Category Archives: Tasmanian legislation
Financing Van Diemen’s Land
Following the American War of Independence in 1783, the UK government could no longer send convicts to America. It was now faced with the problem of finding another overseas destination for the ever-increasing numbers of prisoners in its overcrowded gaols … Continue reading
Posted in Tasmanian legislation, VDL Statutes
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Bushrangers – 1815
While Lieutenant Governor George Arthur has the dubious reputation for engaging in the longest period of martial law in Australia, from late 1828 to the end of 1831, this was not the first instance of the Island being subjected to … Continue reading
Posted in Archiving Project, Martial Law, Tasmanian legislation
Tagged Lachlan Macquarie, Thomas Davey
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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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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
June-October 1837
From 1826 to 1948 regnal years were used as part of the numbering system for Van Diemen’s Land/Tasmanian Statutes. A regnal year is a year of the reign of an English sovereign, with the first day of the first year … Continue reading
Statutes for the years 1832-1836
In 1832 Lieutenant Governor Arthur was finally able to begin sorting out problems relating to land grants in the Colony. Alfred Stephen had first questioned the validity of land titles in 1828 pointing out that all grants in New South … Continue reading
Posted in Tasmanian legislation, VDL Statutes
Tagged Land grants, Postal service, Public works
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Loose Connections 