Tasmanian Bush Heritage
The broken wire The weather turned bad in the middle of August 1900. Tasmania was swept by heavy rain and hail.1 Snow fell and covered the mountains and the high country.2 It was said to be the worst weather in five years.3 On the morning of Friday 17 August, the telegraph line between Queenstown and … Read moreThe Frozen Travellers at Mount Arrowsmith – Part 2 – What Happened
Another Heemskirk Adventure Introduction Like so many of our hunts, this one started with a photo. Nic had introduced us to Orient Mine near Trial Harbour. And what a story it had to tell. The team; Nic, Ian, Eddie, Jenny, Tim and I; visited it a few times looking at the remains of the mine: … Read moreA Mystery Photo of a little Farm House
In a previous blog, ‘Digging up Mrs Williams, or the phantom of the Heemskirk tin boom’, I pondered Con Curtain’s story of a woman who died at the Orient Tin Mine on Tasmania’s West Coast in 1882.1 Who was she? Where was she buried? Did she even exist? No one besides Curtain ever mentioned Mrs … Read moreDigging up Mrs Williams 2: a skeleton in the closet or just in an unmarked grave?
Introduction The last two blogs told the story of the rich copper mine at the top of Colebrook Hill. The prospect was inspected and dissected by some of the best mining men in the country. The hill seemed to be a huge deposit that would rival the Mount Lyell mine at Queenstown. Some said that … Read moreThe Colebrook Fiasco – Part 3 – The fiasco
The wash in the creeks may carry gold, and lodes in the ridges be, But the pyritic ore of the copper belt it pleases most to see; Through the nameless scrub in the sun or rain we follow the luring quest. And cut our way with our tomahawks where the badger makes his nest. (Paul … Read moreThe Colebrook Fiasco – part 1, the long and careful years
There are a few things that I learnt during this hunt. One is that a story chooses you and won’t let you go until you tell its history. It can wait a long time but it will get its story told. Another is that once it gets hold it won’t let you go easily. And … Read moreThe Long History of a Little West Coast Mine