Calendar
11 May
Anne McConnell - The history of scenic tourism and recreation on kunanyi/Mt Wellington
8 June
Imogen Wegman - Anything but common: Why Van Diemen’s Land never had commons
13 July
Leigh Woolley - Shaping Hobart: township, scale and proportion. Reviewing the Meehan plan of 1811
10 August
Kristyn Harman - Exploring 1840s New Zealand through Australian convict records
New Members
Gerard Barns, Northcote, Victoria
Ruth Barton, South Hobart
Jacob Batt, Moonah
Robert Clark, Sandy Bay
Margaret Dalkin, Battery Point
Jane Long, Mt Nelson
Alan Milne, Sandy Bay
Anthony Page, Sandy Bay
Lyell Wilson, Lenah Valley
Excursion
15 May - Wellington Park Scenic Tourism Heritage
Following her talk on 11 May, Anne McConnell will guide us on an excursion of the Springs, Mount
Wellington on 15 May. Please note that the excursion will be cancelled should the weather be unsuitable.
We meet at 10.00 a.m. to 12.00 noon for a short distance easy walking tour exploring the history of scenic
tourism through the heritage sites at the Springs. This will not require any long distance walking, only a small
amount of climbing/descent (from the Lower Springs to Upper Springs and return), which will be on well
made paths. Limit 20 participants. Lunch will be from 12.00 noon to 1.00 p.m. at the Springs so please
bring your lunch or buy something at the Lost Freight Café at the Springs.
From 1.00 p.m. to 3.30 p.m. a longer walking tour will start from the Springs out to the Junction Cabin area
and back using the Lenah Valley Track, Shoobridge Track and Sawmill Track, experiencing early 1800s to
Depression period tracks and visiting a selection of historic huts. This will involve c.7kms of walking,
including some steep up and down sections, suitable for fit to moderately fit walkers. Limit 12 participants.
Please bring comfortable walking shoes and wet weather gear (there is limited shelter if it rains). For those
doing the afternoon part of the excursion, please also bring water. Bookings are essential as numbers are
limited. Book asap with Ian Terry (ph: 62349979; email: ianterry@netspace.net.au).
Suscription reminder
If you have not yet paid your subscription, this will be your last copy of P&P. You can pay either by direct
deposit to our bank account:
Westpac
BSB. 037010
Account. 197838
Be sure to identify your payment with your name and-or membership number.
Or by cheque to
PO Box 441
Sandy Bay 7006
New THRA Website
The promised new simplified THRA website is very close to going live. One of its features is to make
subscription payments easier. Stay tuned!
Papers & Proceedings, Volume 68, Number 1
Our most recent issue of Papers and Proceedings has the theme of epidemics in Tasmania (thanks for
suggesting it, Rosemary Sharples). The issue takes readers from ways of dealing with a diseased ship in
1837, through to epidemics in King Island and Hobart (treated at Vaucluse Hospital), with an excursion to the
Court of Medical Examiners, rounded off by a review of a Canadian book concerning quarantine. Other
reviews and a fascinating article about Tasmania’s first newspaper round off an excellent issue.
Suggestions for thematic issues are always welcome, as are papers (any length to 8000 words), letters and
ideas for book reviews.
Invitation to Alison Alexander's book launch - 18 April
All THRA members are invited to the launch of Alison Alexander's new book A salute to Max Angus,
Tasmanian painter. The launch will be at the Lady Franklin Gallery, 268 Lenah Valley Road, on Sunday 18
April at 2.00 p.m. Christine Milne is launching this biography, which celebrates Max as both artist and
environmentalist.
Invitation to Malcolm Ward's book launch - 18 May
The launch of Malcolm Ward’s book Love, passion and cruelty in Van Diemen’s Land. George Meredith’s
love letters to his wife 1823-1836 will be performed by the Governor of Tasmania at the Salamanca Arts
Centre on Tuesday, 18 May, from 10:45am.
THRA members are welcome to attend, but as it is an invitation event, please contact Malcolm
at vandemonianhistory@gmail.com to receive an invitation. The book is a collection of East Coast settler
George Meredith’s loving, erotic and critical letters to his wife who ran his isolated farm during his frequent
absences.