This article outlines the history of Smooth Island, popularly known as Garden Island, in Norfolk Bay, Tasmania. The names come from the island's gently undulating topography and lush vegetation in comparison with the stony mainland. It has been privately owned since 1864.
History Before European settlement
Prior to European settlement, the Forestier Peninsula to the east of Smooth Island is believed to have been occupied by the Pydairrerme band of the Oyster Bay (Paredarerme) tribe of Aboriginal Tasmanians. They spoke the Paredarerme language. There is no recorded evidence of any remaining Paredarerme people in the region after the 1830s.
European settlement
In 1793 Jean-Baptiste Philibert Willaumez (of the Antoine Bruni d'Entrecasteaux expedition) was the first European to discover Smooth Island. The island is found on d'Entrecasteaux's maps, though it is unnamed.
On 15 December 1798 Matthew Flinders was the first Briton to set foot on Smooth Island. He stopped to take bearings and spent two nights on the island. He described his impression of the island: [They] moved on to another island which, from a distance, appeared unusually attractive. At close quarters, the island seemed every bit as beautiful as it did from afar. Its surface was smooth and the texture of its soil contained a richness which is rarely found in uncultivated land. It was estimated that there must have been at least one hundred acres of good, yielding agricultural ground. But the unhappy and part of this seemingly natural course taken by the sloop was the denial of the sighting by the ship's personnel of an isthmus which would have been of great importance to them. But "Smooth Island", as they so aptly named it, was indeed delectable and aforded them two delightful days in exploring its scenery and absorbing its charm and beauty. They observed that the Aborigines paid this scenic spot many visits because of its garden-like qualities as compared with the stony-like terrain of the mainland which, although well-wooded and contained many kangaroos, seemed harsh and uninviting in comparison to their "Garden Island", a title it eventually acquired.
Flinders charted the island and his passage through the region on the map Chart of Terra Australis – By M Flinders – 1798–1799 – South Coast, Sheet VI. He described his initial impression of sailing eastwards from Doughboy Island in Frederick Henry Bay towards Norfolk Bay:
The country on the eastern side of the bay, is stony; and, wherever we landed, is wretchedly barren. The islands have a better appearance. Smooth Island, contains about one hundred acres of ground, that might answer for a garden: its soil is shallow and sandy. He appeared surprised by the nautical ability of the Aboriginal Tasmanians: The natives of Frederick Henry Bay, have some mode of conveyance by water; for they had visited Betsey's Island, the Isle of Caves, Smooth Island, and Gull Island; and, perhaps, the others. It has been a received opinion, that the inhabitants of this part of Van Diemen's Land have no canoes; and, had our observations been confined to the Derwent River, we should have joined in that opinion.
In A Voyage to Terra Australis he wrote, "Smooth Island [...] is three-quarters of a mile long, and covered with grass and a few small trees. It has been visited by the natives, as had the Isle of Caves; but from the eggs of gulls found upon both, I judge they do not go often." In the same text he also said, "Of the four islands in the bay, Smooth and Gull islands were found superior in fertility to the mainland: the first contains about of tolerable pasturage".
In Matthew Flinders narrative of a voyage in the sloop Norfolk, 7 October 1798 – 12 January 1799 he wrote, "In the afternoon we weighed and steered for a smooth beautiful looking island up the opening which bore from E.5°.30' to 10°.40' south from the Isle of Caves; and measured another base in the same manner as before; their distance asunder is five miles and three-quarters. On landing upon this smooth island in the evening we did not find the goodness of the soil equal to its appearance: it would however make a fine large Garden, there being more than a hundred acres of culturable ground upon it. December. 16. Sunday. In the morning I again landed to take bearings from another part of the island; after which, we weighed and ran to the south side of a point which lays one mile and a half to the S.Eward; the wind fresh from the Northward. From a hill, that stands a little within this point, I had a good view of the form of the bay in its neighbourhood. Monday. 17th. In the evening we ran round to the north side of the point, there being every appearance of a southerly Gale coming on; but it continued moderate, and in the morning we landed upon the Islet called Gull Island in the chart."
1800s
Role in the Risdon Cove convict settlement
In summary: 22 April 1804: an attempted mutiny occurred at Risdon Cove convict settlement 28 April: Bowen (the Commandant of Risdon settlement) personally took eight Irish prisoners to Smooth island using his own boat. Bowen then subsequently explored the Huon River for several days, on a recreational basis. 3 May: (in Bowen's absence): Risdon was attacked by aborigines. 6 May: The King instructed Collins to take command of Risdon settlement 8 May: Collins gave Bowen orders to remove the convicts from Smooth Island. 9 August: The Risdon settlement was relocated to Sullivans Cove, whilst Bowen and the majority of the convicts were transferred back to Sydney.
From "Early History of Tasmania", Volume 2, by Ronald Worthy Giblin:
On 6 May 1804 the King requested Collins take over command of the Risdon settlement from Bowen. Upon taking over, Collins decided to relocate the Risdon settlement to Sullivan Cove, leaving Bowen in charge of Risdon until the move had completed. On 8 May Collins issued the following instructions to Bowen: Collins reported to the Secretary of State, Lord Hobart, in July 1804, that he had retained only nine of the Risdon Cove prisoners, "Eight of whom had been banished...to an Island in Storm Bay, upon suspicion of harbouring some Mutinous design". Being mostly of the "class of United Irishmen" he sent them to Port Jackson "not choosing to introduce any such description of People among those I brought with me, until my Military Force shall be better calculated from its Strength to Watch over them"ibid., Collins to Hobart, 31 July 1804In 1824 Thomas Scott conducted a survey of Tasmania, producing a detailed map of Tasmania (including the Norfolk Bay region).
On 15 February 1836 Smooth Island was defined as lying within the county of Pembroke.
On 10 February 1837 Captain Charles O'Hara Booth (commandant of Port Arthur penal settlement) woke on Slopin Main and travelled to Smooth Island (called Garden Island) to spend the day hunting with his associate, Ramsay.Rose betimes – dilly dally'd until 8 A.M. crossed to Garden Island took Guns & Dogs – Ramsay & self bagged 15 Couple & a half – Shot between us six couple – Self killed 5 out of 7 Shots – got into Settlement pretty tired by 8 1/2 P.M. Snoozed like tops – black as tinkers.
On 17 September 1839, Smooth Island was offered for sale as part of the 'Estate of Fulham'. THE ESTATE OF FULHAM. COMPRISING about 3000 Acres, situate at East Bay Neck, bounded by the Bay, Crown Land, and Messrs. Crocker and Steele. As an Agricultural Farm, this Estate possesses advantages rarely to be met with; 250 acres of rich wheat land is already in the highest state of cultivation, enclosed and subdivided with substantial fencing. The Homestead is most substantial and complete, with good garden and excellent water. The Residence (newly erected) comprises 15 apartments, suitable for a family of the first respectability. The produce can be shipped from the barn door. The title is unexceptionable; Garden Island is included in the Grant. For further particulars, apply to T. Y. LOWES. N.B. – A liberal credit will be given, at 8 per cent, interest, and any quantity of stock may be taken at a valuation by the purchaser.
Captain Charles O'Hara Booth liked the idea of owning an island; in 1839 he applied to the Land and Survey Department to buy Smooth Island but was informed that, although a lease could be arranged, ownership of all islands was reserved for the government.
A publication from 2011 indicates Smooth Island may have been used to grow vegetables for the Port Arthur penal settlement, which was in operation from 1833 to 1853. However this claim cannot yet be verified.
On 19 February 1863, Thomas Reid commissioned the surveyor general, James Erskine Calder, to assess the island.Request to survey the island. (original document) In his survey, Calder determined the island was , lightly timbered, with about suitable for agricultureSurvey report by E. Calder Esp, Surveyor General, 1863. (original document) with little or no clearing. He believed that the remaining portion of the land could be cleared or burned-off for pasture. He rated the island's water to be of good quality but unproven for the demands of cattle.Survey report by E. Calder Esp, Surveyor General, 1863. (original document) The eastern shore of the island was found to have the best landings, and had been improved in four places, Calder believed, for whaling operations carried out on Norfolk Bay.Survey report by E. Calder Esp, Surveyor General, 1863. (original document) There had been some mineral exploration for blue granite and iron, though no beds were found. Calder evaluated the island as "well worth per acre".Survey report by E. Calder Esp, Surveyor General, 1863. (original document)
On 14 April 1863 Smooth Island, which was classed as agricultural Crown land at the time, was designated for sale at public auction on 23 April the following year, in accordance with the Waste lands Act. Several key clauses of the act were described. It was initially listed for a minimum sale price of . Thomas Gabriel Reid commissioned a detailed survey of the island which took place between 10 and 14 July 1863 (see survey report inset). It appears Thomas Gabriel Reid purchased the island on 21 April 1864 for only . A "Thomas G. Read" was recorded as living in the nearby town of Sorell in 1866. On 31 October 1894, Thomas Gabriel Read died at New Norfolk at 70 years of age. He was the second son of Captain G. F. Read. Thomas Gabriel Read was a notable gold-miner. A detailed biography of Thomas Gabriel Read is available.
On 8 November 1869, Lieutenant Colonel Mundy said, "the pretty wooded Garden Island [was] lying in the jaws of [Norfolk Bay]", suggesting that clearfelling had not yet occurred on the island.
On 4 April 1870, a sailor traveling past Smooth Island wrote in a local newspaper, Garden Island is the peaceful abode of two or three families, and its cultivated appearance renders its name quite apropos. Water is plentiful, but in dry seasons brackish, and the place is well adapted for the rearing of stock, a matter not lost sight of.
On 14 March 1878, a newspaper article reported "[In] Norfolk Bay, about two miles from East Bay Neck, lies Garden Island, which is under cultivation, and yields excellent crops".
On 26 July 1878, Smooth Island was sold at auction for . Prior to its sale, real estate agents had advertised it as: [...] containing of the most superior land, nearly all of which has been cultivated, and is now most luxuriantly grassed, and well watered in the driest season. [...] For richness of soil and the production of heavy root and grain crops, this property has no equal in Tasmania.
On 5 August 1878, Garden Island's new owner, James Quested, published a notice in newspapers warning that he would prosecute any fishermen, craftsman or others trespassing upon the island.