In 1798, Matthew Flinders and
George Bass sheltered in the waters of the Tamar River. They spent 16 days
exploring the river. Originally known as Ponrabbel by the indigenous people,
the river was named Dalrymple by Governor Hunter after the naval hydrographer
Alexander Dalrymple. In November 1804, Lt. Col. William Paterson and a party of
settlers, soldiers, and convicts created a temporary settlement at Port
Dalrymple (now George Town) on the River. It was Paterson who renamed the river
Tamar after the River Tamar in south-west England. A month later the settlement
was moved to lower head, which provided a better port for unloading of ships.
Paterson named the settlement Yorton.
At the height of the settlement, York Town
had a population of 300 people. Today York Town is significant as it was the
fifth oldest settlement in Australia behind Port Jackson (Sydney - 1788),
Norfolk Island (1788), Risdon Cove (Hobart - 1803), Port Phillip (Melbourne –
1803). Settlement in the area was important to secure British control in Bass
Strait from the French. It also allowed settlers from Norfolk Island to
re-settle.
The local historians have done a
wonderful job informing visitors of the town’s history via an interpretive
walk.
The town consisted of a general store, government gardens, guard houses, gaol, and settler’s cottages. Today a replica of a hut that was typical of the
time has been built on the interpretive walk.
The landscape is virtually
unchanged, and is well worth a visit. The original buildings are now all gone,
but the memory still remains. Beaconsfield Mine and Heritage centre has a
display of artifacts found at York Town.
We set up our camp at Water Mill
Cottage Campground. Situated in the middle of old York Town on a farm, at $10 a
night one can un-hitch and do day trips around the area.
It is a lovely
peaceful spot with lovely green grass and open spaces. The unique replica of a
water mill on a lake is a lovely touch. This is private property and only open
in Summer.
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