Tasmanian adventure

Tasmania by LoisFebruary 15, 2017February 16, 2017

For the past six weeks we have been in Australia, mainly Tasmania; it has been the most wonderful and magical and moving experience, and I think it is going to take quite a while to process it all and write about it!

My great-grandfather Louis Walford was born in Tasmania and lived there until he was in late thirties when he travelled to England, to London where his parents lived on Regent’s Park. They had gone to Tasmania in the 1830’s as import/export merchants with ships and warehouses, dealing in every sort of goods, especially whale products.

For a long time, I have wanted to visit to see where he lived, and places connected with him, as well as just getting a sense of the place he came from as he must have talked about it to his children, including his only daughter, my grandmother. He was born in the city of Hobart, either in a property including the shop his father and uncle owned, or in a house nearby. he was only quite young when his parents moved to the magnificent mansion of Boa Vista further out of the town.

Nothing remains of Boa Vista except its gatehouse, but from there are magnificent views across to kunanyi (Mount Wellington), to what is now the Queens Domain, and south to the port and harbour and beyond to the ocean, and to the north inland. I was able to stand by the gate house and gaze around as he may have done…

… and visit the synagogue where he would have attended every Sabbath of his life in Tasmania.

I expect I will be writing a lot more here about my experiences!

9 Comments

Piglove on February 15, 2017 at 2:11 pm
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Can’t wait to read more about your adventure sweet friend. XOXO – Bacon

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1. Lois on February 15, 2017 at 5:05 pm
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  Thank you!! Lots more to come! 😉
  
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Don Bowen on February 15, 2017 at 11:41 pm
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Lois, I recall you talking about your connection with Australia. I’m looking forward to further stories of your great-grandfather’s Tasmanian experience.

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1. Lois on February 15, 2017 at 11:42 pm
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  Thanks! It really put his story into perspective being there!
  
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Isabel Lunn on February 16, 2017 at 9:52 am
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Exciting stuff Lois! Thanks for your pc.

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1. Lois on February 16, 2017 at 9:59 am
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  Glad it arrived – we had a sudden panic about your house number!
  
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Isabel Lunn on February 17, 2017 at 1:34 am
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I’m in NZ now

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1. Lois on February 17, 2017 at 8:27 am
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  Fabulous!!! Hope you’re having an amazing time!
  
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  1. Isabel Lunn on February 18, 2017 at 1:16 am
    
    Yes brilliant!
    
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