Dead Centre Northdown
Church of St James, the Apostle. Northdown
The first church in this district was dedicated by Bishop Nixon on the 30th April 1845. The present church was built by public subscription on a 4047 square metre parcel of land given by Marcus W. Loane, and was opened on the 18th May 1878 by Archdeacon Hales. The first recorded burial was in 1881.There is a contrasting bronze plaque with more detail placed in memory of Harold A. R. Thomas.
Anglican Church sells historic Northdown church to locals
The St James Church, Hall and cemetery at Northdown has been transferred to a local community group. The Anglican Bishop of Tasmania confirmed that the historic church would be the subject of a private sale thus satisfying the prayers and wishes of the parishioners.
"The Anglican Church of Tasmania recognises that churches and cemeteries hold significant value within local communities. During our public consultation process in 2018, a local community group expressed interest in St James Church, Northdown. Consistent with our commitment to prioritise community-driven solutions, it is our intention to sell the church privately to this local community group."
Pioneer Families of Northdown
There are many family groups still persisting in the wider area to this day Apart from the reference above to the Loanes giving land for this church and cemetery site, there is more than one family member resting here. You might find the grave of Hugh Loane. Died in 1956, aged 71 yrs. Loane, Thomas and Sankey are just three that are prominent.
But those three words will not help you to solve this puzzle. Read carefully dear geocacher to discover what you must have.
Thomas Family of "North Down"
Jocelyn Henry Connor Thomas (1780–1862) and his brother Captain Bartholomew Boyle Thomas (1785–1831) were Anglo–Irish gentry who emigrated after a land-reclamation venture failed. Jocelyn arrived in 1824. He acquired Everton at Evandale and Milford at Conara, intending to farm, but was appointed (1824) to Arthur's Executive Council, becoming Colonial Treasurer. In 1832, Gov. Arthur dismissed Jocelyn, denouncing him for treasury deficiencies and holding him accountable. Bartholomew arrived in 1826 with quality bloodstock including Australia's first Hereford cattle. He initiated the Cressy Company and pioneered its 20,000 acre operation, but resigned in 1828 to establish "North Down", an isolated but attractive holding west of Port Sorell, where he was killed by aborigines in 1831. His nephews succeeded him.
Jocelyn retired to Milford and later North Down. His second son Bat pioneered the Mersey district (Appledore), 1854. Descendants include Daniel Thomas, inaugural Curator of Australian Art, National Gallery of Australia, 1978, and Archbishop Sir Marcus Loane of Sydney Diocese. Jocelyn's descendants still own North Down.
Further reading: H Thomas, Sam Thomas and his neighbours, Latrobe, 1975; H Felton, From commissariat to treasury, Hobart, 2004.
The Sankey Family of Northdown
Acknowledgements - thanks are due to the following people for their help - Snow Thomas, Ron Loane.
Joseph was born on 23 Jan 1819. On 5 April 1843 he was sentenced to 15 years transportation destined for Tasmania. He was sent north to Deloraine, and later worked in nearby Westbury and Longford. Joseph took up the opportunity on 15 March 1854 to join the Victorian Gold Rush. Perhaps Joseph had some luck on the goldfields, for at about this time, the family moved further north to the pioneer agricultural district of Northdown (named after “North Down”, the large estate owned by the Thomas family). By January 1863 he was leasing his own 50 acre farm from Sam Thomas, later known as “Sankey’s Old Garden”. The Sankey's were never major landowners like their Thomas or Loane neighbours, but they established a firm and respected place in the Northdown district. Joseph Jnr. leased an additional 72 acres of farmland from H.J. Wilson, and in about 1901 he was able to buy the Kent property (which remained in the family well into the 20th century).. Just after his death on 13 Dec 1912, the family occupied at least 5 freehold and leasehold properties in the Northdown area, mainly comprising 440 acres of farmland. Like his father, Joseph Jnr. died ‘on the job’. While hoeing potatoes one day, he took a smoko sitting against a log, and two friends later found him there, having passed away. The Sankey family continues to be associated with the Northdown area to this day, and many members are buried at the historic cemetery of St James’.