1821info1c3 Caleb Crompton in Van Diemen's Land - Trafalgar in 2015

On the afternoon of 09 November 2015, I found Trafalgar and its 1817 farmhouse - reputed to be the oldest standing in Australia on its original foundation of Tertiary basalt rock foot print. The present owner, Trevor Couchman, was there trying to renovate, under the unfunded guidance of Heritage Tasmania, the heavily neglected interior and the dilapidated out buildings. The previous owner, a member of the Hart family, had moved out in 2013, aged 92, after living there since a girl.

When Heather Schoffelen visited in November 2017, the project was still recognisable. This is to be a lengthy project. Work in hand.

Trafalgar is listed on the Tasmania Heritage Register and is afforded statutory protection under the Historic Cultural Heritage Act 1995. ‘A person must not carry out any works in relation to a registered place...which may affect the historic cultural heritage significance of the place unless the works are approved by the Tasmanian Heritage Council.’

Left: Trevor Crouchman Photo: Heather Schoffelen November 2017

The agricultural land is brown clay soils developed on tertiary basalts to form gently rolling to undulating land. Lower land, towards Rose Rivulet, is deeply dissected tertiary sediments.

The area has a cool, wet climate typical of inland northern Tasmania. The closest climatic data source to the study area is that taken by the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) is at Launceston Airport. The data shows that rainfall occurs throughout the year; with a mean annual rainfall of 589mm. Rainfall is highest in August and September (64 –71mm) and lower from January to February (28 –31mm). The warmest months of the year are January and February, when mean temperatures range from minimums of 10°C to maximums of about 23°C. Winter tends to be cold with mean annual temperatures in the coldest months of June and July ranging from 1.5°C mean minimum to maximum temperatures of about 11°C (BOM 2015).

The largest water courses crossed by these corridor branches are the Rose Rivulet, Springvale Creek and Briarly Creek. Rose Rivulet is a semi-permanent water course that has its’ headwaters in the hills just to the south-east of the Dalness Dam site. The rivulet flows in a north-west direction, eventually rejoining with the North Esk River, near Relbia, on the outskirts of Launceston. Springvale Creek also a semi-permanent water course that has its’ headwaters in the Devon Hills to the south-west of the site. The creek flows in a north-east direction, eventually joining with the Rose Rivulet approximately 2km to the north-east of the site.

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Trafalgar's front veranda, which is an extension to the original bungalow, faces north and the valley of Rose Rivulet. It over looks the oak trees and well. The central door features later. Note the door on the left, which leads to a brick lined room shown in three later photographs.

The west side of Trafalgar's front veranda, with the passage door and 'Hart' shutters Photo: Heather Schoffelen November 2017

Another view of Trafalgar's western veranda

On the veranda decking, showing the windows to the 1920s western bedroom extensions Photo: Heather Schoffelen November 2017

The 'Hart' shutters on the original window openings

The passage door way extending from front to back. The 'modern' 1920s bedrooms are on the right and the original bungalow on the left. The kitchen is on the extreme left. This passage creates a cooling draught from front to back

The back of Trafalgar that faces the working buildings. The kitchen is on the right and the new bedroom wing to the left. The drive is to the left.

The back of Trafalgar with the kitchen on the right and the kitchen chimney stacks on the east gable

The 'new' bedroom west gable end Photo: Heather Schoffelen November 2017

The two remaining oak trees that perhaps Caleb saw. The third was struck by lightning

A Trafalgar oak with a view looking north

The efficient multi-blades of Trafalgar's windpump are just visible above the trees, taking water from the Springvale aquifer. This is the location of the original well that Caleb would have seen

Inside the door on the left showing the left frame of the blocked up window

The fire place in the room through the door on the left

The blocked up window in the room through the door on the left. Its strength suggests a security feature

The original kitchen and focus of the original bungalow. Perhaps here Caleb came for daily instructions and wages. Note the fire safe brick cooking alcove, replace by a modern range, and the bread oven by the lamp. A bachelors working home

The bread oven with bread paddle by the corner

The 'safe' loft trap in the kitchen ceiling. Originally used as a safe room from marauding convicts and aboriginals

Trevor Couchman by his tool shed. Also showing are the brick chimneys to the cooking range and bread oven

Chimneys to the bread oven, left, and cooking range, right

One of the several new bedrooms trapped in a time warp. The wallpaper hangs off the wall and the furniture, remaining with the property, is period

The old wool shed, now used for straw bales with a very saleable Ferguson TE20 (1946-1956) tractor ready for restoration

Trafalgar land, looking east, from the bungalow

1821 Info 1c3: Caleb Crompton His life in Van Diemen's Land - Trafalgar in 2015

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1821 Info 1c3: Caleb Crompton
His life in Van Diemen's Land - Trafalgar in 2015