History (1768-1850)

From Iscoun

Current revision as of 12:20, 11 April 2011

Discovery

Iscoun was discovered by Captain James Cook during his first voyage on March 5, 1768. Upon his return to Britain he reported the discovery of Iscoun to King George III where he is noted as claiming "the land looks fertile but lacks human life". It was agreed that at the time that Iscoun would not be settled as the British were more interested in setting up colonies on Terra Australis.

Settlement

With new colonies in the Pacific, on August 18, 1815 King George III called upon General Michael Swanston to govern a small settlement in Iscoun on the shore of the sea dividing what is now Wemberley and Georgeland. Swanston reluctantly accepted the post on the condition that the King allow a mix of both free settlers and convicts. Swanston and the first settlers arrived on board the Titan on November 27, 1815 and declared the colony of Georgeland for the King. The first town to be built would be Charlotte (named after the King's consort) on the Southern side of Marsden Bay.

In 1819, Gold was discovered in the Swanston River. Another settlement was established on Weekes Creek just North of the first Gold discovered on Iscoun. The settlement was named Prosperia and became a major city supporting prospectors in the region.

Portuguese settlement

In 1826, King George III invited his ally, Queen Maria II of Portugal to establish a settlement on the Eastern section of Iscoun. Queen Maria commissioned Alberto Barrios to establish a settelement to be called Braganza (now Wemberley). A settlement was established at São Cristóvão which was named after the birthplace of the Queen (changed to St Christopher by the English). The settlers arrived on June 18, 1826.

At the order of King Miguel in 1830, settlements were established at Migueles (now Michaelstown) and Metternich after the King's close friend.

In honour of the Queen's marriage to Auguste de Beauharnais in 1835, Beauharnais (Beaumont) was established.

New Settlements

Wemberley and Montdale in 1835, Bruswick named for King George IV's consort Caroline of Brunswick and St James for the birthplace of the King.

Prosperia and Chinlest in 1849 (splitting Georgesland vertically)

Nomenclature

River Duoro for the river running through Portugal and Spain

Octavia for Octavius for George III's 13th child.

Coburg Sea after Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (second husband of Queen Maria II)

Xavier River after the partial family name of the royal family.

Calder River was known as the Calhairz River (named after the first Prime Minister of Portugal's family title)

Golden Ranges for the discovery of gold in the area.

Hall River named after Harrison Hall who led the colonial army in the Georgeland Rebellion

McGregor Ranges named after Harold John McGregor, explorer of Southern Georgeland

Lander River named after the first governor of Octavia, Peter Lander.

Endeavour River named after the ship which was captained by James Cook at the time of the voyage.

Fish Lake, named by Harold John McGregor as the lake held an abundance of fish

Copper River named as large amounts of Copper were mined West of the river

Pembroke Bay after the Endeavour's name when it was launched. The Endeavour was the ship which James Cook captained when he discovered Iscoun

Byron Ranges, named after John Byron who circumnavigated the world between 1764 and 1768.

Newstead Mountains after Joseph Newstead who discovered Coal near what is now Castleton

Nash Mountains after John Nash, prominent British architect who died in 1835.

Wallsend Bluffs in honour of the miners who died in the Wallsend Colliery explosion, previously known as The Prince's Bluffs

Mount Lisbon after the Portuguese capital.

Marsden Bay after William Marsden, captain of the Titan, the ship on which the first Georgeland settlers arrived and site of the landing.

Antonio Bay after the Portuguese ship which bought the first settlers to Wemberley, the Santo Antonio