A Social History of Richmond

Citation

Macfie, Peter H., 2003, A Social History of Richmond, 1820 – 1855. https://petermacfiehistorian.net.au/publications/social-history

Abstract

The life and times of Richmond from 1820 to 1855 as recorded through the evidence presented at the Richmond court during those years.

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60 page document formatted to print on A4 paper.

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Excerpt

The village of Richmond was similar yet so very different to today’s tourist town. Horses were the main method of transport, pulling waggons, carts or more fashionable gigs. Poorer people walked everywhere or caught a coach to Hobart Town. There were eight inns for travellers. Until 1850, convict road gangs, some with men wearing leg irons, worked in the streets and on roads approaching the village. Flocks of sheep were driven through the village to the sale-yards. Assigned servants assembled on the Muster Ground, now the Municipal Park, to have their names checked, observed carefully by constables and the Police Magistrate, based in the Watch House. Here offending assigned servants, convicts under sentence and occasional free settler were charged before magistrates, and held in the holding cells.

At the Court House nearby, charges were heard by magistrates and ‘justice’ handed out, by today’s standards, harsh and without feeling.

From being a pioneering district, after 1850 the town gradually became a town left behind by the spread of settlement to the north and the new colonies of Victoria and New Zealand. First the Victorian gold rush attracted settlers away, then in 1874 the town was by-passed by the Mainline Railway to the north and the Sorell Causeway to the south. Richmond became a quaint village, preserved by default. From the start of the first Jury Act in 1855 to the introduction of Municipal Government in 1864, the Richmond district was under the jurisdiction of affluent locals, rather than government appointed magistrates. Sentences were just as harsh, although flogging became a thing of the past. Richmond became the centre of local government for the Coal River Valley, holding council and court hearings, for cases stretching from Dulcot through Richmond to Campania and Colebrook.

Meanwhile, a new generation of settlers had moved into the village – Jacobs, Kellys, Andersons, Nichols, Ross and other families who stayed. Immigrants, including some German families plus military pensioners used the former barracks for temporary accommodation.

While the streets were home during the 1870s to elderly emancipist – former convicts – who lived in cheap rent or in huts in the bush at hamlets like Dulcot, most families tried to over-look their own convict origins.

The Catholic -Protestant divide continued, with the Bridge Inn being the Catholic pub and the Lennox Arms/Commercial the Protestant/visitors hotel. A deferential relationships between farm-hands and farm owners continued; but behind closed doors, another world existed.

End of Excerpt

Index

The Wesleyans of Port Arthur

Citation

MacFie, Peter, 2022, The Wesleyans of Port Arthur, https://petermacfiehistorian.net.au/publications/wesleyans/

Abstract

This history of the Wesleyan ministers and their relationship with convicts, military and civilian personnel covers the eleven years during which they held the official role of Chaplain at Port Arthur. There they were primarily responsible for moral instruction through services, prayers, religious instruction and consolation, and oversaw schooling for the free children, the boys of Point Puer and the adult convicts. In addition, they buried the dead and baptised the babies. The Wesleyan chaplains were involved in the design of the grand sandstone church which was consecrated and in regular use from July 1837. Most of the Chaplains took their wives and children with them to Port Arthur, living in a cramped and damp cottage. Their position was taken over by the Anglicans when a new brick parsonage was built at the start of 1844.

Details

199 A4 pages, 98 images including 7 historic maps & charts, plus footnotes, bibliography and detailed index.

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Sample Chapter

To read the Introduction chapter, click here.

Introduction
Chapter 1: Penal Settlements on the Tasman Peninsula
Chapter 2: The Wesleyan Chaplains
Chapter 3: Neighbours on the Tasman Peninsula
Chapter 4: The Military Neighbours
Chapter 5: The Convict Neighbours
Chapter 6: The Churches of Port Arthur
Chapter 7: Spiritual Guidance
Chapter 8: Schools of the Tasman Peninsula
Chapter 9: Weddings, Births and Baptisms
Chapter 10: Deaths, Murders and Executions
Chapter 11: Private Life of the Wesleyan Chaplains
Chapter 12: Life with the Point Puer Boys
Chapter 13: Wesleyans Under Attack
Chapter 14: On the Defensive
Chapter 15: Point Puer Without the Wesleyans
Chapter 16: The Lasting Appeal of the Wesleyans
Chapter 17: Future Questions
Appendix 1: Religious Instructors, Ordained and Lay
Appendix 2: The Probation Stations
Appendix 3: The Wesleyan Clergy After Port Arthur
Appendix 4: The Chaplains’ Neighbours
Bibliography

Index

The Index from the book is provided here but not the page numbers.

Adams, John
alcohol
Andrews, Alfred
Anglicans
Anstey, Thomas
Arden, James
Armstrong, George
Armstrong, Joseph
Arrowsmith, John
Arthur, Lt Gov. George
Ashforth, Robert
Ashworth, Henry
Atkinson, Joseph
Axtell, George
Backhouse, James
bakehouse
baptisms
barracks
Barrow, Peter
Barrow, Sir John
Batman, John
Beattie, John Watt
Bedford, Rev. William
Belfield, Henry
Bell, Thomas
Belliard, Edward
Bench Books
Bennett, John
Benson, Dr William
Bethune, Drinkwater
Bibles
Bickley, Richard
Birch, Robert
Birch’s Bay
Black Line
black-market trading
Blake, George
Boardman, Thomas
Bobbie, Jack
Bond, Father William
Booth children
Booth, Charles O’Hara
Booth, Elizabeth (Mrs Charles)
Boulder, Charles
Bowles, William
Boyce, James
Boyd, Alexander
Boyes, William
Boys, Thomas
Bragg, Sarah
Brailsford, William
Bray, George
Briggs, Thomas
Brissa, Richard
Brock children
Brock, Bethia (Mrs Frederick)
Brock, Dr Frederick
Broughton, Bishop William
Brown, Joseph
Brown, Simon
Brownell children
Brownell, Dr Thomas
Brownell, Elizabeth (Mrs Thomas)
Brownell, Rev. John
Browning, Rev. Dr Colin A.
Bryant children
Bryant, Mrs
Bryant, Private ?
Buller, James
Bullocks
Bullying
Bunker, William
Burn, David
Burnett, John
Burns children
Burns, Andrew
Burns, Mary (Mrs Andrew)
Burrows children
Burrows, Josephine (Mrs Samuel)
Burrows, Judith (Mrs Samuel)
Burrows, Mary Ann (Mrs Samuel)
Burrows, Samuel
bushfires
Butcher, Solomon
Butters children
Butters, Jane Middleton (Mrs William)
Butters, John
Butters, Rev. William
Byron children
Byron, Isabella (Mrs John)
Byron, John
Campbell, Charles
Capon, Thomas
Carte children
Carte, Honoria (Mrs William)
Carte, William
Carvosso, Deborah (Mrs Benjamin)
Carvosso, Rev. Benjamin
Cascades
Casey, Dr Gavin
Caston, Thomas
Catechist’s Quarters – PP
Catholic Chapel
Catholics
Cavanagh, Robert
Champ children
Champ Street
Champ, Helen (Mrs William)
Champ, William
Chaplain’s Quarters – PP
Chappell, Henry
Charles, Frederick
Charlton, John
Chidy, John
Chief Constable’s Quarters
childbirth
Children
Church of England
Clark, William
Clarke children
Clarke, Grace (Mrs William)
Clarke, John
Clarke, Marcus
Clarke, William
Coal Mines
Coans children
Coans, Ellen (Mrs Jonothan)
Coans, Jonothan
Collins, David
Collins, Dennis
Collins, William
Collison, James
Commandant’s office
convict clothing
convict escapes
convict servants
convict tramway
Cook, Thomas
Cookhouse
Cooper children
Cooper, Jansay (Mrs Thomas)
Cooper, Thomas
Copperwaite, Richard
Cotham, Rev. James
Courtenay, Capt. G.H.
Crawley, Jeremiah
Crossland, George
Cummins, William
Cuthbertson, Lt ?
Danes children
Danes, Abraham
Danes, Sarah (Mrs Abraham)
Daniels, Joseph
Darby, Ensign ?
Davies, Martin
Davis children
Davis, Ann (Mrs William)
Davis, John
Davis, William
Dawson, John
Day, Thomas
de Castanos, Perez
de Marsa, Joseph
Deane, Joseph
deaths
Denison, William
Dermer, William
Dickenson, Constable ?
Dickson, William
Dobbs children
Dobbs, Edward
Dobbs, Elsey (Mrs Edward)
dog
dogs
Doherty, John
Donn, Charles
Dove, H.D. (Mrs Thomas)
Dove, Rev. Thomas
Downes, Charles
Downie, Andrew
Drake, George
Dumont d’Urville, Jules
Durham children
Durham, ? (Mrs Edward)
Durham, Rev. Edward
Eagle, Elizabeth
Eaglehawk Neck
East Bay Neck
Eastman children
Eastman, Louise (Mrs George)
Eastman, Rev. George
Edwards, William
Elliott, William
Ellis, Charles
Ellis, Joseph
Elston, Richard
Errington, Capt. Arnold
Evans children
Evans, Ellen (Mrs Jonathan)
Evans, Jonathan
Evenden, John
Fenton, Thomas
Firearms
Fisher, James
Fletcher, James
Fletcher, Richard
Flinders Bay
Flinders Island
Flogging
Flowers children
Flowers, Mary (Mrs Robert)
Flowers, Robert
Flowers, Thomas
Foggo, Neil Gow
Forrest, Ann
Forster, Honoria
Forster, Matthew
Forsyth, John
Foundation Plaque
Franklin, Lady Jane (Sir John)
Franklin, Lt Gov. Sir John
Frazer, Miss H.D.
Freeman children
Freeman, Mary (Mrs William)
Freeman, William
Gale, William
Garden Island
Garrett, William
Geary, George
Geils, Charles
Gellibrand, Joseph Tice
Gibbons children
Gibbons, Capt. John
Gibbons, Dinah Ann (Mrs Robert)
Gibbons, John
Gibbons, Robert
Gibson, Helen
Gibson, William
Ginneresley, John
Goodman, John
Gordon, James
Goulter children
Goulter, Anna Maria (Mrs Henry)
Goulter, Henry John
Green, Ann
Greensmith, Samuel
Griffiths, James
Groves, Richard
Gruby, Edward
hair-cuts
Hall, Robert Heath
Hambrook, Jonathon
Hancock, John
Harding, Nathaniel
Hare, John
Hargreaves children
Hargreaves, ? (Mrs John)
Hargreaves, John
Harkness, James
Harris, Joshua
Harrison, William
Harry, John
Haydon, Peter
Heath children
Heath, John Scott
Heath, Mary Ann (Mrs John Scott)
Henning, Joseph
Henry Tatlow
Hepburn, John
Hill children
Hill, James
Hill, Mary (Mrs James)
Holden children
Holden, Ellen (Mrs Peter)
Holden, Peter
Holmes, Samuel
Hooper, Fred
Hornsley, William
horrid crimes
Horses
Horton College
Horton, Rev. William
Horton, Samuel
Howell, Howell
Howling, Morris
Howse, Robert
Hoy, David
Hughes, J.H.
Hughes, John
Hunt children
Hunt, James
Hunt, Margaret (Mrs James)
Hunter, Frederick
Hurley, Constable ?
Hurst, Mary Ann
Hutchinson, Mary (Mrs John)
Hutchinson, Rev. John
Impression Bay
Indigenous People
Informers
Isle of the Dead
Jamison children
Jamison, Ann (Mrs Robert)
Jamison, Robert
Jeanneret children
Jeanneret, Dr Henry
Jeanneret, Harriett (Mrs Henry)
Jones, Francis
Jones, Richard
Keast, Catherine
Keefe, John
Keefe, Margaret
Keegan, Michael
Kelly children
Kelly, Alastair
Kelly, Elizabeth (Mrs Alastair)
Kelly, Thomas
Kidney, Daniel
Kimberly, Richard
King, George
Knopwood, Rev. Robert
Laing, Henry
Langford, Anna Maria
Langham, William
Laplace, Cyrille
Law, Benjamin
Law, Edward
Law, Hannah (Mrs Benjamin)
Lea, Charles
Leanard children
Leanard, Catherine (Mrs Michael)
Leanard, Michael
Leary, John
Leeming, William
Lees, Benjamin
Leigh, ? (Mrs Samuel)
Lemprière children
Lemprière, Charlotte (Mrs Thomas)
Lemprière, Mary Earle
Lemprière, Thomas
Levi, Philip
Lhotsky, Dr John
Lillis, Sarah
Linaphon, Crussa
Lisdillon
Logan, William
Longworth, John
Lovell, Samuel
Lowe, ? (Mrs Alexander)
Lowe, Alexander
Lucas, George
Lucas, Margaret
MacBraire, Dr John
Macdonald, Captain ?
Mackie, George
Maconochie, Alexander
Macquarie Harbour
Mahon, Capt. John
Mainday children
Mainday, Ann (Mrs ?)
Mainday, Private ?)
Manton children
Manton, Ann (Mrs John)
Manton, Rev. John
Manuel, Michael
Maria Island
Martin, John
Martin, Peter
Maskey, Ann (Mrs Edwin)
Maskey, children
Maskey, Edwin
Mason, George
Mason, Joseph
Matthews, Josephine
Maxfield, Francis
McCaig, Duncan
McCann, Thomas
McConochie, Alexander
McGregor, Malcolm
McGuire, Hugh
McInally, James
McKnight, William
Meggett, Peter
Merritt, Harriett
Meyers, James
Meyers, Thirza (Mrs James)
21st Fusiliers
48th Regt
51st King’s Own
63rd Regt
84th Regt
88th Connaught Rangers
96th Regt
guards
Miller, Linus
Milnes, Martha
Minehan, Patrick
Mitchell children
Mitchell, Catherine (Mrs John)
Mitchell, John
Mitchell, William
Mollyneaux, Daniel
Montagu, John
Montgomery children
Montgomery, ? (Mrs John)
Montgomery, John
Moore children
Moore, Hannah (Mrs William)
Moore, William
Morris, Robert
Mount Arthur
Mountshire, James
Mousher, James
Murdoch, Lt Peter
music
Muster Master’s Quarters
Myers children
Myers, James
Myers, Thirza (Mrs James)
Neill, Robert
New Town Farm
Newington College
Newman children
Newman, George
Newman, Richard
Newman, Sarah (Mrs Richard)
Nichols, Arthur
Nixon, Bishop Francis
Nokes, Benjamin
Norfolk Bay
O’Halloran, Father John
O’Neil, John
Oakes, Mary
Oliver, Robert
Olsen, Hans
Orangemen
Orton children
Orton, Rev. Joseph
Orton, Sarah (Mrs Joseph)
Overly children
Overly, Mary (Mrs William)
Overly, William
Oyster Cove
Padmore, Henry
Paisley, Walter
Palmer, Rev. Philip
Parry, John
Partridge, Chief Constable ?
Pegus, Mary Sophia (Mrs Peter)
Pegus, Peter
Peyton Jones, Ensign John
Point Puer map
Pollard, John
Poultney, Robert
Power children
Power, Dr ?
Power, Ellen (Mrs John
Power, John
Pringle, James Jones
Pringle, Mary (Mrs James)
Probation Stations
Probation System
Pydairrerme
Quick, Rev. William
Randall children
Randall, ? (Mrs Walter)
Randall, Walter
religious boys
Ribbonmen
Riley, William
Roberts, R.A
Roberts, Robert
Robinson, George Augustus
Robinson, William
Roby, Edward
Rogers, George
Rose, George
Ross, James
Russell, Dr John James
Rutland, Henry
Salmon, George
Saltwater Creek
Saltwater River
Samuel
Sarah Island
Saunders, Joseph
Scanlon, Margaret
schedule – Point Puer
Schofield, Martha (Mrs William)
Schofield, Rev. William
schooling
schools
Scott, James
Scrimshaw, William
semaphore
Separate Prison
sermons
servants
Settlement Creek
Settlement Road
Sharpe, Joseph
Sharpe, William
Shaw, Thomas
Sheffield, William
shipyards
shoemakers
Shuttleworth, Joseph
Sickness
Simcock, Edward
Simpson children
Simpson, Rev. William
Simpson, Rev. William West
Simpson, Sarah (Mrs William)
Skardon, George
Skardon, Mary Sophia
Slaves
Slopen Main
Smith, James
Smith, Job
Smith, Judith
Smith, Timothy
Smith, William
Snodgrass, Kenneth
Somercote, Richard
Sorell, Lt Gov. William
Sparks, Henry
Spencer children
Spencer, Agnes (Mrs James John)
Spencer, James
Spencer, James John
Spencer, John James
Spencer, John jr
Spillard children
Spillard, James
Spillard, Sarah (Mrs James)
Spottiswood, Alicia
Spottiswood, Capt. John
Spottiswood, Catherine
Spottiswood, Elizabeth (Mrs John)
Stanfield, William
Stanton children
Stanton, ? (Mrs Benjamin)
Stanton, Benjamin
Steele, Joseph
Stevens, Bax
Stevens, Benjamin
Stevens, James
Stewarts Harbour
Stimpson, Elizabeth
Storey, William
Stuart, John Ramsay
Summercotes
Superintendent’s Quarters – PA
Superintendent’s Quarters – PP
Taite, James
Tams, Charles
Tassett, Henry
Tatler, Henry
Taylor, John
Teayhorn children
Teayhorn, Richard
Teayhorn, Rose Anne (Mrs Richard)
The Marshes
Therry, Father John
tobacco
Tom children
Tom, Catherine (Mrs Henry)
Tom, Henry
Tonga
Towers, John
Travers, James
tread mill
Trial Book
Turner children
Turner, Ann (Mrs Nathaniel)
Turner, Rev. Nathaniel
Twist, Emmanuel
Veitch, Robert
Visitor’s Accommodation
Waddy, Sgt ?
Walker, George Washington
Walker, Thomas
Ward, Senior Constable ?
Warner, Ashton
Waterhouse, Jane Middleton
Waterhouse, Rev. John
Waters, Richard
Waterson, William
Weatherston children
Weatherston, Mary (Mrs John)
Weatherston, Rev. John
Webb, William
Weddings
Wedge Bay
Welsh, James
Wesley, Edward
Wesley, Rev. Charles
Wesley, Rev. John
Wesley, Rev. Samuel
Whaleboats
White, William
Whitsett, Thomas
Willett, William
Williams, John
Williams, Samuel
Wills children
Wills, Frederick
Wills, Sarah (Mrs Frederick)
Willson, Bishop Robert
Wilson, Capt. ?
Wiltshire, Charles
Wiltshire, Francis
Wood, Ann
Woods, Andrew
Wright, Bethia
Wright, John
Wyballena
Wynne, James
Young, Robert

Underground Hobart

The World Beneath the City

An exploration of subterranean Hobart. The rich and colourful history of the once open but now buried waterways – including the Hobart Rivulet, Domain Park Rivulet, and Sandy Bay – Wellington Rivulet.

The book includes details of tunnels and drains stretching back to the very start of Hobart’s first settlement in Sullivans Cove. Some of these have only recently been rediscovered. Other topics examined are burial grounds, the installation of water, gas and sewerage systems together with basement shops, homes and places of entertainment.

Unexpected events revealed include the formation of the Liberal Party in Tasmania, and the excavation of graves on the site of an old Campbell Street convict era cemetery. Underground Hobart contains an excellent range of photographs highlighting all aspects of the world – and life – ‘beneath the city’.

Details

104 A4 pages, plus maps, photographs, footnotes, bibliography and detailed index.

ISBN: 978-0-9805139-2-9

Purchase

The book is available from “Cracked & Spineless” in Imperial Arcade, 9/138 Collins St, Hobart

03 6223 1663

https://www.facebook.com/CrackedNSpineless

If they can’t help you, use the ‘contact’ page on this website (on left) to send us a message.

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Misleading Maps

Citation

Cite this essay as “Peter Macfie, 2014, https://PeterMacFieHistorian.net.au/publications/misleading-maps”

Misleading Maps? :The WHA Extension In The Styx Valley & Florentine Valley 2013

Recent publicity over additions to the WHA – available via the map on the ABC website online – are further indications of the lack of research by organisations involved – on both sides of the argument – into the history of forest practices in southern Tasmania.

The dispute highlights the complete lack of use by the protagonists of the expertise of historians – a deficiency in Tasmanian public affairs which has led to much un-necessary conflict – with inaccurate claims and counter claims. Apart from brief contracts, there are no historians employed by P.W. & H. /DELM – or other government departments – and apparently none during the secrecy surrounding the WHA negotiations.

To my mind, the historian’s role is one of the dispassionate observer, offering informed critiques and insights with empathy but without bias.

Maps & Forests

The area shown in the online map of the WHA indicates extension over supposedly “Old Growth Forests” in the Styx and Florentine Valleys.

WHA Extension In Former ANM Concession

Extract From World Heritage Places – Tasmanian Wilderness Resources

Map 4: Proposed boundary relative to 2013 boundary

These however were once part of Australian Newsprint Mills Concession (1934-1997) and were logged in the 1940s and early 1950s by the Company to provide timber for the Boyer Newsprint Mill south of New Norfolk. Sawlogs were also produced. The Concession was granted by former State Labour Governments as part of an agreement to supply timber to the newsprint mill at Boyer – which began production in 1941. The following map shows the extent of the ANM Concession.

ANM Concession 1938-1990

The extent of ANM’s Concession is also available online – as part of the nomination by Engineers Australia (Tasmania) of Boyer Mill for the National Heritage Register.

(The Boyer Newsprint Mill – Nomination for a Heritage Recognition Award) Based on several years of research, the area in the Florentine Valley claimed as “old growth” is today 60+ year old regrowth, while in the Styx Valley, equivalent forests are 70 year old regrowth forests planted by ANM. Some of the tall trees in the Styx Valley were set aside in small reserves by ANM, and are shown in a plan of the former Company’s 10 ‘tall tree reserves.’

(ANM Library) A 1987 map of logging coupes in the ANM Concession also shows rotational logging operations. These ranged from Wayatinah to the north, the Florentine Valley to the west and Mt Lloyd to the south. These appear to contradict the “Old Growth” claims for areas recently added to the WHA extension. At the very least, their true history needs a full examination.

(ANM Library)

Professional Interest – Peter MacFie & the Maydena Project 1995-99

Working as site historian at Port Arthur Historic Site (1983-91) I became interested in timber extraction, and later conflict over land use/conservation vs utilitarian values. (see website list of relevant published papers.) My 1992 study on Mt Field National Park brought out this dilemma. From this research I was approached by ANM to undertake the Maydena Project.

During the oral history-based Maydena Project I became aware of the above details – and many other aspects of the life of former ANM Concession work-force and its operation in the Concession. I interviewed men who had built the Styx Valley rail spur during World War II, and worked with complex and dangerous machinery there and in the Florentine Valley. A paper based on initial research and interviews was given at the Australian Forest History Society conference at Gympie, Queensland outlining the Maydena Project (Maydena the Logging Town in the Colonised Valley) and subsequently published in conference proceedings in 1999. (available online at Digital Collections: Australia’s ever-changing forests).

The Styx Valley Rail Spur Line. 1941-48

The Styx Valley was logged during World War II using a 16 km rail spur line which branched at Karanja. Former workers I interviewed for the Maydena Project who worked on the Styx Valley spur line lived in a temporary village named Tent City near Cataract Creek. A large trestle timber bridge was built over this deep ravine to carry the 16 km rail line past Diogenes Creek.

Styx Valley Rail Spur Line 1942-49, Cataract Creek Trestle Bridge

(ANM Library)

This was inspected in 1943 by ANM’s chairman of directors, Sir Keith Murdoch, when the line was opened in February 1943. (see attached newspaper report) Later that year, a group of State parliamentarians (including Devonport based H H McFie MHA (my great-grandfather)) also inspected the Styx Valley workings and railway.

(Mercury 17/2/1943, p. 4., via Trove)

With Japan now entering the War, (preventing supplied of newsprint from North America) Murdoch warned that without the Boyer Mill, Australian newspapers would be reduced by half. During the mid 1950s the Upper Styx valley was also logged by road using imported Caterpillar bulldozers.

Logging the Florentine Valley 1948-70

Post World War II the massive stand of 200 year old mature Euc. regnans – Swamp gums – covering over 2000 acres under Mt Field West was logged by ANM. Controversy over the company’s acquisition of this area on the western boundary of Mt Field National Park was first documented in my 1992 study, ‘A History of Mt Field National Park’. Despite a very vocal public campaign against the loss of the Florentine Valley area led by the Hobart Walking Club, the Cosgrove government passed the extension to the Concession.

Max Gilbert’s unique PhD thesis into the life cycle of the wet eucalypt forests found that the 200 year old regnans in the Florentine Valley were the result of a massive natural fire around 1800 – creating an ash bed for the later mature one-generation stand. His research was the basis used for regeneration of the Euc. Regnans stands after logging. (Gilbert as also a founder member of the Hobart Walking Club.)

Instead of a rail line to extract timber from the Florentine Valley post World War II, (due to the cavernous limestone nature of the area) a series of well-made roads were built. In 1952 a series of high quality photos were taken by the Education Departments Teaching Aids depict the logging operation, some showing Mt Field West in the background.

1952 Logging Truck, Florentine Valley Vicinity of Mt Field West

(Ed Dept – Teaching Aids Centre – AB713-1-1040)

1952 Florentine Valley Logging Vicinity Mt Field West

(Ed Dept – Visual Aids-AB713-1-1014)

Reforestation

Once logged, the Styx and Florentine Valleys underwent reforestation – and the large forests now claimed as “Old Growth” are actually regrowth from the planned seeding programme (part of ANM’s policy initiated by Boyer Mill manager Kessell – a trained forester and leading advocate of replanting for the future). ANM became well known for its progressive silviculture program.

(ANM Library)

1952 Florentine Valley Logging

(Ed Dept – Teaching Aids Centre – AB713-1-6881)

1960s Regrowth, Florentine Valley

(ANM Library)

Background History Of The ANM Concession 1934-1997

Peter MacFie

Until the opening of Boyer Mill in 1941, all newsprint for Australian newspapers was imported from Scandinavia. Using North American technology, the new mill was the brainchild of several leading scientists, (especially LR Benjamin) & newspaper owners – among these were Warwick Fairfax and Sir Keith Murdoch of the Herald & Weekly Times group. As a young journalist, Keith had seen the rationing placed on newspaper printing by limited access to newsprint during World War I (As war correspondent, he had also reported secretly on the appalling mismanagement of the ANZAC troops at Gallipoli.)

Forest Surveys Florentine Valley & Styx Valley 1912-60

Initial exploration of these timber resources began before World War I; early conservators were concerned about the needless destruction by fire.

Pre ANM – Uncontrolled Fires

1920 Settlers Cottage, Florentine Valley (Henry Allport)

(Allport Library and Museum of Fine Arts, ADRI: AUTAS001126251214)

First serious surveys into the timber resource in the Florentine Valley and the Styx Valley stook place in the 1930s for the inaugural company, the Derwent Valley Paper Pulp Co., to which the Tasmania Government granted first areas of Concession.
The first successful large scale trials of newsprint using Tasmania eucalypts took place in Ocean Falls, British Colombia, Canada in 1934.
The first edition of an Australian newspaper printed on newsprint made from eucalypt was the Hobart Mercury of 12 May 1934.
The 1934 Bushfires in the Derwent Valley triggered concern for the new company over the security of the timber resource. From 1936 fire lookouts monitored wildfires in the Styx Valley and at Fitzgerald.
The re-formed Australian Newsprint Mills Co. (ANM) (1938), as well as establishing Boyer Mill, was given an enlarged Concession and enforceable authority over access.
Sir Keith Murdoch was well aware of the scope of these assets – of both the Florentine Valley and the Styx Valley – as he and his youthful wife, later Dame Elizabeth Murdoch, trekked on horse-back there in 1937, as a photo in Dame Elisabeth’s biography indicates.
Initially supervised by Canadian employees, Boyer Mill was opened for production in 1941.

Newsprint For Australia 1941 (Pix Magazine 31.5.1941, P34, via National Library of Australia)

On 10 May 1941, ten Australian newspapers were all published on Australian newsprint made at Boyer Mill.
ANM also acquired sawmilling concessions in the Tyenna Valley on the southern flank of Mt Field National Park; former sawmill workers transferred as the nucleus of ANM’s bush workforce.
The Pioneer Woodware Concession was acquired. This small company based at Kallista from 1926 – begun by a German migrant – had timber reserves from which sassafras was logged for peg making at the New Norfolk Peg Factory – an industry employing over 60 local women.
The Concession was returned to Forestry Tasmania’s management in 1997.

A WHA Reappraisal?

The Florentine Valley & Styx Valley do have significant heritage values – cultural heritage values – in the form of tramways, train lines, sawmill sites, camps and huts. The potential location of these are documented as a result of the Maydena Project – documented in original maps to be published – and particularly in the wonderful field work undertaken by archaeologist Parry Kosteglou into the forest history of these (and many other similar work sites) for Forestry Tasmania.

These activities should not be regarded as having “degraded” the heritage value of such localities – whatever the outcome of a proposed revue, historians, railway enthusiasts plus former locals whose formative years were spent there – value these sites as “special places” because of working lives spent there which gave them and their families a sense of worth – as well as income .

Working Forests As Well As Wilderness?

In addition to wilderness, there’s a need to include working forests as part of a reservation system- such is the case in Europe, where working forests for logging exist with others for mountaineering & bushwalking, horse & mountain bike riding as well as others for hunting.

Old Skills

Could old skills be kept alive? Could draught horses be used, for example, to extract specialty timbers – as sassafras was hauled out on rail trolleys along the Kallista line northwest of Maydena by the ‘Sassy Kings” I interviewed?