Recherche Bay saved in historic deal
On February 8th 2006 the historic forest on the North East Peninsula of Recherche Bay was saved from logging. It was the same day 213 years ago, that the French had their significant friendly meeting with the Tasmanian Aboriginal people the Lyluquonny on the nearby beach at Black Swan Lagoon.
In a significant outcome for the cultural historic landscape now listed as a National Heritage, the owners David and Robert Vernon agreed to sell their historic property to the Tasmanian Land Conservancy to be managed for the nation. In a deal brokered by Senator Bob Brown, generously underwritten by businessman Dick Smith and with the Tasmanian State Government contributing, the historic forest is now safe from logging.
As the Tasmanian Land Conservancy now has to raise the $2.5
million to repay Dick and Pip Smith, we urge people to contribute to
the fund. For more details go to: www.tasland.org.au or
email info@tasland.org.au
The Recherche Bay Protection Group give heartfelt thanks to all who helped
contribute to this win-win historic outcome.
There will be a Public Launch for the fundraising effort on Sunday Feb 26th
from 10.30am at Leprena / Moss Glen on the shores of Recherche Bay. It is 2.2hrs
South of Hobart on the Huon Highway just before Cockle Creek. BYO picnic. No
dogs please.
Eucalyptus Globulus, Tasmania's floral
emblem
first identified at Recherche Bay by Labillardière in 1792
courtesy of Tasmaniana Library, State Library of Tasmania
(click image to enlarge)
Sauvages du cap de Diemen
after a sketch by Piron
courtesy of Tasmaniana Library, State Library of Tasmania
(click image to enlarge)
Flottila & picnic on Sunday 26 February 2006 !
Join the flotilla in historic Recherche Bay, BYO canoes,
kayaks, surfboards, dinghies. Be on the water by 9.30am.
Come for
the picnic on the lawn at Moss Glen! BYO picnic, drinks, blanket
and kite.
Hear speeches by Bob Brown, Tasmanian Land
Conservancy, Recherche Bay Protection Group and more.
2 hours drive south of Hobart via Dover on the Huon Highway.
To be on the flotilla call Marty on 0409 981 062.
For other information call Anne on 0412 355 572.
Previous News
RALLY FOR RECHERCHE BAY
Saturday November 5
Parliament
House Lawns, Hobart.
Speakers include Bob Brown,
Peter Cundall and Dr Edward Duyker.
Organised
by the Recherche Bay Protection Group, supported by the Tasmanian
Wilderness Society.
The rally was a great success, here are a few photos
from the day (by Martin Wyness).
 Bob, Edward and Peter signing posters |
 Bob Brown |
 Edward Duyker |
 Peter Cundall |
Recent events and publications
28 October 2005
On the 250th anniversary of French botanist Labillardiere’s
birth, the Recherche Bay Protection Group calls on the State and Federal
governments to bring to a halt plans to log the northeast
peninsula of Recherche Bay. Read
more (pdf document, 77kb)
6 October 2005
National Heritage Listing of North-East Peninsula, logging
to go ahead The Federal Department of Environment and Heritage included
the northeast peninsula of Recherche Bay under Australia's national
heritage list, and approved funding for archaeological studies of
sites on the peninsula. Despite the listing, federal Minister for
the Environment and Heritage Senator Campbell stated logging could
go ahead on the northeast peninsula.
19
August 2005
Launch of Bob Brown's exhibition and book: Tasmania's
Recherche Bay Launching his photographic exhibition 'Tasmania's
Recherche Bay' in Hobart, Bob Brown presented some fifteen photographs
of the forests, bay and adjacent lagoons, taken from a helicopter,
of this spectacular region.
The exhibition also includes work by French Tasmanian photographer Loic de
Guilly www.lophoto.com,
and reproductions of French engravings and drawings of Tasmanian aborigines
whom French explorers encountered at Recherche Bay, as well as key botanical
specimens collected by them at Recherche Bay sites in 1792 and 1793.
The book collection of these photographs by Bob Brown, entitled "TASMANIA'S
RECHERCHE BAY A Globally inspiring story" draws together a selection
of the French accounts of their visits to Recherche Bay in 1792 and 1793, highlighting
the discoveries made by the French and their positive encounters with the Lyluequonny
people and their beautiful environment.
8 August 2005
Visits by historians and archaeologists French historian
Hélène Richard (Le voyage de d'Entrecasteaux à la
recherche de la Pérouse, Paris, 1986), and New Caledonian
ethno-archaeologist Jean-Christophe Galipaud visited Recherche Bay
on 3 August 2005 to view French sites at Recherche bay. Tasmanian
department of Tourism, Parks, Heritage and Arts confirmed a survey
is to be conducted at the request of French and Australian officials
in 2006. (Simon Bevilacqua, Sunday Tasmanian, October 23 2005, p.4).
Information regarding this research programme has not been made public
to the Tasmanian community. It appears to be being undertaken pursuant
to an arrangement between Australia and France which was foreshadowed
when the logging plan was approved, but no other detail is available
to us.
20 April 2005
Paper delivered to National Congress of Historical and Scientific societies
in France by Tasmanian Greens leader Peg Putt MHA and Professor Claude
Sastre France by Tasmanian Greens leader Peg Putt MHA appealed to
the National Congress of Historical and Scientific Societies of France in
a meeting in La Rochelle for assistance to save the common heritage of France
and Australia at Recherche Bay in southern Tasmania which is threatened by
logging. The joint paper by Peg Putt and Professor Claude Sastre of the French
National Museum of Natural Sciences followed a visit by Professor Sastre
to the Recherche Bay site. He has subsequently identified further herbaria
in Paris museums collected by Labillardière in 1792 and 1793.
17 April 2005
1000 people rally to protect Recherche Bay
In
a huge show of support for its protection, over 1000 people marched
along the proposed logging road to Recherche Bay in the far south
of Tasmania.
Conservationists are calling for the federal government to intervene and purchase
this 140 ha piece of Australian and French history.
Photo by Martin Wyness.
Art and Science on the Beach, 5 February 2005
An
arts and cultural event was held on the southern shore of Recherche
bay, at [Rocky Bay beach ]organized by the Far South Regional Arts organization.
The event opened with a re-enactment of the landing of French expedition
leader Bruni d'Entrecasteaux, and a ceremony commemorating the French
meeting with aboriginal inhabitants in 1792 and 1793 in that region.
Attended
by some three hundred people, the day was a combination of picnic on the
beach, theatre, education and rowing, in a stunning setting facing the
north of Recherche Bay, the historic vessel the 'One and All' at anchor
and snow peaked Mt La Perouse in the distance.
Participants picnicked
on the beach, rowed the restored Tasmanian whale boat Swiftsure II
around the bay, and listened to performances of the 'Recherche Baybes',
an ensemble of local female artists who dress in French period costume
and sing original compositions about the French expeditions and historical
characters. Displays and talks were also held about the scientific and
botanical discoveries made by the French expeditioners.
Recherche Bay - A short History (2004)
Local Tasmanian Historian, Bruce Poulson, has launched an
exciting new book, 'Recherche Bay - a short history', for the first time in
one book, the often surprising history of the bay is covered. This splendid
collection takes us from the first friendly encounters between the Europeans
and the Aboriginal people, the French d'Entrecasteaux expedition to tales of
mutiny and piracy.
Order for the book can be made via Fullers
bookshop.
Living Artists' Exhibition
Far south artists including Caroline Amos, Wren Fraser Cameron, Greg Hogg,
Jane Thiele, Deborah Wace and Howard Whitehead took part in Tasmania's 2004
"Living Artists' Week", with discussions and exhibitions of ceramics, sculpture,
paintings, songs, jewelry and scrimshaw reflecting and interpreting the natural
landscape, botany and maritime history of the region.