TIME LINE BOTHWELL 1807 - 1961
Bothwell
Historical Events – 1961
Bothwell Council Document
Supplied
by Barbara Fowler OAM
The
Historical Development -
1807
Thomas Laycock, a Lieutenant in the N.S.W Corps, sent by Lieut-Governor
PWilliam Paterson from Launceston to
Hobart for food, camped,
on the banks of the Clyde River, near where Bothwell now stands, on 8th February
l807
1811 Edward. Lord. - one of
the early cattle kings " who administered the Hobart Town settlement after
the death of Governor Collins, granted land at Lawrenny (part of the Sorell
Plains).
1818 Michael Howe, reputed to
bo the worst of the Bushrangers, killed on the banks of the Shannon at
Hunterston.
1820 In the December,
Governor Sorell accompanied by Surveyor G.W. Evans visited the Upper Clyde.
Named the Sorell Plains. In
the same year Surveyor Scott also visited th area, naming Lake Crescent.
It would appear he was not aware that it had already been named Lake
Laycock after Thomas Laycock.
1821 The first settlers
arrive:March: Charles Rowcroft who settled on 2500 acres, at Norwood.
September: Edward Nicholas - the first settler on the Clyde " who settled,
on 1800 acres at Nant.
1821-22:Captain Patrick Wood - a retired, officer of the East Indian Army - who
settled, at Dennistoun.
Alexander Reid. and his
family- who settled. at Ratho.
Myles Patterson and his family who settled at Hunterston.
Captain and Mrs.Lockett who settled at
Logan.
Phillip Russell who managed Dennistoun for Capt. Wood.
1821 • According to W.H.Hudspeth th Clyde River acquired its present name
about this time, being originally called Fat Doe river, probably by the kangaroo
hunters . Other Authorities say it was renamed by Governor Arthur during his
visit in 1824.
1823 The township of Upper Clyde was laid out by Surveyor Thomas Scott.
Two principal streets were named after the pioneer Patrick for Captain
Patrick Wood, and Alexander for Mr Alexander Reid
1823 Dr, James Ross LL.D, built the "Hermitage" (He later sold it,
1850, to Walter Synnott). Dr, Ross later became
Government Printer in Tasmania and publisher of the Hobart Town Courier.
He also published yearly almanacs.
He apparently called his residence after that of the Earl of Bothwell,
which was knovm, as Hermitage Castle.
1822-5 Thomas Oxford built a mill at Thorpe,
It had a brick mill-house with an undershot water-wheel deriving its
energy from the Clyde River. He
met an untimely death in 1855 at the hands of a bushranger named John, alias
Rocky Whelan, at Bagdad,
1825 Hon.Capt.William Langdon .,R.N. received a grant of 1500 acres on the Clyde
River, which he called Montacute after his family's home in Somerset, England.
He eventually settled in Tasmania in l854
He became later a member of the Tasmanian Legislative Council.
To him also belongs the dubious honour of having introduced the Blackbird
to Tasmania.
1825 In the February, Archibald McDowall arrived in Bothwell to take over the
property "Logan" from Captain Lockett on the invitation of Captain
Wood. At this time there were
only three dwellings in the township.
They belonged to a Sandy Denholm, a carpenter and his wife. an Andrew
Reid (who was no relation to Alexander Reid) and his wife and a man named
Stenton.
1825 Dr.William Crowther located a grant of 800 acres on the banks of the Clyde
at Hollow Tree ( not far from Montacute) From his family came two Premiers of
the State of Tasmania,
1826 During this year, Bothwell received a visit from an extremely colourful
character by the name of Jorgen Jorgensen, who was to be known as the
"Viking of Van Diemen's Land".
1827 This year saw the forming of the Bothwell Agricultural Association.
Bothwell thus became the second country centre in Tasmania to hold an
agricultural show. The founder members included Capt.Patrick Wood, Phillip
Russell, Capt, William Clark, Archibald McDowall, Edward Nicholas, Myles
Patterson and John McRae. Alexander
Reid was elected the first Secretary,.
1828 G-overnor Arthur, on the recommendation of Archdeacon Scott (the first
Archdeacon of New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land), appointed Archibald
McDowall catechist for the district, at £50 a year. The position of commissariat clerk was added soon
afterwards. Sunday services
were held in the barn or house at Logan.
1828 Archdeacon Scott, during a visit to Bothwell to conduct a service, chose
the site for a church. Also
during this year the military barracks were built on what is now known as
Barrack Hill.
1829 The first mail service was commenced, the postman usually being a
ticket-of-leave man.
1829 The first resident
magistrate,Captain Michael Vicary of the 63rd Regiment was installed, and the
first resident minister, the Rev. James Garrett was appointed.
1829 Also during this year,
John Sharland, son of the surgeon John Sharland of Rotherwood, Ouse, practised
as a doctor in Bothwell. His
brother, William. Stanley Sharland, a surveyor and explorer, who later entered
Parliament was responsible for the Act of Parliament renaming Van Diemen's Land
as "Tasmania".
1850 In the May, the
foundation stone of the Church of St.Luke, (which was designed by Governor
Arthur and Surveyor George Frankland), was laid by Alexander Reid. The church
cost £1000 to build and was opened in 1851 as a combined Church of England and
Presbyterian Church. The Rev, Dr. Drought, Rector of Green Ponds alternated with
Mr Garrett in holding services in the church.
1830 In the October, what was
to be knovvn as the "Black Line" was formed by Governor Arthur with
the intention of rounding up the aborigines and placing them under the control
of a competent establishment, so that they could be raised to a scale of
civilisation. It cost the
Government at least £30,000 and was a failure.
1830 During this period, the following persons were recorded against the
respective ositions:
Mr. E.A.Wheatley
Chief Constable
Mr. Phillip Moss
Chief Constable's Clerk
Mr. N.S.Quick
First Postmaster
Mr. C.Schaw
21st Regt. Police Magistrate
it is of interest to note thct it cost five pence to send a letter from Bothwell
to Hobort at this time.
1830’s Probably the first golf in Australia was played by Mr. Alexander Reid.
The first golf links were formed at Logan, but later moved to Ratho where
the BothwellGolf Club still plays,
1831 The Church of St.Luke was opened.
Also in the November of this year the Hobart Town Courier reported that
during the winter months, 100,000 kangaroo skins were taken around Bothwell,
The inhabitants offered to contribute 100 guineas towards the cost of making
good the Melton Mowbray to Bothwell road. During this year, the Cape of Good
Hope Inn was opened at Black Marsh ( now known as Apsley).
1832 A committee was formed to supervise the construction of
the Bothwell-Hamilton Road. The road was completed in 1842 and in 1843 a request
was made for it to be brought under the then new Road Act.
1833
Wentworth House, otherwise known at various times as Bothwell House,
Inverhall ( as the original Reid of Ratho called it), the Parsonage, Schawfield
and the old Rectory, was built for
Captain, (later Major) D’Arcey -Wentworth. The house was bought shortly
afterwards by Major Schaw who attempted to complete it.
1834
In the June, Alexander Reid introduced clover to the district for fodder,
This year also saw the formation of the- first country library in Tasmania
through the inauguration of the Bothwell Literary Society.
The foundation members included Alexander Reid, Archibald McDowall,
Dr.Sharland Capt.Wood, Rev. James Garrett and Messrs.Barr,Russell, Oxford,&,Nicholas,Patterson.,
Allardyce,&.Russall, Tod, Howells and Thomson.
Mr.PhiIlip Moss gave the first lecture to the Society on "The
Advantages of Scientific Knowledge".
1835 Dr.
E.Swarbock Hall, M.R.C.S.,L.S.A., the
pioneer epidemiologist of the Australian Colonies gave a lecture to the Bothwell
Literary Society while he was stationed at Bothwell.
1837 In the March
of this year. Sir John Franklin, Governor of the State of Tasmania became Patron
of the Bothwell Literary Society. Later
in the year Sir John and Lady Franklin visited Bothwell nnd were entertained to
dinner and a grand ball by Major Schaw.
1840 About
this time some moves were made to declare the Church of St. Luke the property of
the Church of England Mr. Garrett resigned
as minister for the district.
1841 To
show their appreciation of the efforts of Mr.Garrett, the members of the
Bothwell Literary Society presented to him a silver tray made in Hobart Town of
silver derived from Mexican silver dollars.
The tray was made by a Mr. David Barclay, the first silversmith in Hobart
Town.
1841 In the June of this year a bad
sale was recorded at Cross Marsh, (now known as Melton Mowbray), ewes bringing
only nine shillings, and wethers twelve shillings.
1841 The Reverend Thomas Wigmore was
appointed the first resident Chaplain of the Church of England on 25rd March
1841.
1842 A
petition wns lodged, by the inhabitants of the district before the Governor Sir
John Franklin complaining about the state of the Bothwell-Melton Mowbray road. The petitioners asserted that very little money had been
spent so far by the government on their roads,
1843 A
second petition was lodged in the May complaining abou1 the "wretched state
of the road between Bothwell Township and tne main road”.
A toll-gate was even suggested to help pay for a road gang.
1845 Thomas
Wilkinson opened Wentworth House as a private boarding school for boys and
girls.
1847 The
Rectory, known as "The Priory" was built by the second Chaplain, the
Reverend Robert Wilson.
1849 An
Act of Parliament was passed for the making, repairing and maintaining the road
leading from the Township of Bothwell to the main road and for making,repairing
and maintaining other roads in the district of Bothwell. ( 13 Victoria No 5,
1849).
1849 At
dawn on the 27th day of July 1849 a pistol duel was fought between the son of
Captain William Clark and the
brother of Archibald McDowall in the old cemetery behind the church.
The duel was over the daughter of Captain King, the Officer in charge of
the military guard on Barrack Hill. No
one was hurt as the seconds had loaded the pistols with raspberry jam.
1850 The two “Irish exiles”
– John Martin and John Mitchel arrived to live in a cottage at Nant. An
account of his life was written by John Mitchel, and subsequently published in
book form as th “Jail Journal”.
1850 Writing
in his Journal in the April, John Mitchel mentions that at this time Bothwell
contained. 60-70 houses, a church, four large public houses (''establishments
which are much better supported on the voluntary system and have-much larger
congregations than the church”), a post office-several carpenters
shops and. blacksmith's shops, a police office, police barracks and a
police magistrate. There were
also two mills on the Clyde.
1851 "A
well-horsed conveyance” belonging
to a Mr. Blackwell of the Royal Oak Inn at Cross Marsh was running three times a
week to and from Bothwell to connect with the fast mail coaches on the main
road,
1853 About
this time it is thought that the first races were held by the Bothwell Racing
Club on the Cumberland Race Course, on the Dennistoun Estate.
1856 "Wentworth
House" was purchased by the
Reverend William Hesketh as the Rectory.
Mr. Hesketh was appointed the first Rector of the Parish of Bothwell in
1855.
1857 The
Church of St.James at Montacute was built by the Hon.Captain William Langdon.
It was consecrated by the first Bishop of Tasmania, the Right Reverend
Russell Nixon.
1862 Bothwell
was proclaimed a rural Municipality on 22nd October 1862.
Also in this year the Bothwell Cricket Club was recorded as having 40
members with a Mr. W.Bedford as Captain of the Team and Mr. S.Arnett as
Secretary,
1863 On
the 50th January 1863 the first Council was elected comprising Archibald
McDowall (Warden), Thomas Oxford, Edward Nicholas, Alexander Reid, Frederick
Synnott and William Blackburn Wood, Councillors.
The first Council Clerk was appointed was Mathew Robinson, at an annual
salary of £170. He held the
position for eighteen years.
1864 James
Wilson was appointed as Superintendent of Police to the district from south of
Longford to the Shannon Tier. He named the property he was given as
"Steppes". His
pioneer home has recently been taken over by the Scenery Preservation Board.
1864 Walch's
Almanac for this year records:-Irrigated lands:
Sherwood
& Buerton 240 acres
I.Sherwin, M.H.A,
Meadsfield
120 acres E.Nicholas
Ratho
120 acres A.Reid
Nant
180 acres G.Nicholas
Thorpe
70 acres T.Axford
1866 On
the 3rd July 1866, Bothwell was proclaimed a Town.
1868 The
first English Trout, 25 in number, bred at Salmon Ponds from ova
brought from England, were released in the Clyde River at Logan by
Archibald McDowall. 11 Trout were
also released in Lake Crescent.
1871 Further
reports on the irrigation of lands in the Bothwell district said that it was
being carried out there to a greater extent than in any other part of Tasmania.
An irrigation channel was constructed to lead water to the Sherwood property
that was about 150 yards long by about 5-7 feet high and 2 feet wide.
At Dennistoun, about 11 miles of waterways were constructed to lead.
water from the Clyde.
1878 The
Hon. W.L, Crowther, P.R.G.S., son of Doctor William Crowther of Hollow Tree
elected. Premier of Tasmania,
1880 The
Bothwell Football Club was formed with Mr, A.A.Reid as Captain.
1880 Mr
A.C. Hirst, who was to create a near record for length of services, was
appointed Council Clerk. His
residence was the house known. as the Priory, (built originally by the Rev,
Wilson, later the home of William Bedford), situated on Barrack Hill and
purchased by the Council. Other Council Clerks have included A.J.McLeod,
N.S.Allison;. A.B. Patten and G.R.Pry who is the present holder of the office.
1888 The
first sod was turned on the proposed Brighton-Apsley Branch Railway Line.
1891 The
Church dedicated to St.Michael and All Saints, built by the Church of England
Congregation, was completed, releasing the tension which had existed between the
two sects since 1840. The
whole church v/as built of local stone, the work being carried out by William
Lewis and his sons. The cost
was..£ 3,500. The Belfrey was added later, in 1921.
1891 On
the 23rd April 1891, the Brighton-Apsley Branch Railway Line was opened,
providing a comfortable and easy means of communication between Apsley and
Hobart serving what was known as the Bagdad Valley,
1898 The
Clyde Water Trust was constituted to ensure that at all times there is an
adequate quantity of water for domestic purposes for the Towns of Bothwell and
Hamilton and to control irrigation. The
Trust comprises the Wardens and one Councillor -from each of the Municipalities
of Bothwell and Hamilton, the Secretary usually being the Council Clerk of
Bothwell.
1902 The
district of Black Marsh is proclaimed as the Town of Apsley, on the 3rd October
1902.
1904 The
Bothwell Freemason Lodge was formed on 6th December 1904.
1910 The
Church of St. Bartholomew at Strathbarton was consecrated on August 24th
l910,
1911 The
Church of St. Luke at the Steppes was dedicated on 16th October 1911.
1913 In
partnership with Mr P.Oakley Fysh, Mr. Bayard Edgell rented the Estate of
Dennistoun, buying the property in 1918.
He was a member of the family v/ho founded the Edgell Canning Company of
New South Wales.
1916 Waddamana
"A" Power Station was put into commission comprising two 5000 h.p.
units. It was extended to
65,800 h.p. in 1922.
1920
The Miena Dam was commenced. It
was intended to raise the level of the Great Lake by 40 feet to provide a
greater storage capacity to feed the Waddarnana "A" and "B",
and Shannon Power Stations.
1922 The
Hon.J.B. Hayes, C.M.O., grandson of Dr. William Crowther of Hollow Tree, was
elected Premier of Tasmania.
1929 Construction
of the Shannon Power Station was commenced,
1934 The
Shannon Power Station was put into commission with a capacity of 14,500 h.p.
1946 The
Council of Bothwell Municipality adopted the provisiom-of the Town and Country
Planning Act 1944 on 24th January 1946.
1947 The
Brighton-Apsley Branch Railway Line is closed on the 30th June 1947.
1949 Waddamana
"B" Power Station was put
into commission with a capacity of 66,800 h.p.
1950 The
Church of St.Michael’s and all Saints was visited by His Grace the Lord Bishop
of Canterbury during his tour of Australia.
1956 A
new Church of England Rectory was purchased.
1957 The
house "Clydeville" was
purchased by a Mr.John Fowler whose wife is a great-great-grand-daughter of the
original owner Archibald McDowall.
1959 During
this year the Council adopted various legislative powers in order to assist in
the preparation of a planning scheme.
They were:
(a) The Council passed a resolution
to prepare a plannirg scheme in
accordance with the Town and Country Planning Act, 1944, on 13th July 1959.
(b) The Council extended the
provisions of the relevant sections of the Towns Act to the whole municipality
on 17th September 1959.
(c) The Council adopted the
provisions of the Building Act on 9th December 1959.
1961 It
is of interest to record that the wife of present owner of Wentworth House ( the
present Warden of Bothwell, Mr. K.Q.Downie)
is a grand-daughter of the first Warden of Bothwell, Archibald McDowall.
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