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Philips* Island Creek Timber Felling Station

It is uncertain when the Philips Creek timber felling station was formed. In June 1832 there were thirteen
prisoners there, supervised by a constable but there were often more men there. They lived in ‘huts of the
humblest construction; but these being furnished with good fires, are not very uncomfortable, particularly
when the inmates whitewash them, and keep them very clean; as is the case with some. At the door of the
one occupied by the constable technically called by the prisoners, Government House, we stationed
ourselves ---- ‘

James Backhouse described the manner in which their timber was moved from the forest to the water’s edge.
‘In order to get the felled timber to the water, a way has to be cleared and made good with logs and branches,
over which straight trunks of trees are laid in the manner of the slips or skids, used in launching ships; over
these the timber is rolled by the prisoners, sometimes to a great distance. --- These roads are termed pine
roads.’

If a man at an out-station misbehaved, the constable lit a fire, the smoke of which was seen at the settlement
and assistance sent. The prisoners on these out-stations were not in irons.

In the first quarter of 1832, 90 pine logs were rafted to the settlement from Philips Creek.

The huts were chiefly formed of boughs and thatched with grass.
 

* See the subject index for an explanation of the spelling of Philips Island.
Timber Felling Out-Gang, Philips Island Creek (Braddons River)
 

   ‘Extracts from the Letters of James Backhouse’, 7 June 1832
   Idem
   Mitchell Library B706 Vol. 1 p. 14 ‘Report of a Visit by Backhouse & Walker’, June 1832
   Idem

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7 June 1832 ‘Extracts from the Letters of James Backhouse’

‘We afterwards proceeded in a boat provided by the Commandant, to visit the wood-cutting gang at Philip’s Creek. This consists at present of thirteen men, superintended by a constable: it often consists of a greater number. They are lodged in huts of the humblest construction: but these being furnished with good fires, are not very uncomfortable, particularly when the inmates whitewash them, and keep them very clean; as is the case with some. At the door of the one occupied by the constable technically called by the prisoners, Government House, we stationed ourselves, and the prisoners were arranged in front of us. --- On being asked, one man said, that their ration of provision was not sufficient for them at such hard work: and though their general appearance is healthy, yet when they are engaged in heaving timber, and rolling it down to the water, and other fatiguing labour, it may often fail in appeasing the cravings of exhausted nature. They have daily 1 1/2 lbs. of wheat meal, or one lb. of wheat meal and 1 lb of potatoes, or 1 1/4 lbs. of wheat meal and 1/4 pint of oatmeal with 1 lb of salt beef, or 10 oz. of salt pork, 1/2 an oz. of salt, and nearly 1/4 pint of vinegar. Some of the out-gangs are occasionally allowed to fish when they are industrious and behave well; and they manage, though rarely to take a kangaroo, or a wombat. By this means their provision is a little increased, and an encouragement to good conduct held out. The timber they cut is chiefly Huron [sic] pine; a tree resembling a cypress or white cedar, of a lively green, and with pendant slender boughs: it attains a large size, [Goes on to describe timber].

---- In order to get the felled timber to the water, a way has to be cleared and made good with logs and branches, over which straight trunks of trees are laid in the manner of the slips or skids, used in launching ships; over these the timber is rolled by the prisoners, sometimes to a great distance. No beasts of burden are allowed to assist at Macquarie Harbour. These roads are termed pine roads. If any of the men prove unruly in these stations, the constable lights a fire, the smoke of which is observed by the sentinel at the settlement, from whence assistance is promptly sent. The men are not in irons, except sometimes as a punishment, or they could not perform the work. The boat which put us ashore was ordered to push off as soon as it had landed us, and to remain off until we were ready to return, lest any of the prisoners should seize it, and attempt their escape; circumstances of this sort having occurred here.

7 June 1832 Mitchell Library B727 Journal of George Washington Walker

Shortly after breakfast, by the directions of the Commandant a boat with 6 men was in readiness to conduct us to the opposite side of the harbour, a distance of about 5 miles, to a place where a gang is at work felling timber. The place is called Philips Island Creek for a rivulet that discharges itself into the harbour, nearly opposite a small island of that name, which we subsequently visited. J. A. Manton was one of the party, and we had the men assembled for religious worship – when much counsel was imparted; a portion of scripture was also read, and prayer engaged in – in some of these labours J. Backhouse took a prominent part. The men were still and attentive. We walked a short distance to see the manner in which the timber is conveyed to the shore. The ground is cleared so as to admit of space sufficient for a capacious road – where the ground is swampy, which is very often the case, the branches that have been stripped from the trees are laid lengthwise on the intended road-way – logs are then laid across pretty close to each other on which large logs are again placed lengthways, with a space of about 5 yards in the centre, so as to form a sort of rough rail-way. The large trees after being lopped of their branches and cut into convenient lengths, are rolled upon this to the water’s edge, where they are formed into rafts of thirty or more in each, and floated to the settlement where they are either consigned to the dock-yard, or are landed ready for being shipped at a convenient season. From the nature of the ground, as well as from having to work so much in the water, the labour in which the men are thus engaged is of a most arduous and disagreeable kind – as they are frequently wading 2 or 3 ft. deep in water, and when the number and quantity of their meals is considered, the punishment to which the wood-cutting gangs are subjected will be acknowledged severe. {Goes on to tell of the prisoners being dissatisfied with their rations].

20 June 1832 ‘Extracts from the Letters of James Backhouse’

‘The morning being fine, we went to Philips Creek, where nineteen men are now employed.’

June 1832 ‘Journal of George Washington Walker’ – (Mitchell Library)

‘Abstract of Work performed by Artificers & Labouring Mens Gangs at Macq. Harb. Van D’s Land For the quarter ending 31st March 1832.

Felling Gangs
Philips Island Creek
 90 Pine logs remaining last quarter have been rafted & brot. to the settlement. The gang withdrawn from this station at the commencement of this quarter & have been employed since on other parts of the Main, in procuring timber, Knees, spars, etc., & bringing them to the Settlement for the use of the Shipwrights, Boat Builders, & Carpenters, of which 2 to 3 timbers & Knees, & 66 spars & logs have been brot. to the Settlement.
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A gang also constantly employed in procuring Firewood for the use of the Settlement.’

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 ‘Duties of the Missionary at Macquarie Harbour.

---- Once in 2 weeks he also visits each of the out-gangs which are now 3 in number – viz – Wood cutters at Philip’s Is. Creek – Labourers on Philip’s Island & Charcoal Burners at 4 mile point.’
 

June 1832 Mitchell Library B706 p. 14 The Report of a Visit to Macquarie Harbour, Van Diemen’s Land by Jas. Backhouse and Geo. W Walker

The huts occupied by the Felling Gangs are of the humblest description: they are chiefly of boughs, and thatched with long grass. Disorderly prisoners are frequently sent to the Felling Gangs, their work being the most laborious and their privations the greatest.

[p. 276] Abstract of Work Performed by Artificers and Labouring Gangs, at Macquarie Harbour, Van Diemen’s Land, for the quarter ending 31st March 1832.

Falling Gangs
Phillips Island Creek. Pine logs remaining last quarter 90, have been rafted and brought to the settlement. The gang withdrawn from this station at the commencement of this quarter, and have been employed since on other parts of the main in procuring timbers, knees, spars, etc, etc, and bringing them to the settlement for the use of Shipwrights, Boatbuilders, and Carpenters; of which 263 timbers and knees, and 66 spars and logs have been brought to the settlement. A gang also employed constantly in procuring firewood for the use of the settlement.

 
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