A P for Pamphlett

Hubby needed a pee so he ducked into Olio at the Brisbane Convention Centre on Grey St.  I wandered around and was drawn to some beautiful artwork which appeared in seating alcoves all along the foyer of the building and a beautiful story of art and history, two of my absolute favourite things, unfolded.

The art works were created by Bruce Reynolds when he was commissioned in 2010. The resulting artwork of linoleum, paintwork and photography allowed him to pursue his interest in history, the early settlement of the Brisbane River and industrial buildings, while dedicating the whole project to Thomas Pamphlet(t).

Thomas Pamphlet also Pamphlett was a convict and a castaway. 

This is an abridged extract from https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/pamphlett-thomas-2536 written by J.H Hornibrook: 

He was charged with stealing five pieces of woollen cloth and a bay mare in the County of Chester. He was found guilty and his death sentence was commuted to transportation for fourteen years. He arrived in Sydney in the Guildford in January 1812.  Subsequent good conduct earned him a conditional pardon on 31 January 1818.

In March 1823 with three other ticket-of-leave men, John Finnegan, Richard Parsons and John Thompson, he set out for the Five Islands (Illawarra) to cut cedar. The boat was wrecked on the outer shore of Moreton Island. They were helped by Aboriginals and crossed to the mainland. Believing themselves south of Sydney they sought a northward route homewards. Aboriginals again helped them with food and directions and they soon came upon a large river (Brisbane). As it was too wide to cross they followed its banks upwards almost to the present site of Goodna. Finding a canoe they crossed the stream and returned along the opposite bank, again living with Aboriginals for some weeks.

In September 1823 Pamphlett and the Aboriginals attracted the attention of John Oxley, who was then exploring in the Mermaid for the site of a new penal settlement at Moreton Bay. Pamphlett was taken on board . Oxley was interested to hear of the large river and, explored it as far as the point reached by the castaways. Oxley then took the two men with him to Sydney.

On 11 October 1826 Pamphlett was found guilty of larceny and sent for seven years to Moreton Bay. He left Moreton Bay eventually and lived uneventfully until his death on 1 December 1838 at Penrith.

Chris Pearce whose blog I have tagged below has actually written a non fiction book called through the Eyes of Thomas Pamphlett : Convict and castaway. 

https://chrispearce52.wordpress.com/2014/03/01/through-the-eyes-of-thomas-pamphlett-convict-and-

castaway/

Pamphlett lead Oxley to the Brisbane River and to the subsequent establishment of a new penal colony, which was the start of our very own Brisbane city.