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Drought, fires and flood on the pastoral frontier: 1820 to 1855

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-21, 18:07 authored by Evans, Kathryn
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.

History

Publication title

Tasmanian Historical Research Association, Papers and Proceedings

Volume

57

Pagination

28 - 39

ISSN

0039-9809

Department/School

School of Geography, Planning and Spatial Sciences

Publisher

Tasmanian Historical Research Association Inc.

Place of publication

Sandy Bay, Tasmania

Rights statement

Copyright © Tasmanian Historical Research Association

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Social impacts of climate change and variability

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