At the age of 19, I reached Rosebery on the West Coast of Tasmania arriving at the beginning of January 1963 and would remain stationed in the town until late October in that year. It was my first transfer and first time living away from home and had not previously visited the town or area. […]
Author: Ivan Badcock
Launceston Junior Technical School, later (1949) known as Launceston Technical High School
MOTO: CUM STUDIO ET HONORE – With Zeal and Honour. Beginnings – On 10 February 1919, when the school doors were thrown open to admit students, 55 boys were enrolled and soon after, increasing to 63. Later in the year, the Spanish flu struck, and the school was closed from late August till mid-October, and […]
Mystery – A Mackerel Lugger
The Smallest Boat to Sail from England to Australia When the Mystery set sail for Australia in 1854, she was noted as the smallest vessel to attempt the voyage to date, length 36 feet, beam 11ft 6 ins and of 16 tons. As the day of sailing approached, excitement in Newlyn, a small village near […]
Paranormal Happenings
Over the years, a number of unusual happenings have occurred, some within the family while others related to outside events. The Page Family – Death of Stanley One story Grandfather (John Page) often remembered related to the death of his brother Stanley, who died on 12 October 1918. Grandfather would tell that he and brother […]
Glenore – Whitemore (Tasmania)
The following history was written c1988 by Ivan Badcock with the view of it being included in the French-Badcock history book, “Go…..Be Fruitful and Multiply” , but was not included due to space limitations. Article revised April 2022 with photos added. Glenore – Whitemore By the 1850s many of the French and Badcock family members […]
Cornish Female Convicts Transported to Van Diemen’s Land
Around 24,000 women convicts were transported to Australia, with some 12,500 sent to Van Diemen’s Land of which 78 have been identified as coming from Cornwall, England. General details for Cornish convicts are attached. Transportation ceased to Van Diemen’s Land in 1853. A brief profile on each Cornish V.D.L. convict, including their lives after arrival, […]
Newman Williatt (1797-1832) & family
Amongst Longford’s early residents were Newman Williatt and his wife Eliza and one child, they moved there from Launceston, Tasmania around 1829. Newman Williatt and Eliza Towers married in Launceston on 29 July 1824. While living in Launceston, the birth of two children have been located, a girl, Janet Elizabeth, born on 1 October 1825 […]
Fires in the Bishopsbourne Area (1839 – 1982)
1839 – Minette, Liffey River – Colonial Times, 13 August 1839 House and out-buildings burnt to the ground. Cause unknown. Loss near £500. 1852 – Ross ……. Little Hampton – Colonial Times, Fri. 7 May 1852 Burnt, a stack of hay containing 80 tons. The fire occurred on Sunday morning last between two and three […]
Liffey Wesleyan Methodist church in Bishopsbourne later moved to Elphinstone, Cressy
Liffey Wesleyan Methodist Church in Bishopsbourne (1872-1909) moved to Elphinstone, Cressy, Methodist Church 1909-1947 At the Wesleyan District meeting in Launceston on Friday 10 November 1871, approval was given to build “a small wooden church at the Liffey”. A congregation had been meeting there prior to 1848, it being noted as a preaching place in […]
Perth (Tasmania) Methodist Church (later Uniting Church)
A history by Harry Bean printed and distributed for the 150-year celebration of the Methodist Church in 1988. Correction: Sir Walter Lee became Premier of Tasmania for the first time in 1916. He later became Premier of Tasmania again in 1923 and 1934. Perth Church Closing Service, 8 October 2002 Pictured (L-R) – Ray Hanham, […]