Guide to the Journal of Henry Widowson (as filmed by the AJCP)

Biographical / Historical

The New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land Establishment was a private company, comprising seven partners, formed in London in 1825 on the initiative of Captain Bartholomew Thomas (1785-1831). Thomas, whose brother was an official in Hobart, was confident that the company would receive large land grants in both colonies on which good quality sheep, cattle and horses could be bred. In London he met the newly-appointed governor of New South Wales, Ralph Darling, who encouraged him to look to Van Diemen's Land as well as New South Wales. As it eventuated, the Establishment acquired no land in New South Wales but was active in Van Diemen's Land for thirty years.

Thomas charted a ship, the Albion, which left London in November 1825 and reached Hobart in May 1826. It carried Cleveland and Flemish horses, Shorthorn and Hereford cattle, and Merino, Leicester and Southdown sheep, as well as a quantity of farming implements. More than half the animals perished on the voyage. Also on board were James Toosey (1801-1883), a Norfolk farmer and breeder, and various 'scientific farmers', shepherds, grooms, carpenters, wheelwrights and other artisans. Henry Widowson, who later called himself an 'agent of the Van Diemen's Land Agricultural Establishment', was the head groom in charge of the horses.

Governor George Arthur offered the Establishment land on the Ringarooma River in the north-east of the colony. In June 1826 a party sailed there on the schooner Sally but it was wrecked, with the loss of 13 lives and many of the company's implements and stores. Widowson was one of the survivors. The Ringarooma location was given up, but soon afterwards the Establishment received a grant of 20,000 acres on the Lake River in the central region of the colony. Thomas named the place Cressy and the partnership became known as the Cressy Company. It struggled in the early years, but Toosey, who became manager in 1833, was able to bring more sheep and cattle from England and soon took advantage of the growing market at Port Phillip. The Southdown sheep at Cressy were the foundation stud in Australia. In 1855 the property was divided into 52 farms which were sold at auction.

Widowson left the Establishment not long after the wreck of the Sally. He spent some time travelling round the settled districts of Van Diemen's Land and gained a considerable knowledge of the topography, resources and economy of the colony. He returned to England in 1827 and in 1829 he published a book, Present state of Van Diemen's Land: comprising of an account of its agricultural capabilities with observations on the present state of farming. pursued in that colony, and other important matters connected with emigration. At the time, Widowson was living in Wellingborough in Northamptonshire.

Reference: Ivan C. Heazlewood. The livestock of the New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land Establishment (the Cressy Company) 1825-1855, Tasmanian Historical Research Association Papers and Proceedings, vol. 47 (2), June 2000, pp. 83-85.