Eskleigh, previously named Scone, was provided by William Gibson Jnr in 1944 to be a home for permanently incapacitated people and continues to operate today. The Home, built in 1870 for William Gibson, features a two-story residence with 18 rooms overlooking the Perth township and the South Esk River, Tasmania. The surrounding distant mountains add beauty to […]
Members of Rosebery Methodist Church in 1963
Rosebery Methodist Church On arrival at Rosebery in 1963, I soon joined in with the Methodist Church. It was a small group of some 16-20 attending services of which only six had Methodist membership with the remainder coming from a variety of other denominations, apart from Anglicans and Catholics who had their own churches. The […]
A Strasburg Clock Replica built by Sidney Roy Boon (1893-1944)
Around 1915, 22-year-old Sid Boon of Longford visited a display touring Tasmania, where a replica of the famous Strasburg clock was being displayed. He was so impressed that he was inspired to build a replica. With only a photograph and a glimpse of the exterior and working operations, coupled with his inventive genius, he set to work. After […]
History Over Dinner on ABC Radio Hobart
Gain insights from the expertise of Ivan Badcock and his son, Andrew, as they discuss significant events in Australian history on ABC Radio Hobart with Lucie Cutting on Tasmanian Sundays (Sunday, 21 July 2024). Delve into the rich history of Australia’s oldest tertiary education institute, established in Bishopsbourne, Tasmania—a small rural town with around 130 […]
Air Training Corps 1957-1960
I joined the Air Training Corps (ATC) in 1957 as part of the Launceston Technical High School 7 Flight group, continuing until December 1960. It was stated as being the largest Flight group in Tasmania. During that time, I rose through the ranks from Cadet to Commissioned Under Officer (CUO), the highest rank achievable. […]
HINGSTON: James & Family
James and six of his children arrived at Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania) in August 1842, travelling aboard the 95-ton brig, “Scout”, from Port Phillip, Melbourne to Launceston. Besides James, the children were Henry, William, Elizabeth, John, James and Robert. The Hingston name is now widely known across the north of Tasmania. In Devon, England […]
Richardson Brothers: Isaac & Simeon
Isaac Richardson – 10 Feb 1804 d. 13 Mar 1873 Simeon Richardson – 21 Jun 1807 d. 6 Oct 1893 Our Richardson family reached Hobart, Van Diemen’s Land, on 18 November 1831 aboard the 638 ton convict transport “Lord Lyndoch”. They sailed from England on 27 July 1831 carrying 266 convicts which included Isaac and […]
John William (William) Chapman 1792-1852
William Chapman was born at Hatfield Broad Oak in Essex, England the eldest son of Isaac Robert Chapman (1761-1850) and Elizabeth Catharina nee Blandy (1770-1847). At the age of 13, he was convicted of stealing one sheep and two lambs and received the death penalty but was reprieved and transported to Australia for life. He […]
Ivan John Badcock’s U.K. Forbears to Australia
This article includes a list of Ivan’s British Forbears, including when they arrived in Australia and on which ship, along with other interesting information about each person. Many are featured in expanded articles on History Over Dinner. YEAR/SHIP NAME RANK RESIDENCE U.K. & NOTES 1788Scarborough (First Fleet) Herbert, John Alexander Convict London (1767-1846), tried at the […]
A history of mining at Williamsford, Mount Read in Tasmania
Williamsford was once a bustling and progressive community, with activities centering around mining which commenced in 1896 and continuously operating apart from several short shutdowns, till closing in 1986. There are now no residents. The town was located on the lower slopes of the heavily timbered 3,684-foot-high Mount Read, five miles south of Rosebery, on […]