Author Archives: dashea2014
Lieutenant Governor Sorell revives interest in Public Education
Within months of his arrival in Hobart Town in 1817, Lieutenant Governor William Sorell set about improving the overall status of education in the colony. At that time, no government educational institutions existed though there were a few private schools … Continue reading
Early Moves towards Government Support
From the mid-18th century, politicians and reformers were starting to look at ways of broadening access to education to include all levels of society. Derek Gillard’s Education in England: a History Chapter 5 provides a useful timeline, and list of … Continue reading
Posted in Education, Van Diemen's Land
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Sir John Franklin – Explorer
Sir John Franklin was the fifth lieutenant governor of Van Diemen’s Land, replacing Sir George Arthur who had administered the Colony for twelve years from 1824 to 1836. Arthur had no doubts about the nature of his responsibilities: first and … Continue reading
Posted in Explorers, Governors, Van Diemen's Land
Tagged Arctic exploration, john Franklin, Lady Franklin, Thomas Burnett
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Address of Sir John Franklin to Legislative Council 1837
On Friday 14th July 1837, the Hobart Town Courier reported on the first meeting of the Legislative Council that had taken place in Hobart four days earlier. At 1 o’clock the Lieutenant Governor, Sir John Franklin, took the Chair and … Continue reading
Posted in Governors, Tasmanian legislation, Van Diemen's Land, VDL Statutes
Tagged john Franklin, Legislative Council
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Changing the Guard
When Sir John Franklin arrived in Van Diemen’s Land to take up the position of Lieutenant Governor in January 1837, the shadow of twelve year’s autocratic rule by Sir George Arthur loomed ominously over the future administration of the Island. … Continue reading
Posted in Governors, Tasmanian legislation, VDL Statutes
Tagged George Arthur, john Franklin
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Proclamation 5 January 1837
Three days before the departure of Lieutenant Governor Arthur from Hobart on 31 October 1836, Lieutenant-Colonel Kenneth Snodgrass arrived from Sydney to take up the position of interim acting lieutenant governor until the arrival of Sir John Franklin. He was … Continue reading
Posted in Proclamations, Tasmanian legislation
Tagged Kenneth Snodgrass, Presbyterian Church
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English Maritime Explorers
Captain James Cook Captain James Cook undertook three Pacific voyages during his service with the Royal Navy. The first voyage was a joint venture between the Royal Society and the Admiralty, and its stated aim was to expand the scientific … Continue reading
The legal system 1803-1832
Colonial Office Instructions on treatment of natives From 1788, when the First Fleet arrived in Port Jackson to set up a penal colony for convicts sentenced to transportation, governors and lieutenant governors had quite specific instructions on how they were … Continue reading
Posted in Aboriginals, Van Diemen's Land
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Martial Law – Van Diemen’s Land 1828-1832
Background Colonial correspondence from the Colonial Office to the first four Lieutenant Governors in Van Diemen’s Land (Collins, Davey, Sorell and Arthur) stressed the need to conciliate with the native population of Van Diemen’s Land. A letter to Collins stated … Continue reading
Posted in Martial Law, Tasmanian legislation
Tagged Black Line, George Robinson, terra nullius
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May 1824 – December 1825
Prior to Arthur being appointed as Lieutenant Governor of Van Diemen’s Land in 1823, he had been Superintendent and Commandant in British Honduras for around eight years. Throughout his time in Honduras the territory was under the vice-regency of the … Continue reading
Loose Connections 