Personal letter to William Percy Coverdale from Anne Coverdale
Maker
Anne Coverdale
(1818 - 1875)
DateJanuary 1874
Object number00028797
NameLetter
MediumInk on paper
DimensionsOverall: 125 x 204 mm, 0.003 kg
Display Dimensions: 204 x 125 mm
Display Dimensions: 204 x 125 mm
ClassificationsEphemera
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionA letter to Percy Coverdale from his mother Anne (nee Harbroe) on her arrival at Port Arthur Tasmania where her husband, Dr John Coverdale, had been made the last Civil Commandant and Medical Superintendent. Dr Coverdale replaced Adolarius Humphrey Boyd and became responsible for closing down the penal establishment.
In the letter Anne gives instructions to Percy on finalising the move to Port Arthur from their previous home in Richmond and recounts their trip to their new residence with their daughter Annie.
HistoryThis letter written by John Coverdale's wife Ann, outlines briefly their journey to the settlement and a list of last minute jobs she needs her son Percy to carry out. Of particular interest is her first impression of Port Arthur that Ann records;
"You could not fancy yourself so far away from Town - we cannot - & I am sure we shall like the place – it does not look dull – there are so many buildings & people moving about that it gives a cheerful appearance to it all."
Dr John Coverdale was initially a ship's surgeon serving on two separate troop voyages from England to India. He later acted in the role on the immigrant ship PERTHSHIRE to Hobart in 1837 on which he was also an immigrant.
Dr Coverdale, as District Surgeon, established a practice in Richmond in 1840 which ran for 20 years before he was assigned as Superintendent of the Queen's Asylum for Orphans in Hobart in 1865. While there it is said he made general improvements and economised enough to impress the government which later sent him to Port Arthur in 1874. As Civil Commandant and medical officer, Coverdale became responsible for closing down the penal establishment in 1877.
Now almost 60 years of age and a widower after the death of his wife Anne, Dr Coverdale was reassigned to the role of Superintendent of the Hospital for the Insane at the Cascades. That establishment was broken up in 1888 and Dr Coverdale, now 74, was forced to retire to his home 'Ivadene' at Moonah.
SignificanceDr John Coverdale was a major medical and surgical figure in the history of Tasmania. From his arrival in Hobart in 1837, Dr Coverdale proceeded to serve in significant civil and medical positions throughout the colony for the next 60 years.
18 December 1874