The photograph above, captured on 22 February 1904, shows the unveiling of the monument commemorating the landing of British Royal Navy officer John Bowen at Risdon Cove, the site of one of Australia’s earliest European settlements.

The event was reported on by The Sydney Morning Herald:

“The centenary of the foundation of the colony was auspiciously celebrated today. The weather was beautiful. Business was wholly suspended, and the city was brilliant with bunting, while the streets were thronged with people. The great function of the day was the unveiling of the memorial obelisk at Risdon, to commemorate the first landing of Lieutenant Bowen. Their Excellencies Sir Arthur Havelock and Vice-Admiral Fanshawe took part.

The warships Mutine and Torch fired a salute of 17 guns, and there was an impressive aquatic display of local craft in Risdon Bay. Steamers were laden with sightseers, crowds also lined the banks of the river, and the scene was unique in Tasmanian annals. One special feature was the handing of the deed of gift of the land whereon the obelisk is erected. This was done by Mr. Albury, the donor.”

The unveiling of the monument had originally been scheduled for the previous year to mark the 100th anniversary of Bowen’s landing, but it was postponed due to a local outbreak of smallpox.

In December 1995, the state government transferred ownership of Risdon Cove to the Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania in an act of reconciliation. On the day of the transfer, the Bowen Memorial was badly vandalised.

It has been vandalised sporadically ever since.

Background

John Bowen

Tasked with establishing a permanent settlement at Risdon Cove, John Bowen arrived there in 1803, accompanied by a number of convicts, marines, and free settlers.

The site had been badly chosen, however. It lacked the fresh water needed to sustain a large, substantial settlement, and the soil was not quite good enough for growing crops. It also didn’t have a harbour. (To reach the settlement, you had to anchor your ship in the Derwent River and send boats up a creek.) The only good thing about Risdon Cove was that it was easily defendable in the event of an attack.

Therefore, when David Collins of the Royal Marines was placed in charge of Van Diemen’s Land as Lieutenant-Governor, he decided to abandon the site in favour of Sullivan’s Cove, where present-day Hobart is situated.

Bowen left Van Diemen’s Land shortly after and soon returned to England. He was understandably disillusioned and frustrated about Collins’ decision. After all, he had worked hard to establish the settlement at Risdon Cove and ensure it survived into the future.

He died in 1827 after a long illness. He was forty-seven.

Risdon Cove: A Brief History (General Interest)

Tas That Was is a column that includes:

  • anecdotes of life in Tasmania in the past;
  • historical photographs of locations in Tasmania; and/or
  • documentaries about locations in Tasmania.

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Callum J. Jones studied English, History, and Journalism at the University of Tasmania. He has written fiction and non-fiction for Tasmanian Times since 2018, and can be traced by the smell of fresh coffee.

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