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The geology and glacial history of the Walls of Jerusalem, Central Tasmania – a preliminary study
Full text linkThe Walls of Jerusalem, in Tasmania’s Central Plateau, is marked by several dolerite escarpments, or “walls”, enclosing sheltered grassy valleys with Pencil Pine forests. Geologically, the area is a structurally raised block between two faults, with the peaks and plateaus being 100 m or so higher than the surrounding plateau. The valleys and escarpments may be mainly due to intense faulting and shattering of the dolerite by cross-faults, and removal of this material by glaciers. The higher peaks and plateaus have all been abraded by ice, except for an extraordinary patch at Solomons Throne, which retains irregular scree piles coloured red with lichen. Virtually all the valley floors are covered by glacial till, which probably relates to the younger glacial episodes. It consists mostly of dolerite boulders and clay, and shows subdued morainal forms in most places, with a few matrix-free boulder deposits probably representing lag after meltwater washing. Bedded clay deposits formed in lakes and meltwater streams as the ice retreated are extensive within the drift deposits, reflecting the confined nature of the two glacier lobes which entered the valleys from north and south. Dolerite screes along the scarps appear to post-date most of the morainal deposits, but some older screes may also be present. The Temple eminence within the centre of the Walls consists of fragmented dolerite overlying Triassic sandstone, almost completely covered by periglacial and glacial deposits, including superb examples of solifluction flows. There are many unanswered questions concerning the glacial deposits, but the lack of any dates means it is not yet possible to establish a comprehensive glacial chronology
What’s in a name? Polyzosteria yingina ; the Golden Sun Cockroach
Full text linkThe endemic Tasmanian cockroach Polyzosteria yingina, was formally described in 2021, 80 years after it was first documented. Evidence from morphology, biogeography and DNA barcodes distinguishes this species from the related mainland Australian taxa it had previously been confused with and united the geographically disparate alpine and coastal populations under a single specific epithet. That specific epithet, yingina, was chosen in collaboration with the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre. This was to acknowledge that, given the species’ large size, handsome appearance and overt behaviours, it would once have had Aboriginal names, which now may have been lost due to colonial disruption of language, land and culture
Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery’s Expedition of Discovery III – The flora and fauna of the Spring Bay Mill area after a long history of industrial use
Full text linkFlora and fauna surveys were conducted at the Spring Bay Mill property and adjacent area near Triabunna in 2019 as part of the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery’s ongoing research, collection-building and nature-discovery program entitled Expeditions of Discovery. Although a large portion of the mill site has experienced significant disturbance, some bushland remnants on the property and the adjacent coastal reserve remain in very good ecological condition and are refugia for species now lost from the wider landscape. The survey recorded 1088 taxa, principally from the targeted groups of vascular plants, bryophytes, lichens, beetles, butterflies and moths, with several of the taxa, chiefly lichens and invertebrates, either new to science or new records for Tasmania. The survey expands our knowledge of the flora and fauna of the Triabunna area and serves as a baseline for a property undergoing strategic rehabilitation after a long history of industrial use
A rock in a hard place : European use of dolerite in Tasmania
Full text linkDespite being more prevalent in Tasmania than elsewhere, dolerite found relatively limited use by early European settlers. Dolerite was used in foundations, basements and retaining walls, but was difficult to shape and at least in the first half of the colonial century, highly unfashionable both in colour and texture, although acceptable for industrial buildings and rural outbuildings. Later in the nineteenth century, quarried stones of uniform colour were used to build some notable churches as well as basements for buildings of other materials. There was a progression during the three decades before the First World War from use of stones of varied size to a preference for stones of regular appearance; after which dolerite was largely replaced by concrete. For much of the twentieth century, dolerite was chiefly crushed for road metal, concrete aggregate or railway ballast, with occasional use in formal building. Towards the end of that period, it returned to building in decorative features, and to engineering practice as filling for gabions and in massive assemblies of boulders. This overview traces the use of dolerite in Tasmania from early colonial times to present-day practices in fashionable architecture and as a structural building material
Van Diemen’s Land and the Great Exhibition of 1851
Full text linkImperial authorities questioned whether so distant Van Diemen’s Land could participate in the ‘Great Exhibition’ to be held at London’s Crystal Palace in 1851, but as it transpired, the locals made a notable showing. Aspiring to display the positives of ‘his’ colony, Lieutenant-Governor Sir William Denison was the driving force behind this participation, with Joseph Milligan his chief aide and members of the local Royal Society notably assisting. The range and types of exhibits were remarkable and fascinating. Contributions came from various local quarters, one of interest being an ex-convict with whom Denison had some political liaison, whereas, conversely, Denison’s critics tended to abstain from involvement. Women played a role in contributing exhibition pieces, as did Aboriginal Tasmanians – Milligan no doubt crucial in orchestrating this. Denison was especially concerned to display Tasmanian timber, and other primary produce, but the thrust of the Exhibition was to celebrate human skills, and the contributions of manufactured goods and superior hand-crafted items conformed to that pattern. The world saw exhibits bespeaking an active, achieving society, and although the Vandiemonian contribution won modest notice in the British press, locals gained a share of the many awards granted to exhibitors. Not that the whole story was triumphant – some jealousies resulted and its difficulties and tensions also told of time and plac
Resurrection : the creation history of the Royal Society of Tasmania’s Northern Branch
Full text linkThe date 27 June 1921 holds special significance for those in the north dedicated to the advancement of knowledge as it marks the inaugural lecture of the newly formed Northern Branch of the Royal Society of Tasmania. Yet, as will be demonstrated, this organisation was not undergoing creation but a reincarnation from its earlier counterpart. Knowledge of the first Branch and its activities is poorly known other than it originally flourished then faded into obscurity. Nevertheless, this group of dedicated enthusiasts persisted and today hold a special place in the story of the development of scientific bodies in the north of Tasmania including the nineteenth-century movement towards the establishment of public museums. As with all progressive endeavours, there were pivotal figures who stood out for the part they played in shaping events. Their names can be found in the following discussion
Contents page for Volume 155 part 1, Council and Office Bearers from March 2021 to March 2022
Full text linkPart 1 of Volume 155 has been prepared in recognition of the centenary of The Royal Society of Tasmania, Northern Branch and includes a forward by the President of The Royal Society, Mary Koolhof and a reflection on the Northern Branch by Dr Eric Ratcliff OAM, 2021 Northern Branch President. Included is a list of Elected Office Bearers, Council Members and Ex Officio Council Members from March 2021 to March 202
Combined index to the UTAS Library Special & Rare Deposits Collection
Full text linkCombined index to the UTAS Library Special & Rare Deposits Collection. Includes Private deposits, University collection & Royal Society collectio
Reply to the apology to the Aboriginal community by The Royal society of Tasmania and the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery
Full text linkThose who have delivered the apologies today on behalf of their institutions also have made an important acknowledgement of the hurt to we Aborigines of today. In return, I stand here before you and say “on behalf of all of those Aboriginal generations I have mentioned, we readily accept, with pride, the apologies given, in the spirit within which it was stated
New records of lichens from Tasmania, principally from the 2018 TMAG Expedition of Discovery to Musselroe Bay
Full text linkNineteen lichen species are recorded for the first time from Tasmania: Amandinea conranensis Elix & P.M.McCarthy, Bacidia laurocerasi (Delise ex Duby) Zahlbr., Buellia extenuatella Elix & Kantvilas, Catinaria atropurpurea (Schaer.) Vězda & Poelt, Collema crispum (Huds.) Weber ex F.H.Wigg., Diploschistes euganeus (A.Massal.) J.Steiner, D. gyrophoricus Lumbsch & Elix, Endocarpon crassisporum P.M.McCarthy & Filson, Gyalecta pellucida (Coppins & Malcolm) Baloch & Lücking, Lecanora pseudogangaleoides Lumbsch subsp. pseudogangaleoides, L. strobilina (Spreng.) Kieff., Opegrapha niveoatra (Borrer) J.R.Laundon, O. spodopolia Nyl., O. varia Pers., Physcia austrostellaris Elix, Ramonia absconsa (Tuck.) Vězda, Trapelia concentrica Elix & P.M.McCarthy and Xanthoparmelia xerica (Elix) Elix. The new combination Austroparmelina corrugativa (Kurok. & Filson) Elix & Kantvilas is proposed and Austroparmelina euplectina (Kurok. ex Elix). A.Crespo et al. is reduced to synonymy. The salient morphological and anatomical features, ecology and distribution are discussed for each specie