Bicheno


The information panel just visible there outlines the Bicheno History Trail and says, in part:

It was the discovery of coal in the 1840’s which led to a permanent settlement at Bicheno. The Douglas River Coal Company shipped coal through Waub’s Boat Harbour. Government officials were brought into the area and support industries were well established. However, the mines were ultimately unsuccessful and eventually closed in 1858.

In the late 19th century, the  commercial potential of the fishing ground off Bicheno began to be recognised, and by the 1930’s the industry was well established.

Tourism was in its infancy around the turn of the century, although Bichno, being relatively isolated by poor roads, was not seen as a visitor destination. Travellers had to rely on the steamer service,  or rail and coach. However, in the period following World War II, the tourism industry on the East Coast really began to take off and remains an important part of Bicheno’s economy today.

There are similar panels around the town. I’ve included some of the text from them below, in italics.

At the town’s major crossroad of Burgess and Foster Street, using £750 in deferred pay form his service in the R.A.A.F., and with the help of his sister, [Brian Winspear] opened a small shop and soon after a service station. The service station was removed in the 1980’s.

Read more

Orford

Welcome
Orford is just south of Triabunna. The population for most of the year is 400-500 people, but rises to something like 3000 over summer. Want to guess what sort of town it is?

Road
Coming in from the north, just after the bridge, the highway turns inland and heads towards Hobart and the towns of the south east. I guess that makes it the last town on the east coast.

Read more

Swansea

This is Swansea, part historic town, part beach resort.

Main street, near carpark
The first British settlement in the area was a grant given to George Meredith in 1821. Actually, he was one of a group of partners who took up grants in the area. He was also heavily involved in early colonial politics, but if you’re interested in that, follow the link.

Beach
Swansea is on top corner of Oyster Bay, which is the large bay on the east coast that shows up on any map with some level of detail, with Freycinet Peninsula forming the other side.

Read more

Darlington, part 3

Grass

A non-building to start with. Part of the site of the Separate Apartments, built 1840s (dotted line).

The first block of 102 cells formed a rectangle nearly 85 m by 20.5 m. They were built to keep the worst behaved and suspected homosexual convicts completely separate. Improvements and additions were commenced until, at the very end of 1848, the complex consisted of 205 cells in two tiers. The 1846 cells were 3.05 m high, 2.44 m long and 1.22 m wide whereas the earlier cells were wider, longer but not as high. You can see where the two storey level is indicated by joists in the wall of the Bakehouse close to the oven’s chimney. The building was derelict and housed pigs in 1876. Within ten years, the bricks were used to pave roads or build Bernacchi’s cottages prior to the erection of the Coffee Palace where one complete cell exists beneath the floorboards.

View of inside, outside (long building at front) and plan and elevation.

Read more