Van Diemen's Land Company
Encyclopedia
The Van Diemen's Land Company (also found as Van Dieman Land Company) was created in 1824, received a Royal Charter
in 1825, and was granted 250,000 acres (1,000 km²) in northwest Tasmania
in 1826. The company was a group of London
merchant
s who planned a wool growing venture to supply the needs of the British
textile industry
.
The company established its headquarters at Circular Head
under the management of Edward Curr who arrived in Tasmania in 1826.
Much of the initial cargo, stock and farm labourers arrived in Tasmania aboard the Tranmere. Some of the settlers refused to adapt to their new surroundings. For instance they did not recognise that in the southern hemisphere the seasons were reversed. For many years the costs of farming were only just recovered. By the 1880s the company was making more money from timber felling and timber exports than from farming.
The Van Diemen's Land Company introduced bounties on the thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger) from as early as 1830 thereby being implicit in their extinction by relentless bounty hunting. The Van Diemen's Land Company has never been held accountable for its past actions nor issued an apology or paid compenstion.
The Company was the constructor of the early stages of the Emu Bay Railway
between 1875 and 1884.
The company retains some of the original land grant and is widely-believed to be the last chartered company still operating. By the 1970s the company owned one seventh of its original selection.
Royal Charter
A royal charter is a formal document issued by a monarch as letters patent, granting a right or power to an individual or a body corporate. They were, and are still, used to establish significant organizations such as cities or universities. Charters should be distinguished from warrants and...
in 1825, and was granted 250,000 acres (1,000 km²) in northwest Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
in 1826. The company was a group of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
merchant
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
s who planned a wool growing venture to supply the needs of the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
textile industry
Textile industry
The textile industry is primarily concerned with the production of yarn, and cloth and the subsequent design or manufacture of clothing and their distribution. The raw material may be natural, or synthetic using products of the chemical industry....
.
The company established its headquarters at Circular Head
Circular Head
The Circular Head Council is a Local Government Area of Tasmania. It covers the far north-west corner of the state mainland.The major centres of the municipality are Smithton, on the north coast; Stanley, east of Smithton; and Marrawah on the west coast...
under the management of Edward Curr who arrived in Tasmania in 1826.
Much of the initial cargo, stock and farm labourers arrived in Tasmania aboard the Tranmere. Some of the settlers refused to adapt to their new surroundings. For instance they did not recognise that in the southern hemisphere the seasons were reversed. For many years the costs of farming were only just recovered. By the 1880s the company was making more money from timber felling and timber exports than from farming.
The Van Diemen's Land Company introduced bounties on the thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger) from as early as 1830 thereby being implicit in their extinction by relentless bounty hunting. The Van Diemen's Land Company has never been held accountable for its past actions nor issued an apology or paid compenstion.
The Company was the constructor of the early stages of the Emu Bay Railway
Emu Bay Railway
The Melba Line is a narrow gauge railway on the west coast of Tasmania. The line was originally constructed as a private railway line named the Emu Bay Railway and was one of the longest lasting and successful private railway companies in Australia...
between 1875 and 1884.
The company retains some of the original land grant and is widely-believed to be the last chartered company still operating. By the 1970s the company owned one seventh of its original selection.