Revealing the documentary evidence for Tasmania's recent climate history prior to the commencement of official meteorological records in 1840

The establishment of the Rossbank Observatory at Hobart in October1840 marked the commencement of official weather recording in Tasmania. Little is known of Tasmania’s weather history prior to this. A perusal of a range of historical documentary material, including ships’ logs, official records, diaries, letters and early meteorological reports can assist in building a picture of Tasmania’s weather history in the early years of European settlement, including occurrences of drought, flood, storm and bushfire. Historical sources for the period 1803–1840 are outlined, their uses and limitations discussed, and some of the findings summarised.