News - November 2020
Tues 17 November - 7.30pm General Meeting
VENUE: Zoom Meeting
GUEST SPEAKER : Eddy Steenbergen
TOPIC : " The Hobart Turkish Bath Company"
The establishment of a Turkish Bath Company for Hobart Town was promoted at a public meeting held on 25 October 1866. 200 shares of £5 each were sold.
As for the previous Zoom meeting, log-in details for the meeting will be sent via email before the meeting. The details will also be available for members on the Branch Facebook page.
More for Your Diary
Thu 19 November - 10.00am Branch Committee Meeting
VENUE: Branch Library, Bellerive
Thu 19 November - 1.30pm DNA Group Meeting
VENUE: Church Hall at St Marks Anglican Church, Bellerive
Thu 26 November - 2pm Library Committee
VENUE: Branch Library, Bellerive
IMPORTANT - CLOSING DATES FOR THE LIBRARY
Library will be closing for the summer break Saturday 12th December 2020 and re-opening on Tuesday 19th January 2021.
Wishing all peace and joy this Christmas,
and much
happiness and hope for the New Year to come.
Louise
OUR BRANCH AND THE CORONAVIRUS
Many of our members have been suffering from research withdrawal symptoms and the good news is the Branch Library re-opened on Saturday 1st August 2020 and is operating according to government restrictions and requirements. A COVID-19 plan (in line with the government requirements) is in place. Initially, use of the Library is restricted and bookings are required.
Opening times are Tuesdays 12.30 - 3.30 pm and Saturdays 1.30 - 4.30 pm.
To make your bookings, please phone the office 6245 9351 prior to opening times.
Library Accessions June 2020
The following items were accessioned during the month of April 2020.
Books
* Cromer, William Craig; A HISTORY OF THE CROMER FAMILY IN TASMANIA FROM 1855 [Q929.2 CRO]
* Harris, Roger E; ISLANDERS DEPORTED; PART 1 - A complete history of those British subjects who were deported from the Channel Islands during the German Occupation of 1940 - 1945 and imprisoned in Europe [Q929.2 HAR]
* Hickman, Vernon Victor; CHERISHED FAMILY MEMORIES [Q929.2 HIC]
* Knight, Judith; PROFILES ON THE LIVES OF ANN DOYLE and her children; WILLIAM PARSONS and DAVID GIBSON [Q929.2 DOY]
* Maddock, M.J; DAVID GIBSON - CONVICT TO CAPTALIST [Q929.2 GIB]
Computer Disks
* Kent F.H.S.; CD Rom 41: Parish Registers Vol. 24; Monumental Inscriptions Vol. 4.
* Denotes complimentary or donated item
SILK AND SATIN AND BUTTONS AND BOWS ....
Who remembers this song, or is it a figment of my imagination? But for those of us who attended the September Zoom meeting and heard our guest speaker Dr Christina Henri will remember her talk on "Living art as a tool to engage with history". Christina is still engaged with her project of collecting bonnets which represent each of the female convicts transported to Tasmania and New South Wales. It was suggested that our members and friends may be able to donate some decorative haberdashery items for the remainder of these bonnets. Many of us have been clearing out the cupboards over winter and if you have any spare ribbons, braids, threads, buttons etc we are happy to accept them over the counter until we close the Library for the Christmas break.
CASCADES FEMALE FACTORY HISTORIC SITE - HISTORY AND INTERPRETATION CENTRE
Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (PAHSMA), which is responsible for the management and conservation of the Cascades Female Factory, is building a new History and Interpretation Centre.
PAHSMA recently received planning approvals for this project from the Heritage Council and Hobart City Council. Thanks to funding commitments of $3 million from the Tasmanian Government and $2 million from the Commonwealth Government, construction of this project is hoped to commence in early 2021.
The project has been determined to be a controlled action (EPBC 2020/8662) under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). The controlling provisions under the EPBC Act are 'World Heritage Properties' and 'National Heritage Places'. The Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment has advised the project will be assessed by preliminary documentation.
SENIORS WEEK - OCTOBER 2020
Despite all the COVID-19 restrictions in place, Seniors Week was able to proceed this year and once again Hobart Branch held two sessions during the week offering one on one assistance for those who were beginners or more experienced researchers who had hit a 'brick wall'. The DNA sessions, 'Interpreting your DNA results' was an opportunity to have your DNA results interpreted by our DNA Interest Group Convenor, Ros Escott and to receive some directions toward making better use of this investment.
TASMANIA'S HISTORIC BUILDINGS
Much of the state's rich and complex history is tangible in streetscapes, gardens and homes, and preserved by World Heritage status.
Among early colonial buildings of national significance are the neighbouring estates of Brickendon and Woolmers at Longford in the northern midlands. Both estates have World Heritage listing and are among the nation's finest examples of pioneer farming of the early 1800s. Nearby, on the South Esk River, is Clarendon , a three-storey Georgian mansion surrounded by gardens and parkland. And in the north-east are Low Head Pilot Station and Low Head Lighthouse. Designed by the colonial architect John Lee Archer and constructed in 1833, the lighthouse was Tasmania's second and only the third built in Australia.
In Hobart, the Penitentiary Chapel is one of Australia's most important convict sites, pre-dating the impressive Port Arthur Historic Site. Nearby, Theatre Royal is Australia's oldest working theatre and a perfect example of intimacy on a grand scale.
Both Hobart and Launceston have many fine examples of 19th and 20th century architectural styles, including Regency, Victorian and Edwardian.
For a glimpse of more recent history, the well-preserved former hydro village of Tarraleah evokes life in the 1930s with beautifully crafted timber cabins and a stunning Art Deco lodge. And on the west coast, the restored Gaiety Theatre in Zeehan is a reminder of the mining boom in "silver city". Built in 1898, the theatre was the largest concert hall in Australia at the time, with seating for more than 1000 patrons and a busy program of touring performances. See the theatre as part of a visit to the West Coast Heritage Centre ).
Wherever you travel in Tasmania, there are stories to be found in the corridors and facades of its precious old buildings.