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Drought, fires and flood were experienced by settlers in Van Diemen's Land from the very beginnings of European settlement. The variability of the island's climate was foreign to many British settlers and resulted in the need to adapt and innovate in establishing both towns and farms. Even though four seasons approximating to the summer, winter, autumn and spring of the northern hemisphere were discernible, the weather was often highly variable from one year to the next. Periods characterised by oppressive heat, drought and bushfires could quickly be replaced by flooding rains and punishing cold. The uncertainty of rainfall, in particular, could make life extremely difficult. As settlement spread across the island regional climatic variation also became apparent.

Item Type:	Non Refereed Article
Keywords:	Van Diemen's Land, drought, fure, flood, European settlers, climate variation
Research Division:	History, Heritage and Archaeology
Research Group:	Historical studies
Research Field:	Australian history
Objective Division:	Environmental Policy, Climate Change and Natural Hazards
Objective Group:	Adaptation to climate change
Objective Field:	Social impacts of climate change and variability
UTAS Author:	Evans, Kathryn (Mrs Kathryn Evans)
ID Code:	64749
Year Published:	2010
Deposited By:	Geography and Environmental Studies
Deposited On:	2010-08-23
Last Modified:	2013-03-06
Downloads:	15 View Download Statistics