About Becoming Tasmania by Terry Newman

Book outline:

Terry tells how, when and why Abel Tasman named Van Diemen’s Land, with information on his personal and career information.

Social and political divisions on the island are outlined because they relate to the ‘hated stain’ of convictism, which attached to the original name.

The book mentions many early uses of the alternative name – who coined it and its evolving usage before it became legal.

Chapter Five outlines the island’s campaign to become ‘convict free’ because it cannot be separated from the island’s renaming, or from the equally related struggle for self-government.

The book describes the formal stages of the renaming and in particular William Sharland’s responsibility for achieving it as from 1 January 1856.

Buy the book:

Price: $29.95 inc. GST.
From local bookshops or from
Terry Newman
Parliamentary History Project
Parliament House, Hobart, 7000