Iratdarab 16 - Letter : November 1833

In October 1818, John and Martha, their eight daughters, three sons and two millstones sailed from Sheerness, England on the Surrey, the only “free” settlers on a convict ship to Sydney, Australia. Possibly unhappy with the terms of the lease and the size of the allotment at Liverpool, south west of Sydney, Terry moved his family and business to Van Diemen’s Land. Arriving in Hobart Town on the Prince Leopold on 6 December 1819, the family proceeded to build the mill on 100 acres (40 ha) at Elizabeth Town (soon to be renamed New Norfolk), where the Derwent and Lachlan Rivers met. For more information see http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/terry-john-2720

George Dixon also known as George Dixson Cockfield, watercolourist and landowner, was born in Durham, England, probably in about 1800. In 1821 he came to Van Diemen’s Land with his brother, Robert, aboard the Westmoreland . For two years he worked as overseer on the property of Edward Lord, chief magistrate of Hobart Town. He wrote lengthy letters home describing the homestead, the topography and local customs (Mitchell Library [ML]). After receiving land grants from Governor Macquarie, the brothers settled at Green Valley on the Lower Clyde. Robert later sold out to George and joined the New South Wales Surveyor-General’s Department in 1826. Since Robert must have had some professional training for this position, it seems likely that George had some early instruction in draughtsmanship as well, but nothing further is known about his life. The National Library holds George Dixon’s watercolour, Green Valley. A West View. George Dixons Farm Van Diemen’s Land in 1827 , alternatively titled Green Valley Homestead, Van Diemen’s Land . https://trove.nla.gov.au/people/1084336?c=people