by james backhouse walker. 227 



2, The Founding ov Hobart. 



On Tuesday, the 21st February, 1804, the Ocean and 

 Lady Nelson were warped up to within half a cable length 

 of Hunter's Island, the rest of the people were landed, and 

 the discharge of the stores began. The Lieut.-Governor's 

 tent was pitched on the slope overlooking the oove near 

 the spot where the Town Hall now stands. The Chap- Knopwood. 

 Iain's marquee was pitched next to the Governor's, and 

 those of the other civil officers in close proximity on the 

 same slope. The tents of the convicts were furthei* 

 inland, extending from about the present Telegraph 

 Office at the corner of Macquarie and Elizabeth Streets, 

 back to Collins Street to the- edge of the scrub in the 

 valley of the creek. The camp of the marines was 

 placed higher up towards the Cathedral. On the Tuesday 

 night, Knopwood says, " I slept at the camp for the 

 first time, and so did the Lieut.-Governor." Jorgensen, Jorg^ensen's 

 who as mate of the Ladi/ Nelso)i, had assisted at the autobiog. in 

 settlement of Risdon in the preceding September, and -^f*^ 

 was now in the same capacity assisting at the founding jgg^^ ' 

 of Hobart, gives us a graphic sketch of the scene on that 

 first day. As soon as the tents had been pitched under 

 the shadow of the great gum-trees, spades, hoes, saws, 

 and axes were put into the hands of the prisoners, and 

 they began clearing away as fast as they could. The 

 block just opposite the Tasraanian Museum, behind 

 the old Bank of Van Diemen's Land building to the 

 neighbouring mouth of the creek, was then an impervious 

 grove of the densest tea tree scub, surmounted by some 

 of the largest gum-trees that this island can produce. 

 All along the rivulet, as far up as the old mill beyond 

 MoUe Street Bridge, was impassable from the denseness 

 of the scrub, and the huge collections of fallen trees and 

 dead timber which had been washed down the stream 

 and were strewed and piled in confusion in its bed. In 

 many places the stream was darilmed back, and spread out 

 into marshes covered with rushes and water. 



Governor Collins had amongst his various stores a 

 small printing press, which had already done service at 

 the Port Phillip camp. This was set up under a con- 

 venient gum-tree, and on the day of landing the first 

 printed work issued from the Tasmanian press. It was 

 a General Order, fixing the weekly rations to be issued 

 to each person — viz., 7 lbs. beef or 4 lbs. pork, 7 lbs. 

 flour, and 6 oz. sugar. The second day's order, with a 

 backward glance at the casks sunk at the foot of the Port 

 Phillip sandhills, expressed the Governor's satisfaction at 



