Chapter 103: the Domain

With my grandchildren I walk on a hill on the Domain. This is an opportunity for me to pretend I know more than them. I say, “This hill is the place were radio masts were erected in 1911 in order to communicate with the Antarctic.”

I ask them, “Imagine you are at the other end of this radio in the Antarctic. What are you going to say?”

Gertrude says, “I would upload a picture of the penguins.”

I say, “Well you have a good point there. Because Mawson went their largely for scientific reasons. They did go there to look at the penguins.”

My grandchildren know the name Mawson because of the huts on the docks. After much talking we agree Mawson went to the Antarctic in 1912 and erected huts in the Antarctic (copies of  are now on our docks in Hobart) and spoke to Australia via the Domain.

Moving on we head towards some concrete slabs on the east side of the hill.  I say, “Do you have any idea what was built here.”

They are mute so I inform them, “A number of defense force installations were built on the Domain.”

Bruce says, “Where’s the big gun?”

“Bruce you’re thinking of a different place.  That gun (Bellerive) was built a long time before the buildings over here. The concrete placed here was for the war against the Japanese between 1939 and 1945.”

Bruce hears the word war which excites him.

“Wow I can use my light sword.” says Bruce.

 Bruce swings a branch around as a light sword. His favourite films include light swords, goodies and baddies. To think this could have happened up here on the Domain.

I pretend I am a responsible adult and tell him, “We would prefer to be friends with Japan. To eat sushi and drive Toyota cars. We both win if we work together.”

Bruce continues hitting plants and de-heading grass with his stick. He says, “We will defeat them.”

I say to Bruce, “Imagine you are in class and the teacher ask you to draw a picture. You can fight with the person on the next table. Break his pencils and rip up his paper. To stop him drawing a better picture than you.  Another option is that you can work together. Help each other. Which way are you going to go?”

Bruce keeps waving his stick around wishing it was a light saver. He pauses slightly. 

He is torn. He loves drawing with his classmates.  And he loves films involving fighting between goodies and badies.  

I tell Bruce, “There was no war on the Domain. The Japanese never came anywhere near Hobart.”

The political correct angel is sitting on my shoulder telling me to tell them the full story. 

“Bruce and Gertrude. The Japanese did not fight a war here. Can you tell me of any war fought anywhere near here?”

That is a rhetorical question because I know they will not answer it.

My answer is that in 1803 Britain decided to come here and start another colony of the British Empire. When they arrived there were already aborigines living here.  There were many differences and clashes between the two groups of people. Many of these clashes involved violence. The aboriginal people living on the Domain were invaded and fought to protect their way of life.

Gertrude says, “So that’s why we have the Cenotaph.”

“No you are not correct. The Cenotaph is a memorial to other brave and courageous Tasmanians.” 

  

Bruce throws his stick away and says, “Everybody should have drawn pictures together. They should have worked together.”

They both find the idea of aborigines living on the Domain difficult to comprehend.

Gertrude says “Where did they live? There are no houses up here.”

I have to agree. There are no houses on the Domain.  I decide there is only one thing I can show them that might prove that at one time aboriginals did lived up here.

We head down towards the river. I show them piles of shells in the banks below the path running beside the Derwent River.  They look at the shells. I say, “What are these shells telling you.”

We discuss the shells but I am distracted. The name of the Queens Domain should be changed.  Prior to 1803 it was managed by the Mouheneenner aboriginal people. In 1860 the Governor handed the Queens Domain to the people of Hobart. 

Either give the Queens Domain a name that recognizes the aboriginals who lived there or do what everybody does call it.  Call it the Domain. Let’s get rid of the Queen from Queens Domain. The present Queen doesn’t own it. She rarely visits. And has no direct interest in managing  the Domain.