As we travelled from Hobart to Strahan and entered the Tasmanian Wilderness we drove for a short time through the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, 117 km west of Hobart. It's named after the two main river systems lying within the bounds of the park - the Franklin and Gordon Rivers.
The name Franklin immediately caught my attention. Could it be the same John Franklin that lost his life in searching for the North West Passage? Well, the short answer is yes. I hadn't realised until today that before leading expeditions in search of the North West Passage Sir John had served as the Governor of Van Dieman's land (Modern day Tasmania) from 1836 to 1843.
Early Exploration in Australia:
At the young age of 14, John Franklin joined the Royal Navy, serving under his cousin, Matthew Flinders, on the HMS Investigator.
This expedition explored the coastline of Australia, charting many parts of the continent.
Franklin's experience on this voyage is said to have ignited his passion for exploration.
Governor of Tasmania:
After years of service in the Royal Navy and Arctic exploration, Franklin was appointed as the Lieutenant-Governor of Van Diemen's Land in 1837.
He served in this role until 1843, during which time he made significant contributions to the development of Tasmania.
He fostered cultural pursuits, established a state education system, and founded the Tasmanian Natural History Society.
Later Years and Arctic Expeditions:
Following his service in Tasmania, Franklin embarked on several expeditions to find the Northwest Passage. His final expedition in 1845, however, resulted in his disappearance and the loss of his entire crew. Definitive evidence of his death was not found until 1859, when papers were found in the ice indicating he had died on June 11,1847.
You can read more about Sir John in my blog:
Franklin is remembered by a statue that dominates the park known as Franklin Square, in the centre of Hobart. On the plinth below the statue appears Alfred Lord Tennyson's epitaph:
"Not here! The white north hath thy bones and thou
Heroic sailor soul
Art passing on thine happier voyage now
Toward no earthly pole"The village of Franklin, on the Huon River, is named in his honour, as is the Franklin River, one of the better-known Tasmanian rivers because of an infamous controversy concerning a proposal to build a dam to generate hydro-electricity on the Gordon River below where the Franklin River joins. The movement that eventually led to the project's cancellation became one of the most significant environmental campaigns in Australian history. It was a lengthy battle which you can read more about on this website:
There is also a statue of Sir John Franklin in Waterloo Place, London that bears the controversial inscription: "Discoverer of the North West Passage".
I will reserve a more detailed account of the history of Van Diemen's Land until I post on my visit to Port Arthur on Thursday 27th March 2025.
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