Convicts, transporation etc

Reminiscences of an Australian Pioneer – Robert Barton [Uncle of Bajo Patterson]- 1917

Barton’s reminiscences – a “squatter of the olden days”. Born in 1842 in the central West belonging to the first generation to follow the original land-takers in the west.

Barton, was an uncle to Banjo Patterson and spent his life in New south Wales and Queensland.

By 1840 the squattocracy was firmly ‘landed’ and well-to-do. Barton looks back positively to the convict origins of his family’s assigned men. As a young man in his twenties the bushrangers Frank Gardiner and Ben Hall bushranging gangs were part of his life. Later he is confronted by the trade union movement and striking shearers.

First edition published by Tyrrells, Sydney in 1917. Octavo, vii, 288 pages with portrait of author. Original purple cloth binding, spine faded as usual. Pages slightly tones and some age to ends, ownership details on front ends and a helpful annotation in the Preface. Scarce and worthwhile copy.

One on the best Australian Pioneering stories

$150.00

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Clay Pipes from Port Arthur 1830-1877 – Maureen Byrne’s 1977-1978 Excavations at Port Arthur – Descriptive Account by Alexandra Dane and Richard Morrison.

Maureen Byrne was emerging as one of Australia’s best archaeologists before she tragically died from a terrible asthma attack in 1978, she was only 24-year-old. [See also our copy of her work on the Ross Bridge]

The massive collection of clay pipe fragments she found are held at Port Arthur. Dane and Morrison produced this thorough analysis. Published by the Department of Prehistory at the ANU, Canberra – Technical Bulletin No 2 – issued in 1979.

Large sized, original wrappers, spiral bound fifty-five pages with eleven pages of plates covering a multitude of examples.

Port Arthur established as a convict settlement in 1830 and remained so for a quarter of a century, after that it was a home for the poor and those with metal health issues. This work identifies that at some time it was likely a home for a number of military officers.

The pipes [over a thousand of them] were mainly made in Scotland which in the Victorian era was the centre of such pipe making in the World. Makers are identified – Mc Dougall, Murray, Coghill, Burns etc and the many decorative bowls that followed such lines as heraldic, heads, botanicals etc.

An unusual subject the detail of which could make you the star of the next dinner party – do people still have dinner parties?

Port Arthur its history through the pipes left behind.

$40.00

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The Women of the 1790 Neptune [Convict Ship] – Anne Needham et al – 1992

Self published by the principal author in 1992. The work follows a further four years research by Anne Needham after she first published on the subject.

Perfect bound large format, card cover, 187 pages illustrated nicely throughout. Scarce and sought after – a very good copy

The seventy-six convict woman are listed on the front cover and the list of free female passengers are listed on the title.

The convict women came from all parts of England. At the end of a good Introduction we see a map with the locations and names. The extraordinary history behind many, if not all, is set out incredibly well in the first 120 pages. Then the voyage out then the goings on at Norfolk Island and New South Wales.

Needham’s well researched history of the women from the Neptune.

$90.00

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Tasmanian Rogues & Absconders 1803-1875 – Graeme-Evans

This is volume II and our favourite the middle years, being 1821-1836 … so a subset of the main title.

Self published by Alex Graeme-Evans of Launceston in 1994.

Larger soft cover format, perfect bound. 104 pages, nicely illustrated throughout.

What is it that makes rogues and absconders interesting … a rhetorical question. Much better reading than “everyday folk” … apologies. One thing for sure there were plenty of them … threaded intimately through the history of the Apple Isle.

For every rogue there seems to have been at least one absconder

$25.00

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An Eligible Situation – The Early History of George Town and Low Head – Diane Phillips

Published by Karuda Press Canberra, part of The Historical Survey of Northern Tasmania in 2004. Scarce, try to find another one.

Soft cover, perfect bound, nice quality, 138 pages, some illustrations. A fine copy, previous owners has left a card with a sketch of The Grove, George Town which makes for a nice relevant bookmark.

Starting with the Port Dalrymple Settlement of 1804 and the progression to George Town in 1815, life there and the establishment of the Female House of Correction. The establishment of trade and marine activities. The modern day excavation of the Female factory site.

Solid history of a neglected region of historical significance.

$30.00

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Martin Cash – Life After Bushranging – Maree Ring

A unusual item, an extended pamphlet really all about Tasmania’s favourite bushranger Martin Cash. Not so much his goings on in his early days of bushranging (although there is a good snippet of that) but more about his time in New Zealand and then later on return to Hobart.

Written from a sympathetic viewpoint, as often the case with Cash. We are not sure quite why that is the case. For sure he is supposed to have had a soft spot for women and we guess in return women had and still have a soft spot for him.

However, and it’s a big however … when in NZ he seemed to spend most of his time forming and running brothels (yes plural). In fact in the end he was given the big tip off to leave the country … forcing his return to Tasmania. His illicit activities paid him well and he was able to purchase a smallholding up the back of New Town … he spent most of his leisure time in the pubs of Salamanca … well don’t we all.

Self published Hobart in 1993. Softcover, stitched, 41 pages with some useful and relevant illustrations. We like the unpretentious writing of the researcher author. A fine copy.

Martin Cash – the final story – and an interesting one too.

Postage will be reduced on this item on final billing.

$20.00

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Reminiscences of an Australian Pioneer – Robert Barton [Uncle of Bajo Patterson]- 1917

Clay Pipes from Port Arthur 1830-1877 – Maureen Byrne’s 1977-1978 Excavations at Port Arthur – Descriptive Account by Alexandra Dane and Richard Morrison.

The Women of the 1790 Neptune [Convict Ship] – Anne Needham et al – 1992

Tasmanian Rogues & Absconders 1803-1875 – Graeme-Evans

An Eligible Situation – The Early History of George Town and Low Head – Diane Phillips

Martin Cash – Life After Bushranging – Maree Ring

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