Water wise: How rivers shaped a colony

For the Europeans at Risdon Cove, 16 October 1803 looked like a normal day for their fledgling camp. Normal, of course, being a relative term here. The site was probably bustling, as the newcomers set about making their presence permanent on the edge of the River Derwent. Without fanfare, the 29-year-old Irishman James Meehan departed from the camp. His task was to survey the land around the River Derwent for ten to twelve miles (about 18 km) from the camp. He was looking for land with rich soils and river access, that could be farmed easily for useful timbers and other resources. He noted down lands that would not be productive, while measuring distances, and marking trees for future reference. His discoveries would guide the earliest European forays into farming along the River Derwent, as both free and convict settlers received their land grants.