Community: Peter H. MacFie
	A History of Campania House: Peter H. MacFie, 2012 (early draft was for private commission).
	Mount Field book: Peter H. MacFie

Book Entries

Year(s)	Topic	Index
2005	Australian Newsprint Mills, entry, Alexander, Alison (ed) Companion to Tasmanian History.	*
2003	William George Crooke, founder of Mt Field National Park. Supplementary Volume, Australian Dictionary of Biography.	*
2000	Oxford History of Gardens, ed R Aitken, 2000. Entries for Royal Botanical Gardens, Port Arthur, Maydena/Lutana, Cascade Gardens, Peter MacFie

Insights and Essays

Year(s)	Topic	Index
2018	The Successful Fight to Save the Miller’s Cottage, Richmond, in 1983	*
2018	Yours, Jerry Lee Lewis: Rockin’ at the Hobart City Hall 1959-1960	**
2014	Misleading Maps? The WHA Extension in the Styx Valley & Florentine Valley 2013	*
1998	Richmond Street Life: The lives of Emancipists, Paupers and Settlers, Richmond Tasmania 1870-1900. Peter MacFie 1998	**

Professional Papers

Year(s)	Topic	Index
2011	Nugent Farm, Richmond: the history and restoration of the last Tasmanian home of William Smith O’Brien. 18th Australasian Irish Studies conference, National Museum of Australia.
2011	From Cork, Ireland to Shamrock Valley, Van Diemen’s Land – The First Ten Irish Convict Family Reunions, 1818 & 1822. Galong History Conference, New South Wales.
2011	Thomas Meagher, Sgt Daniel Murphy and the Bennett Family: Some Enduring Connections at Richmond, Tasmania. Tasmanian Historical Research Association. April 2011.	*
2009	John Curtin – a Tasmanian connection. 40 [degrees] South, No. 54, Spring 2009: 21-24.	*
2008	First World War Soldiers of the Richmond Municipality. Tasmanian Historical Research Association. December 2008, pp222-234.	*
2008	Popular Music Culture in Southern Tasmania 1950-1985. AIML Conference, Hobart, 2008	***
2007	Tasmania, Home for Tasmania’s Forgotten Rebels of 1848, in ed. Brownrigg et al, Echoes of Irish Australian – Rebellion to Republic, Canberra, 2007.	*
2003	‘A Florentine Slice….. from Canada!’, Forest Practices News, Vol 5/3, June 2003, p18.	**
2003	Harold Gatty: his Richmond Village and Cambridge Aerodrome connections, Tasmania. Peter MacFie, in Coal River Valley Historical Society Inc. Journal, No. 2, March 2003	**
2002	‘Government Sawing Establishments of Van Diemen’s Land, 1817-1832’, in P&P of Australian Forest History Society, Australia’s Ever-changing Forests, ed Dargavel Gaughwin and Libbis. 2002, pp105-131.	**
2002	Prize Fights, Profanities and Ploughing Matches: Making Past Times Acceptable in 19thC Tasmania, Tasmanian Historical Research Association, 2002.	**
2001	Burtons Circus at Richmond 1855, Coal River Historical Journal, 2001	**
2000	Point Puer Boy Convicts’ Establishment, Van Diemen’s Land [Tasmania] : the first 68 boys, January 1834 – see “The Empire’s First stolen Generation, 1999”: Peter MacFie & Nigel Hargraves, c2000.	**
1999	Maydena, the Rise & Fall of a Logging Town, P & P, 4th Australian Forest History Society Conference, Gympie, Queensland.	**
1999	The Empire’s First ‘Stolen Generation’; The First Intake at Point Puer 1834 – 39, Peter MacFie and Nigel Hargraves, Tasmanian Historical Studies, Vol 6, No.2, 1999.	**
1997	‘Young Hopeful Men’; Henry Hector MacFie 1869-1957, Biennial Local History Conference, Tasmanian Historical Research Association Papers & Proceedings, Vol. 45, No 2, June, 1998.	**
1996	Coach-building & Related Crafts in Tasmania, Peter Macfie, Biennial Local History Conference, Tasmanian Historical Research Association, 1996.	**
1996	Before and After Sunday Afternoon – Reflections on the Port Arthur Massacre, Island Magazine, 1996.	**
1995	Silent Impact – the Irish in the Richmond District, Tasmania, P & P Biennial Irish- Australian History Conference, Hobart, 1995.	**
1994	William Crooke, journalist, conservationist and ‘father’ of Mt Field National Park. Tasmanian Historical Research Association.	**
1994	Irish-Catholics in the Coal River Valley, Richmond, Tasmania, Canberra Historical Society Conference, Galong, NSW.	*
1993	‘The Historian as Trouble-maker’ – Cultural Heritage, Tourism & the Public Historian. Peter MacFie. The Future Role of the Historian Symposium Papers, Tasmanian Historical Studies, History Department, University of Tasmania.	**
1992	Whose Past? Whose Present? Tourism & Local History, Peter MacFie. Tasmanian Historical Research Association, v 39, No. 1 March, pp 54-60, 1992.	**
1991	Cultural Tourism or Tourism Culture? A Survey of the Impact of Tourism on Tasmanian Sociey 1860 – 1991: Peter MacFie. Centre for Tasmanian Studies, UTAS August, 1991.	**
1990	Carnarvon Cemetery, 1877-19…?: Peter MacFie. Tasman Peninsula Chronicle No 5, Nubeena, 1990.	**
1989	‘Fruits of an Evil System’ – Some Notable Failures of the Pt Puer Juvenile Prison, Port Arthur, Tasmania: Peter Macfie. Paper presented to the Australian History Teacher’s Conference, Port Arthur, August, 1989. (unpubl)	**
1989	Changes and Continuations: The Post-Penal Settlement of Tasman Peninsula, 1877-1914, in Symposium Papers, ed. S. Smith, Is History Enough? Royal Society of Tasmania.	**
1988	Dobbers and Cobbers: Informers and Mateship Among Convicts, Officials and Settlers on the Grass Tree Hill Road, Tasmania 1830-1850. Tasmanian Historical Research Association Papers & Proceedings. Sept. 1988.	**
1988	The Rare Retreat of Alexander North, Tasman Peninsula Chronicle No 4, Nubeena, 1988.	**
1988	Eagle Hawk Neck – Prison or Pleasure?: Tasman Peninsula Chronicle No 4, Nubeena, 1988	**
1988	Letters from Lufra c 1900, Tasman Peninsula Chronicle No 4, Nubeena, 1988.	**
1987	40th Battalion Database Handbook: Tasmanian Education Department.Tasmanian Education Department, 1987. (Peter MacFie, Major Contributor).
1987	Schoolboy Tourist at Port Arthur 1889, Tasman Peninsula Chronicle No 2, Nubeena, 1987	**
1987	Point Puer lads : Tried and transported, the Point Puer lads and their prison, 1833-1849: Peter H. MacFie, Robin Maclachlan, Malcolm H. Mathias. State Computer Centre, Moorabbin, Vic, 1987	**
1987	Seventy Birds of Tasman Peninsula, Tasman Peninsula Chronicle No 2, Nubeena, 1987.	**
1987	Knowing the Past – the Use of Local History and Personal Records for Cultural Awareness, Conference Papers, Australian School Librarians Association, Hobart. 1987.
1986	The Impact of World War One on the Tasman Peninsula, Tasman Peninsula Chronicle No 1, Nubeena.	**
1986	The Point Puer Lads – A Reappraisal with the Aid of a Computer, Tasmanian Historical Research Association P & P, June 1986.	**
1985	The Royal Engineers in Colonial Tasmania, in Papers of the Second National Conference on Engineering Heritage.	**
1982	Oral History and the Demise of Folk Culture in the Richmond District, Tasmania. Tasmanian Historical Research Association P & P, Nov. 1982.	**

Historical Databases

Year(s)	Topic	Index
1987	Contributor, 40th Battalion Database and Handbook, Tasmanian Education Department.
1986	The Point Puer Lads – A Reappraisal with the Aid of a Computer, (Peter MacFie, with Dr Robin McLachlan) Tasmanian Historical Research Association Papers & Proceedings. June 1986.
1985	The Point Puer Lads Database, McLachlan & MacFie, (National Parks & Wildlife Service & Mitchell CAE, Bathurst, NSW.) (90 pp)	**

Playscripts

Year(s)	Topic	Index
2011	A fiddler, a Juggler and Mrs Champ: Peter H. MacFie (2011)	*
1985	Branded – A Point Puer Story: Peter H. MacFie, contributor, playscript, Salamanca Theatre Co & Port Arthur Conservation Project, 1985

Heritage Reports

Year(s)	Topic	Index
2006	The Evolution of Some Historic Sites – Recherche Bay, Tasmania 1792 to 2006, Tasmanian Heritage Council. (65 pp)	*
2006	From Dublin to Tasmania, the Family of John Quinn and Catherine Nelson. (15pp) (Private contract)
2002-2004	Bellerive to Richmond Convict Trail, signage documentation, Clarence City Council. (55 pp approx)
2002	Military Drill Halls in Tasmania, parts 1-5, Department of Defence, Brisbane, (100 pp)
1999	Subterranean Hobart Study, Hobart City Council. (71 pp)
1998	Port Arthur Visitors Centre Interpretation, Carnarvon Era Proposal.
1997	Pt Puer Conservation Study: Peter MacFie Background notes, for Freeman & Assoc.1997
1997	A Brief History of Human Use in the Meehan Range: Peter MacFie, for the Meehan range Management Plan. Clarence City Council (5pp)	**
1995	The Pontville Historic Environment study. Part 1, A social history of Pontville, Part 2, Management recommendations: MacFie, Morris-Nunn & Dudley
1995	Cultures of the Wellington Range, Mt Wellington Range Study, Part II. (with DeGryse & Hepper) (29 pp)	*
1993-94	An Historical Survey of the Port Arthur Garrison and Military Barracks (Peter MacFie with Dr Robin McLachlan, for Fox & Assoc., Canberra, and the Port Arthur Management Authority) (105 pp)	*
1994	All One: A History and Analysis of the the Derwent Distillery and Artillery Brewery, Hobart Rivulet. (for Cripps & Assoc.) (25pp)	**
1994	Clarence historic site survey. Part 1, Part II, Photographs and sites / Audrey Hudspeth with Lindy Scripps, Public History Partners, and with Peter MacFie, 1994.
1993 & 1999	Stock Thieves and Golfers: A History of Rosny Farm and Kangaroo Bay, Tasmania 1803-1998. (City of Clarence) (Museum text & publication) (72 pp)
1992	Valley Farm & Saw-mill, National Park, Tasmania. (D. P. W. & H.) (28 pp)
1992	A History of Corinna & the Pieman River (D. P. W. & H.) (130 pp)	*
1992	Mt Field – The Evolution of Tasmania’s First National Park. (D. P. W. & H.) (155 pp)
1991	The First Cement Works & Brickfields Industrial Site, Maria Island, Tasmania, (1888-92) (D. P. W. & H.) (187 pp)
1991	The Iron Cliff Mines including Thoresby’s Tunnel, Ferndene Reserve, Penguin, Tasmania. (D. P. W. & H.)	*
1991	A History of Schouten Island (Department of Park Wildlife & Heritage, Tasmania.) (87 pp)	*
1989	‘Fruits of an Evil System;’ some notable failures from the Pt Puer Juvenile Prison, Port Arthur, Tasmania, 1834-48, unpublished paper given at the Australian History Teacher’s Conference, Port Arthur, 1989. (15 pp)	**
1987	Historical Research for the Foreman of Works House, Norfolk Island. (Council for Norfolk Island. ) (49 pp)
1986	Interpretation Training Programme, Port Arthur Historic Site, Port Arthur Conservation Project. (50pp)
1986	Conservation Study of Mt Pleasant Homestead, Devonport, Tasmania: Peter McFie, Co-Author (Port Arthur Conservation Project & National Trust Tasmania)
1986	The Moral Lever : education & teachers of convicts & free children at Port Arthur & Point Puer Juvenile Prison, Tasman Peninsula, 1830 – 1877. Fiona Burton, Ed. Peter MacFie, National Parks & Wildlife Service, 1986 (61pp)
1985	The Signal House, Mulgrave Battery. (Australian Heritage Commission) (30 pp)
1985	Convict Health & Diet at Port Arthur & Tasman Peninsula, MacFie & Bonet, (Port Arthur Conservation Project) (49 pp)	**
1985	Contributor, Port Arthur Alive Education Kit, (National Parks & Wildlife Service & Tasmanian Education Department.)
1985	The Point Puer Lads Database, McLachlan & MacFie, (National Parks & Wildlife Service & Mitchell CAE, Bathurst, NSW.) (90 pp)
1984	The Tower Windmill & Miller’s Cottage, Richmond, Tasmania. (National Trust, National Estate.) (42 pp)
1984	Henry Laing, Convict Architect. (Port Arthur Conservation Project.) (36 pp)
1983	Colonial Gardens of Port Arthur: an archival survey. (Port Arthur Conservation Project, NPWS.) (157 pp)	*
1983	A History of the Lower Cricket Ground – Hobart Railway Station. Historical Research & Site Report with Crawford, Cripps & Wegman, (Commonwealth Department of Administration Services.) (47 pp)
1983	Stables & Stores, Anglesea Barracks, Hobart. (Commonwealth Department of Administration Services.)
1981-82	The Use of National Estate Funds in Tasmania: Peter MacFie with Greg Young ( Historical Architect, NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service). Joint Report Commissioned by National Parks & Wildlife Service. (22 pp)
1981	Tasmania’s Engineering Heritage. Six reports funded by the National Estate for the Institution of Engineers, Australia (Tasmanian Division) including:
	“Historic Roads & Bridges”
	“Historic Wind, Water, Steam & Other Flour Mills”
	“Breweries of Tasmania”
	“Prominent Tasmanian Engineers”
1980	Historic Sites, Tasman & Forestier Peninsulas, Tasmania. Report based on Research, Field Work, Photography for National Parks & Wildlife Service.
1980	The State of Historic Conservation in Tasmania, Report for the Australian Heritage Commission. ( National Parks & Wildlife Service.) 1979-80 (140 pp)

Resources

Year(s)	Topic	Index
2018	Point Puer Bench Book data Peter MacFie, 2018	**
2016	The Petition from Fourteen Fiddlers 1848 Peter MacFie, 2016	**
2010	The Teachers at the Dulcot School, 1870-1910 Peter MacFie, 2016	*
2003	On the Canadian Patriot’s Trail. Peter H. MacFie, 2003

Historical Research and Studies

Year(s)	Topic	Index
2010	A History of the Two Dulcot Schools. (draft)
2010	Launch of publication, On the Fiddle , (co-written with Steve & Marjory Gadd) at the National Folk Festival, Canberra (documenting the Life of Alexander Laing , Scottish convict, fiddler, composer & Sorell district resident.
2010	Profile of the Boyer Newsprint Mill for Environmental Engineering Consultants.
2009	Drafting Historical Text for Signage at Barilla Bay Restaurant.
2008	Consulting Historian, Mace and Sword Project, Tasmanian House of Assembly.
2008	Historical records consultant & tutor, Tasmanian Museum & Art Gallery.
2007	A Short History of “The Carlton”, Southern Tasmania. See The Carlton	*
2007	State Library Fellowship: Establishing a Rock and Folk Memorabilia Collection. See Popular Music Culture	*
2006-7	A History of Pittwater, Barilla Bay Restaurant & Clarence Council
2004-5	Oral History Project, Forestry Tasmania
2004-22	Mill Cottage to Peppercorn Gallery: A History of the Military Pensioners of Richmond	***
2002-04	Bellerive –Richmond History Trail, Clarence City Council.
1999-2000-05	Underground Hobart Study, Hobart City Council.
1998	Consultant, historical interpretation, Port Arthur Visitors Centre.
1995-2004	Social History of the Maydena District; Oral and Archival Record of a Logging Community, for Australian Newsprint Mills. See Maydena – the Rise & Fall of a Logging Town	*
1995	Lambert Park and Skyline Reserve, Historic Review for the Hobart City Council. See Lambert Park & Skyline Reserve	*
1994-5	Team Historian, Mt Wellington Management Plan, part 2, (de Gryse & Hepper.) See Cultures of the Wellington Range)	*
1994-5	Pontville National Estate Study. (Historian/ project leader, with Morris-Nunn & Dudley)
1993-4	Clements & Marshall Consolidated, Oral History Project.
1993	Consultant, Clarence Regional National Estate Study, for Public History Partners. See Clarence Historic Site Survey
1988	Co-ordinator (with Jerry deGryse) Cemetery Point, Impression Bay, Management Plan.
1987-92	Historian/ Interpretation Officer, Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority. (Responsibilities included guide management and training, historical publicity, signs, and tourist industry liaison.)
1984-86	Historian, Port Arthur Conservation & Development Project.
1983-4	Tasmanian Interviewer for the Oral History Program, Federal Parliamentary Library’s Bicentennial Publication Project.
1981-3	Part Time Teacher, Elizabeth College, Rosny Secondary College.
1979-82	Public history research.

 

Talks and Walks

Year(s)	Topic	Index
2017	Alexander Laing New Norfolk Fiddle Excursion 2017 Peter MacFie for Friends of Willow Court, 14 May 2017	*
2016	Alexander Laing Sorell Fiddle Excursion 2016 Peter MacFie	*
2012	Alexander Laing Sorell Fiddle Excursion 2012 Peter MacFie	*
2007	Round Pittwater Excursion
2006	Richmond to Risdon via Grass tree Hill Road and Strath Ayr Farm
2004	Bellerive Village Walk 2004 Peter MacFie, 2004	*
2003	Inns & Hotels of Richmond
2002	Campania House Weekend: Old Homesteads & New Wineries of the Coal River Valley, Tasmania
2002	Prospect House Weekend: Old Homesteads & New Wineries of the Coal River Valley, Tasmania
2002	Bellerive Excursion
2000	Excursion to Strath Ayre, Glen Ayr & Weeroona
2000	Point Puer Juvenile Establishment 1834-1849 Excursion
1999	The Convict Coal Mines of the Tasman Peninsula
1999	Barilla Bay Excursion
1999	Richmond to Cambridge Excursion
1996	Cartela Cruise 1996 Peter MacFie, 1996	*
1996	Historic Pontville Excursion
1993	Historic Walk Around Pontville
1993	Everyday Life of Port Arthur Convict Patients & Doctors
1993	Campania Village Excursion
1990	Free Settler’s Homes of Tasman Peninsula
1986	Tasman Peninsula at War 1914-1918. The Impact of World War I on the Local Community: Peter MacFie. ANZAC Day Presentation at Nubeena District School, April 1986	*
1985	Excursion to the Coal Mines on Tasman Peninsula Peter MacFie, 1985	*

 

Founder or co-founder of the following:

Year(s)	Topic
1992	Coal River Historical Society
1991	Glamorgan & Spring Bay Historical Society
1990	Bellerive Historical Society
1989	Hamilton Historical Society
1988	Bruny Island Historical Society

Peter MacFie, Historian ~ Copyright © 2017 Peter MacFie