Cygnet is older than Melbourne, South Australia and Queensland.
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The first mention of the Huon area of Tasmania, or Van Diemen's Land, was made in 1788 when Captain Cook landed at Adventure Bay on Bruny Island. Eleven years later, Lieutenant Bligh in the Bounty visited Adventure Bay and planted some apple trees - the beginning of an industry. In 1793 Bruni D'Entrecasteaux visited the area and named Kermandie (ec), Esperance Bay and Recherche Bay after his two ships, D'Entrecasteaux Channel and Port du Cygne (place of swans). In 1802 Commodore Baudin visited Port Cygnet and named the Fleurieu River (later Anges Rivulet). One of his party, Peron, wrote of meeting a beautiful young aboriginal girl - Oura Oura - and her family. It can be seen from this that Cygnet has a history older than the founding of Melbourne, and of the settlements of South Australia and Queensland.
The First settlers.
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"Lieutenant John Bowen settled at East Risdon in 1803, John Batman arrived in Port Philip in June 1835, Colonel William Light landed at the site for Adelaide on 21 November 1836."
The first settler was William Nichols who sailed around the coast from Browns River (Kingston) where he had a property. He liked the area and in 1834 brought his wife and children to settle along the river valley through which a stream later named Nicholls Rivulet, flowed on toward the bay. Until recent years the remains of the old Nichols house could be seen. It was claimed that Nichols could build his own vessel, rig it and sail it anywhere in the world. In 1835 the Cowen family came and settled nearby. They were followed by the Bleeze, Poole and Pursell families. In 1843 we find the first mention of the O'Rourke, Henley and Lancaster families. In 1838 Matthew Fitzpatrick came from Ireland with his wife and sisters and settled at Petcheys Bay, where he eventually planted an orchard. In 1840 the town at Port Cygnet was divided into building blocks and in 1841 land allotments were for sale at Garden Island Creek, By 1843 there was a thriving community at Port Cygnet.
Convicts History.
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In 1845 Probation Stations for convicts were established at Port Cygnet, Lymington and Nicholls Rivulet and Huon Island. The clearing of land and building of huts continued apace. There were 333 convicts stationed in the district and a hospital was being built at Lymington where the staff were based. There was a Superintendent, Visiting Magistrate, Catholic Priest, Religious Instructor, 2 School Masters, 1 Medical Officer, 10 Storekeepers, 1 Overseer, 8 Officers in Charge of Vessels, 2 Beadles, 2 Other Overseers and 2 Dispensers. Of the convicts there were blacksmiths, boat crews, brick makers, charcoal and lime burners, carpenters, coopers, carters, gangs for clearing and cultivating, erecting barracks, splitting timber, sawing, fencing timber cutting, rolling logs and hard labour! There were also servants for officers and others and storekeepers. By 1847 there were 530 convicts, 249 of whom could read, 183 write and 155 who were crippled. In 1848 the number of convicts began to decline - probably by pardon and ticket of leave.