The pre-colonial period began when, on the 24th of Novemeber, 1642, Tasmania was first seen by European eyes. This sighting was made by a crewman who was part of Abel Tasman's expidition to explore the 'great southern land'. Abel Tasman was comissioned by Anthonie Van Diemen, Governor General of the Dutch East India company in Batavia (now called "Jakarta") to explore this land so that an alternative route to the pacific ocean may be found. The land sighted, was the rugged highlands of Western Tasmania. Two mountains were sighted and dutifully named after the ships that made up the expidition, the Zeehan (mount Zeehan) and the Heemskerck (Mount Heemskirk). The island was named "Van Diemens Land" after the aforementioned Governor General. The expidition followed the coast around the south of the island, ships were sent out to gather supplies and expliore the island. Towards the end of their Tasmanian exploration, an eighteen man party was sent out on the second of December to explore Blackman Bay (not to be confused with Blackmans Bay, named after John Blackman). No Aboriginals were sighted, however signs of intelligent life were. The party returned however it was realised the formal posession had not been taken of the island. Carpenter Pieter Jacobsz, along with a small crew were sent out to take formal possession of the island by placing a flag. Jacobsz was forsed to swim from the long boat to the shore as a result of the high surf. The Zeehan and Heemskerck then continued to New Zealand. Van Diemens Land was next seen by European eyes in 1772.
In 1772, not far from where Abel Tasman dropped anchor at Blackman Bay, Marc-Joseph Marion Dufrense, in the Marquis, dropped anchor on the 6th of March at North Bay. On the 7th, two long boats were sent out to explore the near-by beach whilst Dufrense and du Clesmere took a Yawl to the centre of the beach. It was at this beach that the first contact between Aboriginal Tasmanians and Europeans took place. It all started well, however, before the second longboat landed, the Aboriginals turned on the French. Spears and stones were cast towards the French, Dufrense and du Clesmere were hit. The Frenchmen fired a volley in the air before retreating to their boats. The Aboriginals made chase, two volleys were fired in response, this time towards the hostile natives. One Aboriginal was killed. The French would go on to discover Maria Island and rediscover Blackman Bay. On the 10th of March, the Frenchmen would leave for New Zealand where Dufrense would meet his demise.
The first time the British saw Van Diemen's Land was just a year to the day later than the French did. Tobias Furneux and the crew of the ship 'Adventure' anchored in Adventure Bay, after becoming seperated from Captain James Cook and his crew aborad the Resolution, whilst taking part in his second great voyage. Cook had been forced to New Zealand by high winds. Tobias Furneux saided on, along the east coast, discovering the Furneux island group.
During this period many expiditions were made to Tasmania, all of them very commendable and important.
Captain James Cooks later expidition to Tasmania in 1777 on his third voyage. William Bligh who came to Tasmania twice: first as a lieutenant aborad HMS Bounty in 1788, then again as a captain aboard the HMS Providence in 1792. Admiral Bruni D'Entrecasteux, who also arrived and then returned, first in 1792 and then again 1793 when he discovered the Derwent River (then called the Riviere du Nord). Of course there was George Bass and Matthew Flinders from 1798-1799, who circumnavigated Tasmania in the sloop 'Norfolk', proving that Tasmania was an island rather than a peninsula. Crucially and most recent to this time (in 1802), there was the French Captain Baudin, with the ships 'Geographe' and 'Naturaliste', who explored much of the south-east coast and explored the Derwent as far up as where Bridgewater now currently stands, these ships would there-after continue to Port Jackson and then Sydeny.
In 1803, the Colonial Period began. This is when our civilisation began, the dawn of a new era for Van Diemens Land.
Colonial period (1803-1899)
In November 1802, after a lengthy stay with good relations with the locals of Sydney, the French ships 'Geographe' and 'Naturaliste' departed on their way back to Van Diemens Land. After Governor Philip Gidley King, Governor of New South Wales, heard the rumours spreading around the colony that the French aimed to claim Van Diemen's Land for their own. King sought out his deputy, Lieutenant-Colonel William Patterson, for information. Patterson informed him that the rumours seemed true and that he had been told by a Frenchman that they would attempt to settle in Port Cygnet. Governor King was forced to act upon these rumours to assert His Majesty's claim to the region. Five days after the departure of the 'Geographe' and the 'Naturaliste', the 'Cumberland', carrying sixteen people (notably including the later important, but currently convict assistant, James Meehan), comanded by Charles Robbins, set sail in pursuit of the French vessels with the aim of asserting their claim to the land. After sixteen days, the 'Cumberland' dropped anchor next to the French vessels at Sea Elephant Bay, King Island. What followed could be described as rather strange. A boat carrying Robbins and Charles Grimes (acting surveyor general) departed from the 'Cumberland' and approached the 'Geographe', the 'Naturaliste' left a day later, the two were then invited into Baudin's cabbin. Robbins presented Baudin with the letter asserting their claim to the land, before the two returned to their party and went ashore to begin surveying the land. The next day, Robbins and Grimes dined with Baudin once more in his cabbin aborard the 'Geographe', where they explained that in their haste to depart, neither a flag nor gunpowder had been packed, the French provided them with the materials to make a flag and some gunpowder. Four days later Robbins and a small party would take claim to Van Diemens Land by hoisting the flag of the empire on a tree, firing a volley in the air, and giving cheers. Van Diemens Land now belonged to the British. This all took place at the rear of a French camp. (author's note: As much as I appreciate the British Empire and it's efforts for us, it's legacy, this was an embarrassing display and I do not take joy in writing this section). A sentry was left to guard the flag.
The 'Geographe' departed on the 27th of December.
In March of 1803, the convict ship 'HMS Glatton' arrived in Sydney carrying Lieutenant John Bowen and Jacob Mountgarrett (Surgeon), having taking a liking to the young Bowen, Governor King appointed Bowen commandant of the yet-to-be established settlement on the Derwent River. In August of that same year the 'Lady Nelson' and 'Albion' sailed for the Derwent with the instruction to form a settlement at the best possible location. Risdon Cove was recommended by King, and ultimately chosen by Bowen. This later proved to be a grave error on both Governor King's and Lieutenant Bowen's part, during the dryer month water was scarce and the bay was shallow.
On the 8th of September 1803, the ship 'Lady Nelson' anchored, days later on the 12th of September the 'Albion' (carrying Lt John Bowen) anchored. The following day a location for the settlement was chosen: the grassy pains above the cove. Then came the process of unloading the passengers and the cargo from both the 'Lady Nelson' and the 'Albion.' Whilst there were already men onshore to keep guard, the ladies were escorted to the shore on the 13th, with Martha Hayes (John Bowen's mistress) becoming the first white woman in Tasmania. The small band of settlers, convicts, and soldiers made quick progress establishing the settlement: huts were made from felled trees and the first of the permenant structures, the storehouse, was built. Bowen was set up with his tent, later his hut, and then the first of the Government Houses in Tasmania, overlooking the settlement with a view of the river. The settlement at Risdon Cove was officially dubbed "Hobart" (named after Lord Hobart, secretary of War and the Colonies). Bowen found pleasure in exploring the surrounding area, exploring as far south as the Huon river, and convict surveyor James Meehan (aforementioned) made good work of surveying much of the land surrounding the settlement.
Alas, almost from the start, there were clashes between the young naval officer that was Bowen, the soldiers of the NSW Corps, and Lieutenant Moore of the NSW Corps. News of the renewed war with France reached the small settlement via the 'Ferret', a whaling ship from England, on the 2nd of Janaurary 1804. This news, and the difficulties of the colony, moved Bowen to return to Sydney to resign his command and join the war against the French. On the 9th, Bowen handed over his order book to Moore. Coincidentally it was during this time that the ill-fated colony of Port Phillip, under the command of Lieutenant-Governor David Collins, was abandond (later to be resettled by Tasmanian pioneers and called Melbourne). Initially intending to settle the North of the island, assuming command from Bowen (as given permission by Governor King) was chosen as the best option for the people under his care. Collins arrived on the 11th of Feburary 1804 and after an inspection of the settlement, opted to move the settlement to the site at which our capital currently sits, Sullivans Cove. This was, in part, due to the poor access to drinking water. Bowen returned to Risdon only to find that his colony was to be moved to Sullivans Cove. Aghast at this news, Bowen refued to acknowledge Collins' authority and for a time there were two settlements on the Derwent.
On the 3rd of May 1804, at aproximately 11am, a group of Aboriginals attacked (or were attacked by) settlers from the soon to be abandond town.
According to the official story of the time; a group of aproximately 300 Aboriginals approached the settlement and attacked one of the settlers, Birt. Soldiers were sent to Birt's farm, and along the way encountered a group of Aboriginals, the Aboriginals were fired upon. With the settlement surrounded, a carronade (smooth-bore, short barreled, naval cannon in the colony for the sake of crowd control) was fired at 2pm, dispersing the remaining Aboriginals. Moore claimed at the time that two or three were killed in the incident. This was the first of the incidents that began the so called "Black War" as Aboriginals later made supposed revenge killings against settlers. This was not the first incident of European-Aboriginal conflict - with the attack on Dufrense's party being the first and indeed, Aboriginals had attacked James Meehan and his party during one of his surveying expeditions. Eventually, in part due to the incident on the 3rd of May, the settlement became abandond. It is important to note that neither Bowen nor Collins were present for this incident.
[to be continued]
The late Reg Watson (rest in peace) has good writings which can be found here:
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