In 1853 the Saint Vincent docked at Hobart, the last convict ship to be sent to Van Dieman’s Land. Transportation was abolished and the first parliament elected. In that same year, in an attempt to wipe the slate clean of its terrible reputation as ‘The Gardens of Hell’, it was given a new name after Able Tasman, the Dutch founder of Van Dieman’s Land.
Tasmania was born. No longer a penal colony or a place of confinement, but a free state, inviting free settlers to come and enjoy the beauty and prosperity it had to offer. The people celebrated with streets parties and festivities and rejoiced in putting an end to the brutal way of life that so many had had to endure. They counted themselves as the lucky ones, who had survived to see the change. Yet there were so many that did not live to see that historic day.
It was on this day that an ageing man sat alone in the corner of a public house near the harbour in Hobart town, watching from the window as the euphoria built up in the street and folk flocked in from the surrounding regions to join in the celebrations. The town was ablaze with drunken joviality. Van Deiman’s Land was gone forever, cast out into the ocean along with its chains and fetters; left to rot for all eternity. The man was pleased but reluctant to join in the celebrations, reflecting instead on those that could not be there with him. The lines etched on his face told the story of his heart, and years of pain had leeched the colour from his once youthful blue eyes. He raised his tankard of ale in a toast to his missing friends and loved ones, when a young woman, barely twenty, made her way through the crowd to the table where he sat. To the man she was a daily reminder of the woman he had loved and lost so many years ago, she was named after her and inheriting her image.
Young Sarah pulled her father’s arm to encourage him to join in the fun, but though he smiled, he refused, content to stay where he was. As much as he welcomed the change, he still clung to the past – his heart forever bound to Sarah.
THE END
HISTORICAL NOTE
During the twelve years that Sarah Island existed there were over one hundred and fifty deaths. Fifty men were murdered, hanged, or died from abuse and maltreatment or as a result of work related accidents. Thirty-two drowned and a small number died of natural causes. Over one hundred men escaped, sixty of whom died, including eight who were eaten by their comrades. Unable to penetrate the dense forests and woodland, they either got lost, or starved to death rather than risk going back to the settlement.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to acknowledge the sources of research and inspiration for the writing of this book.
‘For the Term of his Natural Life’ Marcus Clarke.
‘The Fatal Shore’ Robert Hughes.
‘Sarah Island’ Ian Brand.
‘The treadmill and the rope’ Tod Sloan.
I would also like thank the staff of Liverpool central library, Sydney and Melbourne central libraries for their assistance in my research.
Finally, I would like to thank my family for all their support in the creation of this book.
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