Adventure
Bay (Bruny Island)
Location
(No zone given)
Adventure Bay is in the south of Bruny Island.
Kelly and Lucasí Station is a bay whaling station occupied
between 1829 and 1841 and is located at Adventure Bay, Bruny Island, Tasmania.
Whaling stations were established at Adventure Bay, Bull
Bay, Trumpeter Bay and Cloudy Bay. By 1850 they had all been abandoned.
History
Adventure Bay consists of 4 whaling stations/establishments.
As early as 1804 whaling has taken place with the English whaler Alexander
reported to be whaling off Adventure Bay. Kelly and Lucasí station
is one of these and one of at least 5 stations around Tasmania owned or
managed by James Kelly between 1824 - 1854. James Kelly applied for a first
class allotment "for the purpose of carrying on the whale fishery."
Kelly was believed to be in partnership with Lucas at this time. During
the period of the stations use it was part of a flourishing fishery in
and around Adventure Bay. At one time there were between 80-90 men at the
bay engaged in whaling (Kostoglou & Evans).
Bethune and Kelly were amongst the first whalers to establish
shore stations at Adventure Bay. George Angas Robinson wrote of the whaling
establishments at Adventure Bay in 1829:
"Here is a large establishment consisting of three
firms: Messrs Kelly and Lucas, Messrs Young and Walford and Mr Maycock.
The number of men employed collectively are from eighty to ninety
in number: and there are two schooners, two sloops and a large number of
boats. It appears that they have been very successful this season."
Kelly and Lucas became partners in the whale fishery and
in 1829 the Colonial Times reported that Kelly and Lucas, had in partnership,
caught 44 whales so far that season. (Colonial Times, 14/8/1829). In July
1831 Kelly and Lucas acquired the Government brig Prince Leopold and renamed
it the Mary and Elizabeth. (Evans, K. 1993, p13)
(Evans, K. 1993. Shore based whaling in Tasmania Historical
research project - A report for the Parks and Wildlife Service.)
Kelly and Lucasí Grass Point Station
Location
Kelly and Lucasí whaling station is the northern most
of those stations located on the eastern side of Adventure Bay. More specifically
it is located at Grass Point opposite Penguin Island. The station was in
an ideal location to sight the southern right whales on their winter migration
northwards. The whales passed close to shore and sheltered in Adventure
Bay, allowing the small whaleboats to be launched from the beach.
Archaeology
At least 12 stone structures remain of Kelly and
Lucasí station, making it the largest and best preserved of the Adventure
Bay whaling sites.
Stone footings of a small substantial building remains.
Residential area remains - included half a dozen structures
built partially of stone.
Tryworks buildings - two stone buildings to serve communal
facilities and the other as a storage shed.
Tryworks - Trypot nests and related fire places mark
the location of the station tryworks. Physical evidence shows three trypots,
although there were probably more.
Ceramics.
(Site plans available in Kostoglou paper 1995)
References
Evans, K. 1993. Shore-based whaling in Tasmania: Historical
Research Project, Volume 1 - A social economic history, A Report for the
Parks and Wildlife Services.
Evans, K. 1993. Shore-based whaling in Tasmania: Historical
Research Project, Volume 2 - Site Histories, A Report for the Parks and
Wildlife Services, p11-14.
Kostoglou, P. 1995. Shore-based whaling in Tasmania -
Archaeological Research Project Volume II: Results of Fieldwork, A Report
for the Parks and Wildlife Service.
Lawrence, S. (nd) Archaeological Excavation at Kelly and
Lucas Whaling Station, Adventure Bay, Bruny Island. La Trobe University
permit application.
Kelly and Lucasí Whaling Station Excavation Information
Pamphlets for Visitors.
Newspapers:
Colonial Times - 14/8/1829.
By Rebecca O'Reilly
Tasmanian Whaling Sites
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