Searching for clues and details of the infamous convict tramway at Port Arthur in Tasmania. Instagram / angusthornett Twitter / angusthornett LinkTree linktr.ee/angu...
My grandmother's family lived at Newman's Creek. She told me once that she could remember the "convict huts for the tramway" still standing at Taranna. She would have seen them about a century ago, long after they'd stopped being used for their original purpose. I can't ask her any more about it, as she's no longer with us, and neither is my father! So it's just an anecdote of an eye-witness account of some remnants that had somehow survived half a century.
You know the only problem with your videos? They're not long enough I mean that in a good way, as I would have even more to enjoy. Please make them longer, pretty please? as I really enjoy learning more about the history of our beautiful Tassie. The fact you are not promoting music (which totally ruins the content) like others do, is a big plus for me. I can just focus on the story. Keep up the great work Angus. PS Give your pup a cuddle from me!
I’m 56 and remember as a child of around 12 going on a tour to Port Arthur and being told on the way of this tramway (and also the hungry dogs they had tied at the neck of the peninsula close together to stop any convicts getting off).
Just as much of Van Diemen's Land's history is forever unknown and shrouded in mystery, pre-colonial history is too -- from Port Davey villages to northern ochre quarries, Derwent burials to highland trading, spirituality & folklore to petroglyphs, countless family histories to ancient climates unrecognisable.
How absolutely fascinating. I well remember learning about the convict railway at school. When, as an adult, I first visited the Port Arthur area I expected to see its remains. But sadly there was nothing there. Keep up your excellent forensic work.
So interesting and beautifully composed Angus…your efforts always get the imagination going while being reminded of important historical facts that otherwise are lost in time…
my nan's brother used to live very close to actual path of that wharf inn (only now i have discovered your channel) surname was Nichols. i think the house used to be blue way way way back when i was a lil kid in the late 70/80's but has now been replaced with something modern.
Few people have that certain "it" factor in telling a story, the ability to totally capture the listener/viewer's attention. You have this in spades. Keep up the good work. I was wondering where you were going to go after covering Hobart. Will we see you on the mainland?
Thanks, mate. While the channel is slowly growing, it's not profitable yet. Perhaps over time it can grow. It may have potentially reached its potential audience already though.
@@angusthornett I'm in the other 10% and I've subscribed because I'm interested in what you present. And it's about how you present it, your presentational style, that is your X factor. I believe and you should believe that this 10% will grow with time. Don't limit yourself to Tasmania.
Very Interesting. I knew about the Convict railway but thought it ran through the bush to Port Arthur. I would suspect that over the years and the many bushfires the vehicle and the tracks would have been destroyed. Interestingly my GGG Grandfather was a convict at Port Arthur and also Saltwater River. His trade was as a sawyer and so do not know if he actually worked in the mines or cut timber for various uses. It is such a shame that records of these types of things have been lost to time. My guess is that the Governments and the people wanted to forget about the convict heritage and so interest in preserving it waned.
Another great video that has me fiddling around with Google maps. Abandoned railways do leave their mark, often only visible from above. Are there any records left of convict work assignments. I wonder if train pushing was seen as a promotion or a punishment.
@@angusthornett That would be cool! You have the best ways of highlighting the areas and then making them easy to understand with footage and description -- and dog. I wonder if we have hiking laws like Norway (or Scotland?) where you can traverse private land without permission (while observing common rules) on a walk.
I've found this whole series so well done, we'll be in Hobart November '23 (from QLD) & this has given us lots and lots of different things to investigate while there... Well done Angus, thanks for sharing your passion and knowledge. Just one thing though, we need more!!
I wonder what information can be found about suicide cliff (the actual name) off the Golf course at Port Arthur, and the arrow carved into the rock below. Story I've heard is that was where the convicts worked out was the best part of the cliff to leap from.
That was fascinating as I had heard about the railway in For the Term of his Natural Life, but never really thought about where it might actually have been. Another great docco and loving your work. Many thanks
You need to chat to lynton brown who recently moved from Norfolk Bay convict station, he's a wealth of knowledge and has a mass amout of documents. He's now down franklin. Also laurie tatnell who owns the open museum. Also the land owner out Saltwater River who owns all those old buildings, contact via Tiger Bay retreat. I'm a local also
I read about this and just didn't go been everywhere else down there uploaded a few myself last few weeks nothing special as in editing wise but hey it's all history that counts 🙂
