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xenithLet's go back 200 years, to when the British discovered that the southernmost tip of their new southern land is actually an island. In 1803, two parties are sent out to establish settlements. 23 year old Lt Bowen takes his group of marines, convicts and free settlers to the southern part of the island, to a cove on the eastern shore of the Derwent. Lt-Col Collins goes to take control of the strait separating the island and the mainland by establishing a settlement at Port Phillip Bay, where Melbourne now is. The chosen site is not considered suitable though, and so they up and move down to the Derwent. Collins isn't very impressed by Bowen's choice of site either, so he moves them all over to Sullivans Cove on the other shore (and that obviously worked.)
Meanwhile, up north, there is still the worry that the French might settle in Bass Strait.
In May 1804 instructions were received from London that a new settlement should be founded at Port Dalrymple in Van Diemen's Land and that (Lt-Col William) Paterson should be put in charge of it. After an attempt made abortive by bad weather, Paterson sailed from Sydney on 15 October with a detachment of soldiers and seventy-five convicts to found this outpost.*
(From Australian Dictionary of Biography, Online edition)
At first they camped on the eastern side of the river, at Outer Cove, where George Town is today (which is why George Town sometimes claims to be the oldest town in Australia), but shortly after, the settlement moved to the other side of the river and a little town built.
For years, this monument was all there was to mark the site.
On the tall bit at the back, it says:
YORK TOWN
Site of the first permanent settlement in northern Tasmania.
"I have investigated most part of the country in this neighbourhood, and, being still of opinion that the head of the Western Arm is the most eligible situation for permanent residence I have taken the liberty of naming it York Town."
Lieutenant-Governor William Paterson
December 27, 1804
"He laid out a town (now abandoned) named Yorktown; it was discovered that the only recommendation this place possessed was plenty of good water, and very fine timber; it was impossible for shipping to come within six miles of it, and loaded boats only at high water, besides, after heavy rains, the place was a complete swamp. The inconveniences attending this place were so many, that the settlement was a third time removed (1806) to the head of the port, where the No. and So. Esks fall into it, which is now the only place settled. The town is named Launceston."
Lieutenant John Oxley, 1810.
Then a note about the unveiling by the governor in 1954, which I can't quite make out all the letters of.
On the top of the middle stump, there's a map.
A couple of years ago, the site was interpreted, so now there is a walking path, with information panels at various points. (Further quotes are from those panels).
Although there isn't a lot to actually see :)
PATERSON'S GOVERNMENT GARDENS
Situated around a pretty waterfall on York Town Rivulet, Lt. Governor Paterson created a beautiful garden complete with summerhouse, pathways, ornamental plantings and fruit trees, such as apples, plums, figs and peaches. Unfortunately, nothing now remains of these gardens.
Paterson was an avid amateur botanist and kept regular correspondence with Sir Joseph Banks. A small purple flower which is found here was named Patersonia in his honour
There have been some other additions to the site.
Although difficult to imagine now, the area in front of you was once the administrative hub of York Town. Paterson had his cottage here, along with a brick guardhouse and gaol, the military barracks and flagpole.
Capt. Anthony Kemp, second in charge, lived in military officers quarters which were located near here. Beyond lay three rows of weatherboarded huts for the soldiers. This hut has been erected to demonstrate the approximate size of one. In some cases it would have accommodated the soldier's wife and family as well. In 1806 there were 21 free women (wives of military and civil officers) living at the settlement and 33 children.
This pair are behind the cottage. I'm sure they were up to something innocent.
In August 1806, there were 124 male convicts and 11 women convicts at Port Dalrymple (of a total population of 276). The men carried out all the back-breaking labour such as timber-getting and brick making, whilst the women were employed on domestic chores. The convict huts and brick field were situation on low lying land by McMillans Burn (now Masseys Creek), where they could be kept under constant surveillance by the military.
Then back around the edge to the flagpole, and then to the monument and the car park. About a 15-30 easy walk, depending on how long you stop along the way.
(This message brought to you by the Tamar Tourism Promotion Group.)
*Off topic a little but maybe of interest, later in that paragraph it says that Paterson "noted the great outcrop of iron ore near Port Dalrymple, which he reported to King. 'If I had carts', he wrote, 'I could load the whole navy of Great Britain'."
Meanwhile, up north, there is still the worry that the French might settle in Bass Strait.
In May 1804 instructions were received from London that a new settlement should be founded at Port Dalrymple in Van Diemen's Land and that (Lt-Col William) Paterson should be put in charge of it. After an attempt made abortive by bad weather, Paterson sailed from Sydney on 15 October with a detachment of soldiers and seventy-five convicts to found this outpost.*
(From Australian Dictionary of Biography, Online edition)
At first they camped on the eastern side of the river, at Outer Cove, where George Town is today (which is why George Town sometimes claims to be the oldest town in Australia), but shortly after, the settlement moved to the other side of the river and a little town built.
For years, this monument was all there was to mark the site.
On the tall bit at the back, it says:
Site of the first permanent settlement in northern Tasmania.
"I have investigated most part of the country in this neighbourhood, and, being still of opinion that the head of the Western Arm is the most eligible situation for permanent residence I have taken the liberty of naming it York Town."
December 27, 1804
"He laid out a town (now abandoned) named Yorktown; it was discovered that the only recommendation this place possessed was plenty of good water, and very fine timber; it was impossible for shipping to come within six miles of it, and loaded boats only at high water, besides, after heavy rains, the place was a complete swamp. The inconveniences attending this place were so many, that the settlement was a third time removed (1806) to the head of the port, where the No. and So. Esks fall into it, which is now the only place settled. The town is named Launceston."
Then a note about the unveiling by the governor in 1954, which I can't quite make out all the letters of.
On the top of the middle stump, there's a map.
A couple of years ago, the site was interpreted, so now there is a walking path, with information panels at various points. (Further quotes are from those panels).
Although there isn't a lot to actually see :)
Situated around a pretty waterfall on York Town Rivulet, Lt. Governor Paterson created a beautiful garden complete with summerhouse, pathways, ornamental plantings and fruit trees, such as apples, plums, figs and peaches. Unfortunately, nothing now remains of these gardens.
Paterson was an avid amateur botanist and kept regular correspondence with Sir Joseph Banks. A small purple flower which is found here was named Patersonia in his honour
There have been some other additions to the site.
Although difficult to imagine now, the area in front of you was once the administrative hub of York Town. Paterson had his cottage here, along with a brick guardhouse and gaol, the military barracks and flagpole.
Capt. Anthony Kemp, second in charge, lived in military officers quarters which were located near here. Beyond lay three rows of weatherboarded huts for the soldiers. This hut has been erected to demonstrate the approximate size of one. In some cases it would have accommodated the soldier's wife and family as well. In 1806 there were 21 free women (wives of military and civil officers) living at the settlement and 33 children.
This pair are behind the cottage. I'm sure they were up to something innocent.
In August 1806, there were 124 male convicts and 11 women convicts at Port Dalrymple (of a total population of 276). The men carried out all the back-breaking labour such as timber-getting and brick making, whilst the women were employed on domestic chores. The convict huts and brick field were situation on low lying land by McMillans Burn (now Masseys Creek), where they could be kept under constant surveillance by the military.
Then back around the edge to the flagpole, and then to the monument and the car park. About a 15-30 easy walk, depending on how long you stop along the way.
(This message brought to you by the Tamar Tourism Promotion Group.)
*Off topic a little but maybe of interest, later in that paragraph it says that Paterson "noted the great outcrop of iron ore near Port Dalrymple, which he reported to King. 'If I had carts', he wrote, 'I could load the whole navy of Great Britain'."
