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The Community History is provided by our local Historical Society. The GTOAC Thank them for their efforts in assisting us to provide this information. ~ GTOAC CMC
George Town has a rich history and is the oldest town in Australia (1804). Only the cities of Sydney and Hobart are older. In fact John Batman sailed from George Town to settle Melbourne. Reminders of our history are visible in such buildings as The Grove and The Watchhouse .
Our eventful maritime history is showcased when you visit the Low Head Pilot Station, the oldest working pilot station in Australia. View historic ships' fittings, photographs, and records of voyages and local shipwrecks. This tranquil whitewashed settlement set in green lawns overlooking the Tamar estuary will take you back in time.
George Town and District Historical Society Inc
Postal Address
45 Tamar Avenue
George Town TAS 7253
Email
gtdhs@tasmail.com
IMAGE 1: The Old Rectory, since demolished.
IMAGE 2: The original Low Head Lighthouse.
IMAGE 3: The Old Watch House now housing historical displays.
NEWSLETTER: Our latest newsletter can be viewed after "A Brief History"
Office Bearers:
Chairman: Des Wootton - ph 63824412
Vice Chairman: Todd Hunter - mob 0409008936
Secretary: Peter Cox - mob 0407 204610
Minute Secretary: Debbie Rainbow - ph 63821247
Treasurer: Chlo Martin - ph: 63821336
Committee Members:
Lorraine Wootton
Shelley Hunter
Glenn Burt
Pat Webb
Robin Thorne
Roger Broomhall
email: gtdhs@yahoo.com.au
Our Society was formed in 1997 and the enthusiasm shown by the group has resulted in a very impressive collection of printed material, images, oral histories and various other collections.
Through our monthly forums, excursions, biennial conferences, displays and involvement with other groups with similar interests we hope to foster an interest and understanding of the history in our region.
Meeting Time: Third Monday each month.
A BRIEF HISTORY:
The Tamar River was entered, named Port Dalrymple and partially explored by Bass and Flinders in the Norfolk when they explored Bass Strait in 1798. They were followed in 1802 by Freycinet and Faure from the Naturaliste and 1804 by William Collins in the Lady Nelson. A replica of the Norfolk and other associated artefacts are on display in the Bass and Flinders Centre housed in the old George Town Picture Theatre
Fear of French settlement led to the Governor of NSW sending an expedition under Lieut. Colonel William Paterson, who after being aground just south of Lagoon Bay for several days claimed Northern Van Diemen’s Land in a ceremony at Outer Cove on 11th November 1804. He brought with him around 200 people in all, including soldiers, convicts, one free settler and a doctor. Here he set up camp and erected the first Government House in Northern Tasmania, a pre-fabricated construction.
By late February 1805, Paterson had moved his main settlement toYorktown on the Western side of the Tamar, but left a small detachment at Outer Cove. At both places he established successful gardens to grow vegetables for the two settlements. Green Island, now Garden Island, was used for stores.
From 1806 Launceston developed as the main settlement, while Outer Cove and Yorktown declined. Outer Cove was still being used as a port and the first pilot, William House, was living and growing crops there.
In 1811 Governor Macquarie visited Port Dalrymple and ordered that George Town be made the headquarters for Northern Van Diemen’s Land. Convict builders started work late 1815 and Major Cimitiere, commandant at Port Dalrymple, moved his administration in1819.
Macquarie’s first map of George Town showed street names in the town centre that have been retained until today and included Macquarie, Elizabeth, Anne, Sorell, Cimitiere, Bathurst, Goulburn and Regent Square.
The Reverend JohnYoul was appointed the first Chaplain in 1819. He toured the district for three weeks, during which he married 41 couples and baptised 64 children, some of the latter belonging to newly weds, who had been waiting for an opportunity to be legally married. After leaving George Town his residence, for eleven years, became the “Female Factory” for convict women.
Governor Macquarie again visited George Town in 1821, and rode around the district, writing in glowing terms of the good farming land in Cimitiere valley, now part of Archer’s “Cimitiere Plains” and Lawrence’s “Moama” properties. He inspected the various government buildings, erected and occupied since his first visit ten years earlier, including military barracks, commandant’s residence, lime kilns, blacksmith’s shop, stores, watch house and gaol, and a chaplain’s dwelling.
Old buildings that remain in the town include the 1833 built Tara Hall, 1836 Grove, 1839 Steam Packet Inn, 1846 British Hotel, 1855 replacement Watch House, and 1850’s Ben Hyron’s Cottage and Pier Hotel. The Watch House now operates as a museum housing a model village, female factory display, changing displays and a community history room.
In an early 1825 diary entry by John Helder Wedge, surveyor, he stated “On first coming into sight of it (George Town) I was somewhat pleased at its appearance as it put me in mind of a neat English Village, the first time my eyes had feasted on such a sight since I left England. – Home sweet home, there is no place like home”.
On the recommendation of Commissioner Bigge and on orders from the Government in England, headquarters were moved back to Launceston in 1825 and Launceston had again become the capital of Northern Van Diemen’s Land. George Town (including Low Head), however, remained an important settlement due to it being the port and pilot station. The whaling and sealing industry and the settlement of southern Australia provided much traffic for the port. As small steamers arrived on the river George Town became popular as a holiday resort for Launceston’s wealthier residents.
By 1835 a semaphore system of signals was in operation from Mount George to Mount Direction and thence to Wind Mill Hill in Launceston. A flag system was used to the port offices. 1852 saw the extension of the system to Low Head. This system was replaced by the electric telegraph.
The first attempt to lay the Bass Strait telegraph cable was from Low Head in 1859, but was not really successful until ten years later. The present building on the left just past the Pilot Station was the headquarters of the Cable Company, although the cable actually entered the sea from East Beach. The Cable Company headquarters was later moved to the Esplanade in George Town next door to the manager, William Warren’s house “Fasifern”, which has been restored in keeping with its original style and is presently owned by Mr Moss.
In 1832 the first steamships began trading between George Town and Launceston. In this year, Steam tugs were first used to assist larger vessels up and down the Tamar River.
John Batman sailed from George Town in the sloop “Rebeccah” in 1835, to found what was to become the city of Melbourne. His diaries state that he waited at Wilson’s Inn (The Waterloo Tavern) in Macquarie Street until the weather was calm enough for his little ship to set out across Bass Strait.
Some of the present buildings at the nationally significant Low Head Pilot Station date back to 1835. In Pilot’s Row there is a twelve room Maritime Museum, which is well worth a visit. The station, which was established around 1806, is the oldest continually operating pilot station in Australia. Other historical features in the near vicinity of the Pilot Station are the Lighthouse, Fog Horn, Leading Lights and their associated cottages, Old Cable Station, Church, School and several old boatman’s Cottages. The Coxwain’s Cottage now houses a quaint little café.
On the way out to Low Head is the 1835 built Marion Villa the former holiday residence of James Cox of Clarendon.
The discovery of gold at Nine Mile Springs (Lefroy) and gold and slate at Back Creek gave the George Town area a boost in the late 1800’s. Lefroy was, for many years, a much bigger town reaching a population of around 5000 and was the headquarters of the Municipality for many years.
The 1900’s saw farming and orcharding become important industries in the area and necessitated increased shipping services between George Town and Launceston. Small steam driven vessels navigated the Tamar picking up fruit for overseas ships. The vessels were also of great importance for the holiday travellers to the George Town and Low Head.
The 1950’s saw a major boost to the George Town economy and population with the establishment of the first Aluminium works in Australia and its associated industrial growth. The Temco Ferro Alloy plant followed and since those days several other important industries have chosen to establish themselves in the area. In particular the Port of Bell Bay has developed as the largest port in Tasmania. A gas fired power station and three large timber industries operate and the installation of a natural gas pipeline and electricity cable across Bass Strait has provided a boost to Tasmania.
A wine industry has also developed in the area and together with the growth of industry the George Town Municipality now has around 7,000 inhabitants.
NEWSLETTER Oct 2008
Annual General Meeting
Notice is given that the Annual General Meeting of the George Town and District Historical Society will be held at the Grove, Cimitiere Street, on Monday 20th October at 7.30 PM.
Business:
1. Presentation and adoption of the Annual Report and Financial Statement.
2. Election of Office Bearers.
3. Any other business.
At the conclusion of the meeting our topic for the meeting is Armistice Day, 90 years on. Our guest speaker will be Victor Hinds, from the RSL Club.
Our Biennial Conference
Our 6th Biennial History Conference will be held at the York Cove Centre (formerly the Senior Citizens Clubrooms) on Sunday 9th November at 9.30 a.m. The cost of the conference is $35, which includes lunch and morning and afternoon tea.
Please return your registration slips and $35 to our Treasurer, Chlo Martin, at the Grove, Cimitiere Street, George Town, 7253. Please attend to this soon, as Chlo needs numbers for catering purposes.
Our Christmas Dinner
Our annual Christmas Dinner will be held in the RSL Club on Monday 1st December at 6.30 for 7 p.m. This is a change from the date advertised in previous newsletters. We have arranged a two course meal, with a choice of meat, together with vegetables, for main course and a choice of desserts. The cost will be $23. Please let Peter or Des know if you will be attending.
The Female Factory
.The Theatre graduates from the University of Tasmania will be presenting "The Female Factory", a play by the late Nick Enright. Nick was one of Australia's finest playwrights. Based on the Parramatta Female factory, it has been adapted to be set in Hobart's Female Factory, and it should be of great interest.
It will be presented at the Annexe Theatre, Inveresk on from the 22nd to 25th October, commencing at 7 p.m.
Local Government in George Town
Our September meeting was centred on the centenary of the George Town Council, the first meeting of which took place in January 1908. Our Mayor and Deputy Mayor, Doug Burt and John Widdowson attended our meeting.
Our guest was former councillor Don Mackrill, who had undertaken research to compile a list of George Town Municipality Councillors. Don ranged across many of the issues he had found in the Council minute books, while Peter Cox spoke about the early local boards which were combined to form the George Town Council in 1907.
The first move towards local government occurred in 1827 when Governor Arthur organized the settled areas of Van Diemens land into police districts, under the control of a police magistrate. The purpose of this was to administer justice and control the convict system rather than allow for local communities to participate in the government of the district.
George Town was not formed into a police district until the 1840s, but there were local magistrates. The first was Captain Darcy, who was appointed in 1827. He was followed by John Clark and Matthew Curling Friend, who combined their magisterial duties with their other official posts: Clark was Coast Waiter (Customs Officer) while Friend was the Port Officer. The first Police Magistrate appointed to the town was George Davies in 1839. Their area of judicial responsibility ranged along the entire north coast. The Police District of George Town originally extended from Badger Head to St Helen's Point. As mining developed in the north east, the eastern areas of the district were carved off. By 1880 the district included the townships of Exeter, Sidmouth, Beaconsfield, York Town, Leonardsburgh, George Town, Nine Mile Springs (Lefroy,) Back Creek, Bridport and Lyndhurst (Waterhouse.)
Local government began in Tasmania with the Municipal Act of 1852, which established the Hobart City Council and the Launceston Municipal Council. In 1858 the Tasmanian Parliament passed the Rural Municipalities Act, which allowed the local municipal councils to be established in country districts. In 1860 the Glamorgan Clarence and Spring Bay municipalities were proclaimed. Municipalities quickly followed in the old settled areas of the Midlands, East Coast, and Central North, as well as the rural areas around Hobart. It would be another 50 years before municipal government was extended to the North East, North West, and West Coasts and areas south of Hobart.
Nevertheless, those areas outside the municipalities were assessed for the payment of local rates, and local boards were established to manage their raise funds for local responsibilities.
The 1852 Cross and By Roads Act allowed for the creation of local road trusts to construct, maintain and regulate minor roads in the various districts of Tasmania. That year some 19 road trusts were established. The George Town Road Trust was proclaimed on the 23rd of February 1857. Funds for the development and maintenance of streets and minor roads were obtained by the levying of rates and were administered through the Road Trust. The first record of the trustees elected by the land owners of the road district was in 1862. They were farmer John Effingham Lawrence of Point Effingham, local George Town publicans James Wilson and Benjamin Hyrons, and Thomas Phillips of George Town.
In June 1880 the George Town Road District was split, with the eastern and southern area being formed into the Saltwood Road District. The dividing line ran from Lulworth to the junction of Fourteen Mile Creek and East Arm, which placed Pipers River and Hillwood in the Saltwood District, with Lefroy, George Town and Low Head in the George Town District. The eastern boundary of the Saltwood District was Bridport. The first trustees of the Saltwood Road Trust were L.W. Counsel, T.Newman, J.Bird, C. Adams, C Gillespie, H.Hill and A.W.Brewer. Newman lived on the east Tamar, Brewer at Bridport, and the others were from the Pipers River-Pipers Brook area.
In 1880 the George Town Main Road Board was established under the Main Roads Act of 1880, to maintain main roads in the Road District. It had the power to enter into contracts and employed officers. It was funded by an annual vote of Parliament, based on the average cost per mile of main road. Seventeen such boards were established that year throughout the colony.
The George Town Board of Health was established in 1887 to take measures for the prevention of diseases and epidemics. Its tasks included the inspection and regulation of cemeteries, domestic and public sanitation, drains, abattoirs, stables, pig-keeping, offensive trades, food sales and rubbish removal, as well as the reporting of any infectious diseases. It was established under the Public Health Acts of 1885 and 1887. A Board of Health was also established at Lefroy. The local schoolmasters (James Richardson of George Town and C Miles of Lefroy) were appointed chairmen.
Also established that year was the George Town Board of Advice. It was formed to provide advice on the operations of local schools and other educational matters.
By 1906 there were 366 local bodies in Tasmania, which employed 2102 people. The state's population then was 173,000. There were 21 municipalities, 20 town boards, 102 road trusts, 37 cemetery trusts, 79 a local boards of health, 43 boards of advice, 30 recreation ground trusts, 34 fruit boards, and there were also water trusts.
Within the George Town Municipal District (which had replaced the police district in name) there were the Town Board of Beaconsfield, Road Trusts of George Town, Saltwood and West Tamar, the George Town Fruit District, Cemetery Trusts at Beaconsfield and Lefroy, Licensing Boards at Beaconsfield and George Town, Boards of Health at Beaconsfield, Dalrymple (West Tamar,) George Town and Lefroy, and Boards of Advice at Beaconsfield, George Town and Lefroy.
The Local Government Act of 1906 abolished these boards, passed their functions on to the local municipalities, and extended municipal government all over the state. Some 25 new councils were formed, mainly in the North East, North West, West and Farm South of Tasmania. Elections for the new councils were held in late 1907 and they took over their responsibilities in January 1908.
The George Town Municipality was formed out of the former Road District of George Town and the eastern part of the Road District of Saltwood. The remaining part of Saltwood District became the Pipers River Ward. The old George Town District was divided into the Lefroy and Dalrymple Wards.
Polls held in December 1907 elected the following Councillors: Pipers River Ward - C.Adams, L.Counsell. L.Perry; Lefroy Ward - G.Gilham, J.Conrad, T.Targett; Dalrymple Ward - T.V.Brown, S.Richards, J Anderson. The first meeting was held in January 1908 in the court house at George Town (now the Watch House.) It elected Councillor Adams as the first Warden and voted to hold future meetings at Lefroy. The Council Chambers were also located there, and Lefroy continued to act as the headquarters of the municipality until 1944. The municipality was governed by an elected council until January 1936, when it was replaced by a Commission. This was due to financial difficulties. The council had borrowed £8000 to provide a water supply for the new wharf at Bell Bay. So few ships used the wharf that the council obtained no money from the water and was unable to afford the interest and loan repayments.
A commission ran the George Town Municipality until 1954 when a new council was formed. This followed a referendum of ratepayers on whether the municipality should continue to be run by commission or by a council. The vote was close, and only the Dalrymple Ward voted in favour, but their number was able to overcome the negative vote in the other two wards.
Coming Events
Monday 20th October: Annual General Meeting; Armistice Day - 90 Years On. Annual General Meeting
Wednesday 22nd—Saturday 29th October: The Female Factory, Annexe Theatre, Inveresk, 7 p.m.
Sunday 9th November: 6th Biennial Conference.
Monday 1st December: Christmas Dinner.
George Town and District Historical Society
Chairman: Des Wootton, 310 Low Head Rd, Low Head, 7253. Ph: 6382 4412
Secretary: Peter Cox, 45 Tamar Ave, George Town, 7253. Ph: 0407 204 610
Treasurer: Chlo Martin, The Grove, Cimitiere St, George Town, 7253. Ph: 6382 1336
Email: gtdhs@yahoo.com.au
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