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Throwback Thursday!![]()
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Did you know about the oldest convict island in the Macquarie harbour?![]()
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Sarah Island was established in 1822, As a penal Station by the Colonial government being a secondary punishment establishment for convicts, it's primary labour and exports were Huon pine and pine boats, Sarah Island was chastised for its poor economics, mistreatment and low morale of the convicts.![]()
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By 1833 the Penal Island was decommissioned, and Port Arthur became the secondary-punishment role, After the decommissioning of the island it became a base camp for Piner's from the 1850s to the 1880s and again 1930s through to the 1940s and being looted for the various building materials.![]()
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The photograph we have from our archives here today is dated from 1895 with a group picnic at the Islands old courthouse.![]()
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What interesting stories do you know about Sarah Island?
What's that Wednesday?![]()
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Today's Curious Artefact, is a Mechanical Computer, also known as the Millionaire Calculator, it was the first commercially successful calculator to preform direct multiplication rather than by repeated addition. ![]()
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Designed by otter Steiger, A Swiss engineer living in Germany, The Millionaire was in production from 1893 to 1935 with a total of approximately five thousand! distributed world.![]()
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The Millionaire was first patented in Germany in 1892 and issued in France, Switzerland, Canada and the USA. Later being taken up by the Zurich engineer Hans W. Egli, who made numerous changes and improvements from 1899 to 1935.![]()
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Unfortunately, the supply to Australia were limited by the import restrictions of WW2, Only Thirty-two, Millionaire calculators remain in Australia with 17 in private collections and 15 available to the public.
Mineral Monday!![]()
Today's interesting mineral is actually two in one shown with these fascinating branching patterns in the primary mineral itself, the primary stone forms in supersaturated saline lagoons and are quite abundant around them, while the secondary mineral usually forms in various patterns ranging from streaks to fibrous leaves.![]()
So, do you know what this interesting mineral is?
The information below is being shared by West Coast Heritage Centre on behalf of Bluestone Mines Tasmania Joint Venture Pty Ltd (BMTJV).
Throwback Thursday! ![]()
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Bet you didn't know Mount Read ever had its own rowing club, we certainly didn't until now!![]()
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The Mount Read township was a short-lived settlement at the Hercules Mine on the western slopes of Mount Read. Situated at 1,000m above sea level, the settlement holds the title of most-elevated town to have ever existed in Tasmania. ![]()
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With such high elevation comes extreme challenges with weather and accessibility, it was not long before the town of Williamsford was established at the much more liveable altitude of 217m c.1896. ![]()
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We are yet to find any record of the Mt Read Rowing Club ever winning a race, perhaps they would have had a better chance in a bobsleigh competition... ❄
