Chronicles

The Chronicles

The Tasman Peninsula Chronicle records the research, memories and stories of past and present residents, visitors and supporters. Chronicles are published infrequently and are available for purchase, including most back issues. These may be ordered from the Distribution Officer at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Prices vary between $5-$20 and are subject to postage and handling.

 

Chronicles Contents

Chronicle 1 (September 1986)

Steamer day at Lottah – James Noye of the Wedge Bay Crew and the Tamar Regatta tragedy of 1889 – Early Settlers : William, George and Edgar Spaulding – Saltworks Long Bay – Hedley Bellette remembers – Koonya recalled : memories of Alf (Alfred) Clark – Palmers Lookout : James, John and Joseph Palmer woodcutters from King George Sound (Murdunna) – School concert Long Bay 1891 – Hobart-Port Arthur tourist trips circa 1914 – Diary of Harold Rumney of Lottah, 1904 – WWI and Tasman Peninsula : memorials and rolls of honour, killed in action list with brief biographical notes.

Chronicle 2 (March 1987)

Taranna Lodge memories : the Price family and the Taranna Post Office - Early Settlers : the Noye family – Schoolboy tourist to Port Arthur 1889 : the letters of Percy Shearn – Archibald Blackwood – Diary of George Clarke – Mrs Eva Spalding – Safety Cove in the 1930s : Briggs family – 70 birds of Tasman Peninsula.

Chronicle 3 (December 1987)

Lottah : the Clarke family – Adamsfield : Alec Kingston remembers the osmiridium miners from the peninsula : Alec, Viv and Athol Kingston, George, Eric and Harold Hansen, Jack Noye, A. J. Stacey, C.B. Stacey, R.T. Kingston, Leigh Kingston, Bill Batchelor, Alf Clarke. – Adamsfield : Joan Mundy’s story – Early days at Roaring Beach : the family story of Robert and Cora Stacey – Bush Nurse : the story of Mrs Clarice Clark (nee Mainwaring), Koonya Hospital – The Greatbatch family : of Forcett and Wedge Bay (Nubeena) – Wedge Bay Farm Diary : extracts from the Greatbatch farm diary – Rev Richard Crocker – The Gazelle : a Nubeena trading ketch owned by Edgar, George and Marcus Spaulding.

Chronicle 4 (November 1988)

The History of Nubeena school – Homelea, Rowella : the retreat of Alexander North of Homelea and Ravensbourne, Koonya – Nubeena sale Day c. 1937 – Early settler : Moses John Clark – Owen Reid’s memories of Nubeena State School (1947-1952) – Eagle Hawk Neck : Prison or pleasure – George How Wellard : pioneer days at Long Bay (Oakwood) – Letters from Lufra c.1900 : an account of the voyage from Hobart and a stay at Lufra House – The Children of axe and billy can : the Monks, Rileys and Palmers of Bream Creek, King George Sounds (Murdunna), Safety Cove and Palmer’s Lookout – An unreliable ferry : Mrs George Clarke is stranded at Salt Water River by the steamer Koonya – The Nuroos of Lufra.

Chronicle 5 (March 1990)

Sister Barnicoat : the Peninsula’s friend (nee Harriet Badham) – Tough times at Pootark : Tunnel Bay, Stormlea and Highcroft as told by Brightie and Syd Spaulding  -  Daisy Dyson : the bicycling headmistress of Tunnel Bay School – Agnes Susan Benjafield (Hansen) : no desire to return to the ‘hard days’ – Mont Smith : Tunnel Bay settler, philosopher and poet – The Kaye family at Nubeena – Washing day : the major weekly event – Saltwater Settlement – Saltwater River memories : Rabbit and possum skins made coats as told by Ethel Wiggins nee Wakeling – 100 years ago : Tasman’s Peninsula in 1889 – Carnarvon Cemetery 1877-19–  –  Carnarvon tourism 1880-1927 – Tasman’s peninsula : Mr Surveyor Blackwood’s report 1873 – An early glimpse of Wedge Bay.

Chronicle 6 (September 1991)

Filming For the Term of his Natural Life – Arthur Dart : a salesman of the 1920s – Koonya recollections – Reverend John Bufton : bush parson of Bream Creek, Carlton, Dunalley and Tasman Peninsula – School days at Port Arthur – Cherry Wine : a story of Nicholas How Wellard and Alfred Plummer – Carnarvon visitors – The Impact of the Norfolk Islanders.

Chronicle 7 (February 1995)

The Tatnell twins : Dudley and Frank – William Coventry – The Hawtrees of Highcroft as told by Lucie and Ossie – “No more scones…”: Ethel Robinson’s (nee Banks) childhood memories of Oakwood and Port Arthur – Some Peninsula Post Offices of the past : Premaydena, Koonya, Oakwood, Radnor, Gwandalan, Pootark/Stormlea, Eaglehawk Neck and Taranna – Methvens of Radnor – Life on a Koonya dairy farm : the family of Frank and Florence Brown (nee Banks) 1904-1924 – Tasman Municipal Council, includes lists of Councillors, Council Clerks and Wardens.

Chronicle 8 (April 1998)

Burden and Garnett families : settlers of Slopen Main and Saltwater River narrated by Gertie (Gertrude) Garnett nee Burden – Black Friday : the Port Arthur bushfires of December 1897, with notes on the 1895 fire at Carnarvon – Memories of Snake Gully (Newman’s Creek) told by Ina Harwood – A Varied existence : the life of Elvie Burden of Koonya – Wedge Garden : Dr Benjafield’s association with the Peninsula – Carl Hansen : a Norwegian migrant – Robert George Hamilton of Oakwood : Tasman Councillor and Treasurer – Monk of Monk Bay (Limestone Bay) – The Port Arthur run : Frank Duggan’s memories of Connolly’s mail run from Bellerive to Port Arthur. 

Chronicle 9 (November 1999)

Tunnel Bay : recollections of Lloyd Spaulding – Charles Rogers of Oakwood – Recollections of Slopen Main and Saltwater River : by Mr Max J. Ridler – Batchelors of Nubeena – Jim Badham’s story – Sarah and Harry : the Danker story – William and Maude Christian of Nubeena – Esterbrook : Parker’s Beach Road – Picnic at Slopen Beach, 1922 – Picnic at Gwandalan – Extract from Marie Copping’s journal : memories of a Koonya postmistress.

Chronicle 10 (October 2001)

Recollections of Dolly Peace – The Jenkins family and their ties with the Peninsula – McClay family of Premaydena : memories of Genevieve and Valma – Against all odds : Sydney James Anderson – Recollections of Eagle Hawk Neck : Vi Johnson (nee Alomes) recalls her school days – Memories of Eagle Hawk Neck – Nubeena people : William and Susan Nichols – Oakwood identities : Liddington, Liddall, Boden and Seaborne families – George and Mary : the Burrells of Taranna – Extract from Mrs Copping’s Journal : Doddridge’s Road – Joseph McGinniss : a pioneer settler of Port Arthur.

Chronicle 11 (May 2003)

Ruth Turvey : Land girl (WWII) – Fruit industry : Tasman Peninsula (free settlers, orchards and orcharding, Benjafield, pears, Gazelle, Foam, SMHT) – The Bridge family Inez Storm Bay – Miss Mary Clarke – Robinsons of Highcroft – Cecil the sawmiller (Robinson and Leah) – The Alberrys of Port Arthur – An early resident of Nubeena : Mr Wiliam James Tompkinson.

Chronicle 12 (October 2006)

High Flyer (Frances Hyatt Jackson) – Tasman Peninsula’s First Farmer (Gellibrand) – We have another one (Doug Free Polio) – Koonya School – Letter from Kate Clark – Monica Robinson – The Family at East Bay Neck (Spotswood) – Syd’s early days (Spaulding Tunnel Bay) – Life and times of Harold C Smith – Leisure activities (Saltwater River, Koonya and Eaglehawk Neck Halls) – Sheds and industry (Hardwick’s Glenila Noye’s apple shed) – History n the making (TPHS) – Coppings corner (Koonya shops and post office) – Journey to the New World : part of the Batchelor story – Taviuni.

Chronicle 13 (November 2007)

The day the clock stopped : bushfires at Tasma Vale – From Cornwall to Koonya : a doctor’s seachange (Dr Houston) – From Nubeena to New Town : childhood reminiscences of Jim Bridge – Diggers : the story of the Peninsula RSL – Foes who became friends (Italian POWs) – Willie (Cocky) Franks : a Port Arthur character – Alfred Batchelor : another branch of the Batchelor family – More Batchelor memories : Tasman Peninsula descendents – Kingsley Juan Clark OAM : a Nubeena stalwart – Recollections of Oakwood : fish, spuds and a frying pan – The Syd Rogers story : more descendents of Charles Rogers – A Spoonful of osmiridium : the Adamsfield story – An old boat dreams : living and working at Walker’s Creek (Alf Bern Cuthbertson, Weerutta, Bill Ritchie, Bill Wisby) – We’ve lived a good life : 54 years on the peninsula (Shoobridge, Lottah) – Good for another 150 years : Rotten Row – Cracking Hardy : the life of Mervyn Roy Hardy. 

Chronicle 14 (October 2009)

A Family of Fishermen (Johnson) – From Brownie to Bolex (Hallam) – Koonya postcards (Price, cartel, Taranna Lodge) – Heywards of Koonya – Eric John Richard Heyward : our man in the United Nations – When apples were apples (Noye, Badham, Benjafield, Hansen) – Tasman trucking : stories of the Wade and Skeggs families - …and the chips fly (wood chopping) – Fairholme : the Clark family of Premaydena – Belmont Moses Clark – Church of Christ – In service for all : a history of the Tasman ex-servicemen’s and women’s association.

Chronicle 15 (December 2011)

Peninsula Passion – Footy (Tasman Football Association) – Dilemma for council (typhoid, tuberculosis, James Edward Richardson) – Premaydena Point and the immigrants of the Persian – Carnarvon’s early years : from prison to township – Wet shells in my pockets (Heather Henri, Eaglehawk Neck, Spencer Jessie Harrison, St Georges, Christian Bjelke-Petersen) Eaglehawk Neck School – Connolly’s bus service – Crime of Charlotte Noy – Christian’s Cottage – Tales from Oakwood – We made do all right (Wenck) – Tea and biscuits (Fred Win Rogers Shoobridge) – Commercial travellers – Saltwater River immigrants (Jacob Burden letter from Fw Moore) – Always a story to tell (Briggs family) – Going to work in a basket (Tasman Island, Gatenby) – Annie Lawless/Seabourne.

Chronicle 16 (November 2013)

Apples ain’t always apples (George Garnett, honour rolls, Kingsley Clark, plaster fruit) – Koonya-Newman’s Creek School – Sawmiller, engineer, inventor. Poet (Laurie Tatnell) – Bulldozer (John Price, Shoobridge, Snowy Smith, Brian Noye) – The Ingenuity of Harold (Harold Smith) – Chance of a lifetime (neil Beverley Cooper, Hazeldene, Lions Club) – A Resourceful woman (T P (Zenia) Jenkins – Life wasn’t meant to be easy (Viv Kingston, Newman’s Creek, Adamsfield, goldmining, ticket of leave men) – A magical playground : memories of Port Arthur 1954-1963 (Mary Troman Briggs) McCormicks Travelling Dairy – Koonya School reunion (Mary Kingston) -  Adventurer of land, sea and air (Bruce Stanley Heyward, Taviuni) – Bark canoes and cormorants  (Wisby, Canoe Bay) – Thomas Locke, champion stump puller – Your shed’s burnt down! (Ken & Murray Macdonald, Glenila, Rannoch quail) – Happy 60th Tasman Area/Tasman District High/Tasman District School - …and wherever is Koonya? (Norma Campbell, Christopher Chris bush nursing) – The Clan of the Campbells – Old oak trees at Koonya (Don Clark) – Cascade Power – Tribute to Maurice Hallam. 

Chronicle 17 (April 2015)

Peter Richard Shoobridge – Lottah – Harold Rumney – Vernon Alfred Charles Batchelor – In the thick of it (Local Heroes, Tasman ex-serviceman’s club) – A legacy of rare quality (George Garnett, Honour Rolls) – A married man should go if he can (Alfred Robert Cahill) – Thirty nine men from Carnarvon ( Francis St Elmo Alberry, Gordon Blackwood, A O Woods) – The war’s over boy (ANZAC, Roy Shoobridge) – Last seen at the Nek (Leonard Hawkins) – A Most interesting man (John Wade, wade family) – Connollys and cars – Fabulous Fazackerleys – Little boy lost (Jack Glover) – W T Ball and the Tadpole (William Ball)  - Nubeena and Democrat apples – Re-visiting Oakwood – Old man and the sea (Parker family) – Revisiting a 19th century list (birdwatching, McClymont) – Flights of Fancy (Hairstreak Butterfly) – Who put the Doo in Doo Town. 

Chronicle 18 (November 2016)

The war years – Eric J. M. Price – Soldier – “We are having a busy time of it” : the war letters of Eric Benjafield. – Women on the land and the CWA in WWII – Alfred Cahill – Sydney Thomas Locke – Paul Allen – “Regret to inform you…” – Fundraising for the war effort – Women’s war work (Xenia Jenkins, Lillian Clark) – Ruth Turvey (CWA and the Women’s Land Army) – Living off the land : tear up your ration books… - Sawmill industry – Apple industry – Voluntary Defence Corp – Kate Clarke – Italian prisoners of war – Peace celebrations – Francis Henry Wade, Susannah Wade – Back on the farm : james Allen, Jabez Batchelor, Eric benjafield, Frank fazackerley – Hughie (Hugh Tasman Lord), William Thornton, Harold Lorkin – Frank Alberry – Harry Shreeve – Bert Spaulding – Augustus Oliver Woods – George Lipscombe – William, John Davis (Jack), Robert Ernest (Bob), Thomas Albert, Arthur James, Thomas Arthur Stacey, John West) – William, Charles Horace, Edward Charles, Frederick Clayton – Harold Lewis and Leonard Keith Booth – Arthur Edward, Robert William Dean – Thomas Allwright Jr. – Nurses : Violet Jenkins and Ida McGuinness – Eric Price – Basil Bourne – Eric Benjafield – Thomas Keith Blackwood – Honour Roll 1914-1918 – L J Peace’s general store, Koonya (Lionel (Leo) and Sophie Peace) – In his own words : Allen Briggs talks to Maurice Hallam – Tony Weldon remembers – Our golden wedding (Dorothy Hallam). – AIF Avenue Memorial.  

Chronicle 19 (April 2019)

Cripps Creek Bridge – Convict Cripps (extract from the Convict Trail) – Maude Poynter Pottery at Port Arthur – David Irvine Kingston – Eaglehawk Neck Trail (Community Hall, Lufra, School, Harrison’s, Mulcahy’s, Youth Hostel, Pendennis and Samuel Clemes, Penzance, Fairfield, Officer’s quarters, Martin Cash, Lufra House and Hotel, Clyde Island, 8 Old Jetty Road, Dorman’s, Fish factory. – Bourne girls (Basil Wood Bourne, Stalmine). – Creese’s mistake – Tillingbourne : unsuitable for agricultural purposes –Verdict (Hotel Arthur fire, Lindsay Leo Kerslake) -  In his own words : Allen Briggs (Point Puer, Palmers, Joe Palmer, Council, farming. – Charles Foster : local trooper, Impression Bay – Teacher, ornithologist and author : Jane Ada Fletcher 1870-1956 – E A Cooper and Son, butchers – A Promising career that never came to fruition – Swallows fly north  : a Tasmanian tale by Al McKay. 

Chronicle 20 (December 2020)

Superintendent’s House : the history of Spreydon, Saltwater River – Blink Bonny  – Constable’s house at Oakwood – St Alban’s Church – Lottah – White Beach memories – Oakleigh (Jetty Road, Eaglehawk Neck) – Pendennis (Clemes, Eaglehawk Neck) – Ormiston – Molly’s manor – Polruan (Leo Peace, Val Hawkes, Hawkesworth) – Tatnell House, Taranna – Hansen house – There’s always hope (George Kingston, Hope Banks, Hope Villa) – Why and what is Koonya – Pat Jones cottage, Port Arthur – Toora (Margaret Scott).