Dig deep into Northern Tasmania's history with a new book that rediscovers the past.
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The West Tamar Historical Society have been unearthing the past of York Town, located in the West Tamar area. The work has been compiled into a book which is now available.
York Town: a respectable looking village details the early European settlement of Northern Tasmania by Lieutenant-Governor William Paterson, who established the township.
York Town had a guard house, barracks, gaol, hospital, store-house, gardens, and cemetery. Houses were built by Paterson for those in his care.
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West Tamar Historical Society president, and co-author of the book, John Dent OAM said the book had taken 20 years of research to come together.
"We decided there wasn't anything written about York Town. No one knew where it was, if there was anything left, nothing to commemorate it ... it was just disappearing into the mists of history," he said.
However, the authors found more than they bargained for, discovering hidden gems about York Town along the way.
"We found quite a bit of information in the original records that has not previously been published," he said.
"The other thing was the people. There was no record of the people that had come here."
Dent said correspondence had originally listed 181 people for settlement at the site, but after further research, that number changed to 205. Included in the book is a small biography for each person.
"We have told the story as best we are able to at this point in time with the information we have available," he said.
Dent has also been involved in archaeological digs that have taken place at the site.
"It's a pretty significant site in Australia's history. Probably one of the earliest sites that is still intact in Australia that hasn't been built over by subsequent development," he said.
"This site is that little time capsule. Everything that was under the ground is still there."
Through the digs at the town site, the historical society found about 50 spots where there were remains of original buildings from 1804.
Proceeds from the sale of the book will go back into digs at the site.
Dent said the book discusses what has been found so far as accurately as possible to fill in historical gaps.
"It sets the scene for the start of Launceston. We come into the founding of Launceston probably in more detail than most other publications have done in that early time period."
York Town: a respectable looking village is $60 and can be purchased at Petrarch's Bookshop or through email at john.dent@pda.com.au.