Description
The Historical Records of Australia project aims to re-establish and continue an essential scholarly source for research and discovery in 19th Century Australian history. The resumption of the series is of immediate relevance in recently developed areas such as Aboriginal Studies and of continuing relevance to legal, administrative and social history. The first volume of the new series appeared in 1997 and had not been published since 1925. The Series III, Volume IX concerns itself with the letters and documents of Tasmania in the year 1830. It shows the development of educational and religious institutions, the maturation of Governor Arthur's convict system, issues of trial by jury, and original dispatches of the period between the Governor and London. It is an invaluable historical account of the early growth of Australia, as well as providing rich documentation on both British penal administration and colonial policy. It shows the 1830 documents relating to the work by convicts done on public buildings, the dissent among the Legislative Council, the issue of Church revenue and the need to provide places of worship for convicts, the 'Black Line' policy which was a military operation which aimed at containing the Aborigines in a reserve on Tasman Peninsula. Volume IX also documents the British imperial policy of the day and the beginning of new political forms and aspirations in the Australian colonies.
