History Maria_Island

1 history

1.1 aborigines
1.2 convicts
1.3 industry , farming
1.4 national park

history
aborigines

maria island has rich history. before colonial era, aboriginal people of tyreddeme band of oyster bay tribe journeyed regularly island , evidence of presence remains, particularly around bays on either side of island s isthmus. in 1802 french expedition led nicolas baudin encountered aboriginal people of maria island, did whalers of 19th century. rené maugé, zoologist on baudin s expedition, buried on point maugé on south maria island.

convicts

commissariat store, darlington.

for 2 periods during first half of 19th century, maria island hosted convict settlements. island s first convict era between 1825 , 1832 , second - probation station era - between 1842 , 1851. among held during second era irish nationalist leader william smith o brien, exiled part in young irelander rebellion of 1848. cottage still exists in nearby former penal colony port arthur deported after time on maria island. later transferred new norfolk on derwent river upstream of hobart.

three structures first convict era remain in darlington area: commissariat store built in 1825 , presently used park s reception , visitor centre; convict penitentiary, completed in 1828 , used accommodate visitors rather detain them; , convict-built dam on bernacchis creek, still provides darlington s water.

industry , farming

from 1880s, italian entrepreneur diego bernacchi set island enterprises including silk , wine production , cement factory, quarrying limestone deposits @ fossil cliffs raw material. substantial cement works built in 1920s @ darlington 2 ft gauge tramway linking quarries cement works , new jetty. @ height of fortunes in 20th century, darlington had hundreds of residents , several hotels. july 1930 of these ventures had failed number of reasons including great depression, poor quality limestone , competition mainland producers, not burdened high costs of transportation.

for period of 40 years until late 1960s island dominated farming. south island farmed john robey, south african, wife hilda. robeys farm located on west side of south island, , although complete in walked away fashion late 1980s, location has since been extensively vandalised, , farmhouse further damaged weather , neglect parks , wildlife service.

national park

the tasmanian government resumed of island s freehold land , established national park, proclaimed in 1972 , extended in 1991, include part of surrounding sea.