Landowner, Shipowner, Merchant, Philanthropist, Evangelist

“…… everything he touched turned to gold”

The history includes extracts from two family history books

1. An Eventful Life Devoted to God and Man by Margaret Reed (Henry’s second wife)
2. Henry Reed Van Diemen’s Land Pioneer by Sir Hudson Fysh (a grandson of Henry)

Early Years

Henry was born at Doncaster, Northern England, October 28, 1806, the youngest of four children, his mother Mary Ann (nee Rockliff), (1773-1839) and father, Samuel Reed (1773-1813). Samuel held a position in the local Post Office. 

When he was thirteen years of age, Henry was apprenticed to a merchant in nearby Hull for a term of seven years, and on completion, for a brief time, operated his own trading business.

In 1826, he made up his mind to go to Van Diemen’s Land (now called Tasmania). Accordingly, he set sail on 14 December 1826, travelling as a steerage passenger aboard the 325-ton sailing ship “Tiger” and arriving at Hobart Town on 13 April 1827, 120 days later.

Henry was carrying a letter of introduction to Launceston merchant John Gleadow. 

Launceston was 120 miles distant from Hobart and with no available transport and insufficient money to buy a horse, decided to walk the distance. It was a journey with much danger, from bushrangers, (mostly brutal escaped convicts) and hostile Aboriginals, besides danger from snakes and scorpions, rough roads, and difficult river crossings.

 

On the voyage, Henry became friendly with a fellow passenger, W. O. Vallance, who offered to make the journey to Launceston with Henry. On the night before departure, they met up with Alfred Thrupp, a police constable at Tea Tree who offered them accommodation for a night. It was about 35 kilometres north and on their proposed route. They set out carrying supplies and for protection, each carried a gun. 

During the night at Tea Tree, Vallance was robbed by a convict in the employ of Alfred Thrupp, taking some of his clothes.

After several days, Launceston was reached, and Henry immediately sought contact with John Gleadow. Gleadow was startled when Henry, a tall unknown young man strode into his office, carrying a long barrel duck gun.

Vallance soon decided to return to London and booked a passage aboard the 271-ton sailing ship “Cumberland” departing Hobart 26 May 1827, but never reached England. When off the coast of Brazil, South America, the boat was captured by pirates and all crew and passengers were murdered by drowning, when forced to “walk the plank”. Henry carried this vivid and melancholy memory for the rest of his life.

Employment

Gleadow quickly recognised Henry’s qualities and abilities and immediately employed him to manage one of his stores. A friendship was established that would continue for the rest of their lives. Other friendships developed and included John Batman who founded Melbourne.

By 1829, Henry decided to branch out and establish his own merchandising business, which became very profitable, with operations continuing for several decades by a series of partners and employees.

A Life Change

As a merchant, Henry became well known and soon became regarded as one of Van Diemen’s Land’s leading businessmen. But his inner self felt empty, troubled, and dissatisfied and wanting more than material wealth could provide.

He grew up conscious of his mother’s Christian faith, but till adult life did not possess this for himself, with his early faith being superficial.

However, after two near-death experiences, his attitudes began to change. The first occurred around 1830 when he escaped drowning at Swan Bay in the Tamar River when the boat he was sailing in, alone, turned over on being hit by a squall and foundered. Henry clung to the stern of the upturned boat for about five hours and being a poor swimmer did not expect to be able to safely reach the distant shore, with drowning being a real possibility. Eventually, he fell into the water and, expecting to drown, prayed to God, saying that if God saved him, he would serve Him for the rest of his life. He sank up to his neck in the water, then finding his feet standing on a gravel spit, was able to wade ashore. Though Henry’s intentions were good, not much change occurred in his life in the short term.

A second transforming event occurred in 1831 while Henry was sailing to England aboard the Bombay. After rounding Cape Horn, South America, they were hit by a violent storm, damaging the boat, causing it to spring a leak and was in danger of sinking. To lighten the ship freight was thrown overboard.

With the fear of drowning taking hold, Henry again reverted to prayer, asking God to save him and if he was delivered, would serve him for the rest of his life. However, on safety coming Henry’s resolution was soon forgotten, and he continued life as in the past.

The ship limped into Bahia Harbour, Brazil for repairs before continuing on to England. 

Change came little by little and in due course Henry came to know God and His love and call to care for his neighbour, as taught by Jesus.

Instead of spending his time with horse racing and betting, billiard playing, and nightly card playing, gave his time in serving God and the community.

He became connected with the Wesleyan Methodist Church which at the time was being established in Launceston. In 1835, his name is recorded as being on membership trial. In the same year his name appears as a local preacher on the Launceston and area plan.

Prayer meetings became an important activity, a group meeting at 6.00am throughout the year.

In 1835, he was appointed superintendent of the newly established Paterson St. Launceston, Wesleyan Sunday School. In the same year, he was made a trustee for the proposed Margaret Street Church, planned for the southern area of Launceston. The building was opened in 1838, and Henry was a major contributor to the cost of building, donating £50. At the opening he was appointed the Sunday School superintendent. 

Henry further assisted the Margaret Street church on his return to Tasmania in 1874 when the Sunday School rooms, attached to the rear of the church, were built, contributing £200 of the estimated cost of £530.

Other Community Activities – Launceston

– Member of Northern Association for the Suppression of Felonies

– Member the Launceston Horticultural Society

– Member of a local fund for the Relief of the Sick and Destitute

– joined with John Gleadow in founding the Launceston Infant School

– appointed a local magistrate

– in 1835 appointed an original director of the Bank of Australasia. 

– in 1845 briefly served as a member of the Van Diemen’s Land Legislative Council

Farming Activities

Henry was quick to see the value of land and the supply of convict labour and in 1828 was successful in gaining a grant of 640 acres (257ha) at the Nile Rivulet, plus the assistance of two convicts. He named the property Rockliff Vale, the name honouring his mother’s Rockliff family.

Over his lifetime, Henry continued to buy land with those identified being-

– Nile Farm (3,000 acres) at Deddington and joining Rockliff Vale

– Wesley Dale (6,500 acres) at Chudleigh, in the Deloraine district, purchased in 1836. Soon he had 30 convicts at work further developing the farm.

– Dunorlan Farm (4,160 acres) at Dunorlan, near Wesley Dale. Purchased 1846

– Lenna, (438 acres) near White Hills

– Ridgeside (900 acres) in the Evandale district, purchased 1877

– Mount Vernon (500 acres) at Maitland Lane between Longford and Cressy

– Mount Pleasant (pictured below) , Launceston, Mansion and 120 acres, purchased 1874. Renovations were made and was considered to be the finest house in Northern Tasmania. The Tasmanian Governor stayed there on occasions.

Other Properties – England

– Dunorlan Park – Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, Mansion, and 78 acres (32ha).             Purchased in the 1850s with a new mansion built, with the family taking up residence in 1862

– Dunorlan Villa – Harrogate, Yorkshire – a mansion built by Henry in 1870 and becoming the family home

Other Properties – Buildings, Launceston and Surrounds

– 1828 built a hut for accommodation on his Nile farm 

– 1830 built Macquarie House (in Civic Square Launceston) for use by John Batman as a store house when settling Melbourne.

– 1837 extended the Wesley Dale, Chudleigh home and built an adjoining chapel 

– 1875, on Wesley Dale built the Mountain Villa Mansion and a second adjoining   chapel  

– donated land for a school at Mole Creek

– 1863 at Dunorlan, built a combined residence, school, chapel and a number of homes for his tenants

– a 2-acre house block, at Upper High Street, Launceston, later gifted for an Alms House plus making a donation of £100 to assist with erection of the building

– Parr’s Hotel, Launceston, purchased 1874 with the skittle alley renovated and opened as a Mission Church in 1875

Memorial Mission Church (1885) at Rear the 1880 Mission Church

Front centre Parr’s Hotel – Photo 1880s

– in 1878 to cater for increased numbers attending, built a two storied brick church on the block, opening in 1880, with seating for 300 people.

– again, due to increasing numbers decided to build a larger church, opened 1885, completed after Henry’s death, and was known as the Memorial Mission Church, seating 

of up to 1,500 people.

– Dunorlan Cottages, 98-102 Balfour St., Launceston built 1885 to house needy widows.

Dunorland Cottages,  98-102 Balfour Street, Launceston

– Dunorlan Terrace, 144-175 Wellington St., 14 doubled storied workmen’s units

– Merchant Shop – corner of Charles and Brisbane Streets, Launceston.

– Storage Premises for larger merchandise items, Cameron St., Launceston.

The use of the name DUNORLAND stands out, with Henry regularly applying – it translates meaning “a free gift”, which aligns to his actions in life.

Property – Victoria

• Rosefeld, Queenscliff near Geelong, built 1859. Its purpose being to provide accommodation for pilots guiding shipping passing through Port Phillip Bay on their way to Point Henry. Generations of Port Phillip pilots have called this modest six-roomed house home.

Other Assistance – Tasmania

Henry’s faith went beyond preaching the Word and had practical aspects. People familiar with him said that Henry never refused a genuine request brought to him, whether it was a need for food or other life necessities.

On return to Van Diemen’s Land in 1844 he found the northern region in a state of bankruptcy. Ten or 12 mercantile houses, including an important banking company, collapsed: the result was that almost that all the estates in the northern side of the island were more or less involved. Henry stepped into the breach, protecting all the estates by giving Mr. Fletcher, who was then the manager of the Union Bank, drafts on his London agents to a large amount, taking up all the dishonoured bills, and thus freeing the estates.

On arriving back in Tasmania in 1874 from England, Henry found most of his tenants in a desperate economic situation due to a poor cropping season. He visited each one personally to discuss their situation and needs. He took each person’s indebtedness to his account and conferred new tenures to each with the privilege of fixing their rents. Also, for those who were not comfortably housed, he caused to be built large and substantial residences without any cost to the tenants who were to enjoy them.

Other Assistance – England

In England, Henry’s main interest was preaching and evangelism and travelled to many areas in England and Scotland and at times visiting France. He was greatly moved by the people’s poverty encountered which drew his response.

• At Doncaster, his place of birth, he purchased ten cottages for aged Christians and let them rent free and arranged meeting all rates and maintenance costs.
• Greatly assisted William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, providing funds and advice.
• Contributed to the China Inland Mission
• Helped establish the East London Christian Mission
• Helped establish places of worship in the East End
• Schools on Bow Common
• In 1869 gave the first £1,000 to Rev Wm Pennefather for a church conference hall.

Other Activities

• In the 1870s, he conducted missions at his mansion home, attended by thousands of people.
• In 1875, assisted the New Guinea Mission by providing a steam launch. It was named the “Henry Reed”
• The compiling and publishing the Pioneer Hymn book in 1870. It contains 527 hymns. The book is neatly bound, with the name on the centre of the outside cover, and the motto “JESUS ONLY” at the top, the letters in gold. A copy is held at the Launceston Library, donated by Sir Hudson Fysh, a grandson of Henry and the founder of Quantas Airlines.
• Also published two tracts, “Be filled with the spirit” and “Incidents in an eventful life”.

– 1837 with two others, Henry made a large donation to assist with the building of the Longford Methodist Church. Henry was made a Trustee of the chapel.

– made substantial donations to the Launceston Benevolent Society.

– 1875, established a Sunday School and Band of Hope attached to the Mission church. Henry and his wife Margaret, were listed as the first Band of Hope members.

Horses

Henry had a life interest in all breeds of horses, race for sport and riding, carriage and produce carting and particularly draft horses for farm work. Horses were much valued and bred, with numbers increasing in Tasmania from 2,500 in 1830 to 22,500 by 1870.

Henry was much involved in producing good quality horses and imported well-bred stock from England, one lot in 1834 and more in 1874.

Henry rode one of his horses to Hobart when seeking a stay of execution for a prisoner held in the Launceston goal, as he believed the man was innocent. He needed approval from the Governor. With no time to lose, he rode at speed, with it being noted as the fastest horse ride for the 120-mile journey, a record that still stands. Approval was obtained and the man saved from the dreaded hangman’s noose.

Shipping

Henry’s business interests soon expanded into shipping both as an owner and agent. He had considerable experience in the workings of an agency and during the voyage to Van Diemen’s Land occupied himself with the gaining of knowledge of ship handling and sailing.

His first venture was chartering the Britannia with James Henty, making a trading voyage to Swan River. Soon he had his own ships, The “Henry” was one of the first then followed by the “Socrates” and “Norval”. They were soon engaged in whaling, sealing and general trading between Launceston, Sydney, Hobart, the Victorian coast, New Zealand and London. Another of his ships was the barque “The Henry Reed” of 419 tons and traded to London and North America. Henry at times skippered and navigated his own ships.

In April 1833, Henry purchased the whaler “Norval” and sailed in her to London with his family, returning to Launceston in 1834. Soon after return to Launceston, the Norval took a consignment of wheat to Sydney and proceeded to Mauritius for a load of sugar. His ships were soon busy carrying stores, livestock and migrants from Launceston.

Henry’s Visits to Victoria and Other Southern Australian Places

Henry and his ships regularly visited Victoria and South Australia. In 1835, he reached Port Phillip with John Batman, who founded Melbourne. Henry records the visit stating the only buildings there were two huts occupied by John and Henry Batman, William Buckley, an escaped convict who had lived with an Aboriginal tribe for over 30 years, and three Sydney Aboriginals.

Henry’s enterprise helped the new settlement in many other ways, not least his loan of £3,000 to John Batman.

Henry’s ships were regularly involved in whaling and had processing stations at Kangaroo Island, Spencer Bay and at Portland Bay. The activity was very profitable. He also had men at Western Port gathering wattle bark (used for tanning).

Preaching and Evangelism

Henry was a preacher for over 40 years, mostly operating as a Wesleyan Methodist, firstly in Van Diemen’s Land, 1835 to 1847, then in Great Britain from 1847 to 1873, then again in Tasmania till his death in 1880.

Initially, he was attached to the Launceston circuit, which included the country areas of White Hills, Longford and Perth, Henry attending these places by horseback. He would speak to groups and individuals at every opportunity. He always carried a New Testament and often made quotes from its pages.

On one occasion he rode onto a convict road chain gang at work and decided to preach to them and gave the order to stop work. Being a magistrate, he had the power and authority to take this action.

In 1837 he arranged to be locked up with a group of six prisoners who were scheduled to be executed next morning. He spent the night praying with them and talking about God’s love and care for people including for each there present. Next morning Henry accompanied them to the gallows. He said the men met their deaths in peace and calmness.

Henry made claim of preaching the first sermon at Port Phillip, Melbourne, Victoria in 1835. In that year Henry recorded visiting there and preaching a service attended by John Batman and his brother, William Buckley and three Sydney Aboriginals.

While in the area Henry also reached out to the Aboriginal tribes in the region, spending three weeks with them talking about God’s love for them and help in life. It is likely he communicated via William Buckley, an escaped convict who had lived with the Aboriginals for 30 years, and could speak their language and understood their customs. Henry desired they should escape the trauma experienced by the Tasmanian Aboriginals.

To further assist Henry established a Trust fund, with an initial lodgement of £20-00 and a promise of annual assistance.

Some notable services were conducted while in England. At his birth town of Doncaster he preached to an overflowing congregation which included his mother. Just prior to returning to Tasmania in 1873 he preached to 1,500 people in Wesley Chapel at Bethnal Green and soon after to over 2,000 people on a slope at his Tunbridge Wells home. The people attending were conveyed by two special trains.

Henry’s Life Philosophy

Henry at the end of his life in writing to a friend, outlined his purpose and approach to work. “I have been so accustomed to put my whole heart into anything I have been engaged in, and to do it in the best possible way, and never to be satisfied with anything but decided success, whether in spiritual or temporal things, that it troubles much when I see things half done or carelessly done.

The Late Years

Henry died at his “Mt. Pleasant” home, Prospect, Launceston on 10 October 1880 at near the age of 74 years, with his body laid to rest in the family tomb on the property.

Probate 

From his probate record, it is apparent that Henry over his life had accumulate considerable wealth even after providing much assistance to the needy and provision of properties and various causes. The record shows his assets at £57,000 or after allowing for inflation since 1880 giving a figure of $3,573,900.

Tribute by General William Booth (the founder of the Salvation Army)

William Booth was a close friend of Henry and had much contact, and after Henry’s death wrote as follows – “Henry Reed was a good man. He loved God and good work and good people. His sympathies went out especially for the poor and friendless, and to the means of administering to their spiritual and temporal welfare, was for many years the joy of his life.

“He was a man of unswerving integrity, great courage, inflexible will and tireless energy

“Mr Reed rendered me generous assistance at the commencement of the Salvation Army, for which I shall be everlastingly grateful.”

Written by Ivan Badcock, 30 April 2025.