Category Archives: Primary
Guest Articles
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’s father, Henry H. MacFie
Areas of Professional Interest
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
His Musical Life
A Brief Musical Biography
A 6th generation Tasmania, Peter was a graduate of the University of Tasmania, and has been a teacher and public historian, including site historian at Port Arthur 1983-1991. Peter was active in the community, helping form several local history societies and instigated the Professional Historians Association of Tasmania. He also published numerous reports, papers and books and delivered many talks on topics musical, historic, or both.
Publications and Projects
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
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 |