Bruny Island: An Overview

Bruny Island is a beautiful place and it has quite a lot of significance in Tasmania's history. 

Captain Cook landed on it at Adventure Bay, on the east side of South Bruny. Lots of other explorers also visited (or at least tried to) Adventure Bay: Abel Tasman, Tobias Furneaux  (who named it) and William Bligh.

A globe at Adventure Bay.

 

The island itself and the channel of water between it and mainland Tasmania are named after a French explorer, Bruni d'Entrecasteaux. The channel is called the D'Entrecastreaux Channel.


Truganini, the most famous of all the Tasmanian Aborigines, came from a tribe which lived on Bruny. 

At the south end of Adventure Bay. The water was beautiful but FREEZING!

 

Bruny Island is made up of a north island and a south island, which are joined together with a narrow isthmus, called "The Neck". So original! North Bruny is less than half the size of South Bruny. Here's a map so you can take a look. On it you can also see Captain Cook's landing place.

An artistic shot of the lighthouse... the person in the front seat was trying to ruin the photo but I love how it turned out.

On Cape Bruny, which is way down south, is a very old lighthouse: The Cape Bruny Lighthouse. It was built in 1838. When it was first in use, there were no roads on the island. To get supplies to the lighthouse boats would land at Jetty Beach (now a camping site in Great Taylor's Bay - look for the green 11 on the map). Supplies were then carried overland to the lighthouse on a track that became the first road on Bruny. Now, it is probably the bumpiest!

The lighthouse is no longer in service, but it remains a popular tourist attraction, which is understandable because it really is a gorgeous lighthouse in a stunning location. 

Tas Lit Tues: You've Got Buckley's

Today's spotlight isn't quite on Tasmanian Literature, but it is on something that has passed into popular expression, so I think it counts!

On Sandy Bay Road, just where Battery Point turns into Sandy Bay, is a little triangle of green.

See the sign? That explains the story behind the popular saying "You've got Buckley's", or "Buckley's chance".

Here is what the sign says:

Buckley's Rest

This reserve takes its name from William Buckley, who escaped from the convict camp at Port Phillip in November 1803, lived with indigenous inhabitants for 32 years. His remarkable story of survival is said to be the basis of the colloquial expression "Buckley's chance". He spent his later years living in Arthur Circus, Battery Point. Following his death in 1856 he was buried in St George's Burial Ground (est.1841) which was located to the rear of this small reserve.

So there you go! When you tell someone they've got Buckley's, your NOT telling them that they have absolutely no chance of succeeding/surviving/getting something/whatever, but that they have a good chance of soon having a fantastic story to tell!

Saint Davids Park III

You've seen the entrance and found out it is a cemetery. Now it's time for some pretty pictures!

The main walkway through the park. The trees make a shady tunnel to walk under.

In the shade of the trees are many plants, though not many of them are flowering at the moment. These Hydrangeas are one of the few plants curently in flower.

These steps connect the park with the memorial walls (see yesterdays post).

Stone, sunshine and flowers. I love this photograph.

For me, Hobarts most attractive feature is its joining of old and new. Here, a gazebo and the Conservatorium of Music (University of Tasmania) somehow look good together in the same shot, despite the differences between them.

The gazebo. It is humble, but has been stood on by famous characters (Humphrey Bear) and people (George from Playschool). Quite a few classical musicians have also played their instruments on here. Not quite as exciting as Humphrey Bear and George, I know, but it does sound beautiful.

One of the walls that borders the park.

Usually, there are people dotted all over the grass. When the Christmas Carols were held here, the park was overflowing with people. It was great!

Another entrance to the park, this one is diagonally opposite to the one with the lions. We will be leaving the park through here. Beyond is Sandy Bay, which we will have to explore some other time!

I hope you've enjoyed our three-day exploration of St. Davids Park! If you're in Hobart, come here with some lunch and a frisbee, and see if you can find someone in the cemetery with the same surname as you!

Saint Davids Park II

So, St. Davids Park is a bit more than just grass, trees, a gazebo and lion statues.

It's a graveyard!

'Cemetery' might be a better word.

There are two types of graves in St. Davids Park. Memorial, and - for lack of a better word - tombs. Here is a 'tomb':

This is some of the writing on it:

I love how the sun is hitting it.

Here's another 'tomb':

In it are (or, were... the coffin is from 1859!) the remains of a man named James Kelly. I wonder if he was related to Ned?

Slightly seperated from the rest of the garden, down a flight of stone stairs (you'll see them tomorrow!) are walls with memorial plaques on them.

I didn't look at the plaques themselves (I had to meet my husband at the hairdressers and was already running late), but I'm sure I would have recognised at least some of the names.

Regardless of whether I'd recognise any names or not, the wall is very picturesque!

Saint Davids Park I

On Monday we had a mosey through Franklin Square. Today, we are going to be just a couple of blocks away from there, at St. Davids Park.

But we're not going inside - not yet! Today we're just getting to the entry... one of my favourite parts of St. Davids Park.

Look at the following two photos. The first one I took on Monday (the 23rd of November, 2009). The following image is a lantern slide and was probably taken between 1890-1920.

Lantern slide of by James Backhouse Walker, from here.

My photo is taken from further back, but you can see the same building in both. Whether or not the trees are the same is a different matter! You will notice that the entry lions aren't there.

The main entry to St. Davids Park. When the wisteria is in bloom this archway is utterly breathtaking.

The lions were not a part of the entry of park until 1988. Before that they had been stored at Port Arthur. Originally, the lions stood over the entrance of the Bank of Van Dieman's Land. They were carved in 1884 in a tent on the footpath. Interesting stuff! There's more here.

The closer you get to the lions the cooler and weirder they look. The eyes are a bit freaky.

Fairly self-explanatory.

This lion looks a little freaked out. Perhaps the branch infront of its face scared it?

I've always thought of St. Davids Park at a little oasis - a good place to have lunch and throw a frisbee. So what I realised after walking through the gate on Monday surprised me... and now I can't think of the park in the same way.

What did I realise? Check back tomorrow to find out!

Franklin Square

Franklin Square is the hub of Hobart. It connects Hobart with Kingston, Sandy Bay, Bellerive and even New Norfolk. It is where the buses drop you off and take you up. There are thousands of people that would either sit in Franklin Square or one of the bus shelters along its edge everyday.

 One of the entrances to Franklin Square.

Franklin Square is bordered on two sides by highway, one taking you through Hobart to the Eastern Shore, the other takes you to Kingston and the Channel. On another side is a street used mostly by buses, with parking for moterbikes down the centre.

Macquarie Street. I have spent many hours sitting in these bus shelters, waiting and looking at the buildings across the street. I love the difference between the buildings: one so old and beautiful, not quite overwhelmed by the modern building behind it.

 

 A giant chess board. The chess pieces are stored under the seats. It is unusual for no one to be playing!

People playing instuments - whether busking or just playing to fill in time - is a common occurance around Hobart. This is a guy called Aaron. He should be busking! I would have put some money in.

Franklin Square was named after Sir John Franklin, one of the Governers of Tasmania. The Franklins are famous for adopting a Tasmanian Aboriginal girl, Mathinna. When they left Tasmania, they left Mathinna behind, and Mathinna died not long afterwards. It is not known if she died accidentally, was murdered, or committed suicide. It is known, however, that she died in absolute poverty. Lady Jane Franklin was very into literary and scientific things and the Franklins were very good for Hobart culture. The town Franklin, in the Huon Valley, was named after them.

In the centre of the Franklin Square is a fountain. Nearly all the benches in the square look towards the fountain. There is a statue of Sir Franklin in the centre of the fountain.

The fountain in Franklin Square, with a statue of Sir John Franklin in the centre.

This photo shows the diversity of the people who come to Franklin square. School kids, emos, the elderly, and people who have immigrated here.

I trust you've enjoyed your visit to Franklin Square with me! Hopefully you can understand why I consider it to be the centre of Hobart. Personally, I'm a bit surprised there were no pidgeons around.

See more photos here, and go here to read more about Sir and Lady Franklin.

The Truganini Reserve, Mount Nelson

Last week was all about Mount Nelson. Hopefully you feel like you know more about it now.

There was one post I didn't manange to fit into last week (the fog threw my plans off...) so I am going to post it now, as I feel it is important. 

Mount Nelson is surrounded by reserve bushland (land that cannot be privately owned or built on). There are actually two reserves: the Skyline Reserve, which extends along the ridge of Mount Nelson, and the Truganini Reserve.

 The offical Parks and Wildlife sign, indicating the start of the reserve area and who the reserve is dedicated to.

Not so much a vantage point to look at the view, as it is a place to remember the first people who live in Tasmania. The Aboriginal tribe most likely to have visited Mount Nelson would have been the Mouheneenner tribe, who lived where Hobart is now.

The Truganini Reserve covers the south-east side of Mount Nelson, from the very top right down to Lower Sandy Bay. There is a walking track, but I have not walked it (though apparently it is only a 90 minute return!). What I wanted to show you was the memorial to the Tasmanian Aborigines, which is near the Signal Station.

Here it is:

My husband looking at the memorial. He was told "look thoughtful", but I don't think he is acting.

Tokens of remembrance: small bunches of bark and flowers.

 A close up of the memorials text.

In case you are unable to read the writing on it, this is what it says: 

Truganini Died 8 May 1876

Truganini Park 8 May 1976

Dedicated to

The Tasmanian Aboriginal People

And Their Descendants

Signal Stations: What Was Their Purpose?

So far, you have seen pictures of Mount Nelson (and today you'll see a few more!), but my darling husband told me he wanted more words, so more words it is!

Yesterday I took you up to the Signal Station to show you the view. Thick fog, however, changed that (but don't worry, I will take those photos for you!). I studied Tasmanian Literature and history when I was at university, so I think I tend to take it for granted that everyone knows what the purpose of the signal station was. For those of you who don't know, here is a brief outline of the purpose of the Mount Nelson signal station.

A corner table in the signalman's cottage, now transformed into The Station Cafe. This table would usually overlook Storm Bay and the Tasman Peninsular, but on Tuesday fog was the only thing to be seen.

THE MOUNT NELSON SIGNAL STATION

The signal station on Mount Nelson was the first one to be constructed in Tasmania, back in 1811. It was situated in a very strategic place and served two purposes. Before telling you what these purposes are, I'll explain what the signal station would have looked like.

The original signal station was a tall pole, to which flags could be attatched to send signals to Hobart. In 1829 a new type of semaphore (or signal station) reached Tasmania: the moveable arm semaphore. Like the orginal one it was a tall pole, but had moveable arms to which flags could be attatched. This particular system had three arms, and could send several hundred different messages. The Mount Nelson semaphore was unique in that it was used for two purposes. As a result of its dual usage, it had two sets of arms and was 80 feet tall (24.4 meters).

Here is a picture of what it looked like: 

 A portion of the text below the picture: The Last Semaphore Signal. John Beattie, c. 1890.The last semaphore signal code, 343 "Forgotten" was sent from here to the Mulgrave Battery Signal Station at Castray Esplanade, Battery Point around 1890 as a farewell to visual telegraphy. The semaphore was dismantled shortly after.

The lower set of arms was used to send shipping information, and the higher set was used for communicating with Port Arthur, a large penal settlement on the Tasman Peninsular. It was Charles O'Hara Booth who saw the importance of having a way to communicate rapidly between Port Arthur and Hobart (for example, if a prisoner escaped) and he set up a system of signal stations between the two locations.

Apparently, if it was a fine day, a short message and reply could be completed in about quarter of an hour. This is quite impressive, especially when you compare it to current modes of communication. A telephone call could easily take just as long, particularly if you can't find the phone number. Email also takes a few minutes each way, longer if the internet connection is slow, and much longer if the receiver is away from the computer.

The semaphore system worked well, but in 1880 the electric telegraph arrived and the signal station was no longer needed. The last signal was sent soon after this: 343 "forgotten".

I love the gloom in this picture, but I'm certain signalling would have been impossible in this kind of weather.

Are you interested in more information? As a starting place, look here to see where I got mine.


Just a little postscript.

It seems appropriate that it is on Rememberence Day that I write this (even though it will not be posted until the 12th). Just as the Signal Stations are still remembered, neither are the men who gave their lives so we could have freedom "forgotten".

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,

We will remember them.