Journal of a voyage to the western pacific in the Melanesian mission yacht Southern Cross, 25 August - 10 November 1906

A diary kept by John Watt Beattie (1859-1930), a photographer of Hobart, Tasmania, to record his trip in the 'Southern Cross' from Norfolk Island to the Solomon Islands, via the New Hebrides and Santa Cruz islands, to take photographs of the islands and mission centres, at the invitation of Dr. Wilson, Bishop of Melanesia from 25 August to 10 November 1906. The original manuscript has been deposited in the Royal Society of Tasmania's Library by the Tasmanian Museum & Art Gallery (ref: RS.29/3). It is roughly written in pencil in a quarto notebook. The transcript was made by Linda Rodda and Lesley Elliot (University of Tasmania Archives) for the Royal Society of Tasmania. Beattie's spelling has been retained, although his regular use of 'to' for 'too' has usually been corrected, but the punctuation has occasionally been modified for clarity, including his use of the apostrophe in 'do'nt' for 'don't', and long entries split into paragraphs. From the Royal Society Collection RS29/

Notes on a recent trip to the Hartz Mountains

Mr. J. W. Beattie read some "Notes on a recent trip to the Hartz Mountains," descriptive of a photographic tour through the bush from Geeveston to the summit of the mountains. The paper was elaborately illustrated by lantern slides, manipulated by Mr. Nat Oldham, and the audience was given an excellent, interesting, and general idea of the scenery, lake and mountain, bush and plain

Notes for a lantern slide talk on the Hartz Mountains presented in Launceston under the auspices of the Centenary Committee, October 1904

Original manuscript, transcript and slide list of a lantern slide talk on the Hartz Mountains presented by Beattie in Launceston under the auspices of the Centenary Committee in October, 1904. Beattie mentions the death on the mountain plains of his dear friend and best bushman in the Huon, Arthur Geeves also the fact that he was the first person to photograph the Hartz Mountains. John Watt Beattie (1859 - 1930) who was born in Edinburgh, arrived in Tasmania in 1878 and settled at first in New Norfolk. He was a notable photographer, both of views and portraits and acted as photographer to the Tasmanian Government, and also took over Ansons' photographic studios (1892) in Hobart (the Beattie studios were sold shortly before his death). Many of Beattie's photographs of people and places were published in the Cyclopedia of Tasmania, (1st edn. 1900). He also prepared sets of lecture slides on the topography and history of Tasmania and gave many lectures himself. He was interested in the history and made an important collection of items relating to Port Arthur & convict days, which was sold to the Queen Victoria Museum, Launceston in 1927. Another collection was secured for the Tasmanian Museum Hobart after Beattie's death through William Walker, the City paying 250 pounds. Some of Beattie's lectures and photographic notes were placed with the Royal Society's manuscripts on loan by the Museum. Some other papers of J.W. Beattie were bequeathed by him to the Royal Society for safe-keeping. These consist of copies of historical manuscripts and some original manuscripts, press cuttings and notes. From the Royal Society Collection RS29/7-2 & RS29/7-

Notes on the River Gordon and on the need for reservation of land along its banks

The River Gordon is about four miles distant from Sarah Island. Its entrance is narrow, with a bar, upon which there is a depth of water of about two fathoms, deepening almost immediately to 10 fathoms. The entrance to the river has now been well beaconed, and renders navigation safe. Following the Elliott Range eastward, we next notice an elevated flat belt of open country, called the High Plain. Across this plain came Sir John and Lady Franklin and party, on their memorable overland journey from Hobart in 1842, piloted by the late Mr. James Erskine Calder, afterwards Surveyor-General of Tasmania. There is a fine outcrop of limestone at Limekiln Reach, 12 miles from the river entrance, which in the early days was quarried and burned by a party from the Sarah Island establishment. Pining was carried out in the Gordon and vicinity, and it will take at least a century for the young forest to mature again. As roads are mostly non-existent, so trees are carried downstream by the river. The source of the Gordon is in Lake Richmond. under the shadow oi the King William Range, whence it flows through picturesque surroundings in the Rasselas Valley, making a long and graceful sweep round Mount Wright, which is known as "The Great Bend." The preservation of scenery in other parts of the world is receiving the greatest attention, and even in England a society has been formed for the preservation of Swiss scenery. How much greater is the necessity existent in a country like Tasmania, relying so much upon her tourist traffic, to preserve by every means within her power attractions without which such a traffic would diminish rather than increase, to the serious loss of the state. One hesitates to put this selfish aspect of the case before a learned society, but "necessity knows no law." and, after all, a public awakening may be better aroused by a proposition in this form rather than from a more scientific standpoint

Personal Papers of John Watt Beattie (1859 - 1930) Index: Royal Society Collection

John Watt Beattie (1859 - 1930) who was born in Edinburgh, arrived in Tasmania in 1878 and settled at first in New Norfolk. He was a notable photographer, both of views and portrait and acted as photographer to the Tasmanian Government, and also took over Ansons' photographic studios (1892) in Hobart (the Beattie studios were sold shortly before his death). Many of Beattie's photographs of people and places were published in the Cyclopedia of Tasmania, (1st edn. 1900). He also prepared sets of lecture slides on the topography and history of Tasmania and gave many lectures himself. He was interested in the history and made an important collection of items relating to Port Arthur & convict days, which was sold to the Queen Victoria Museum, Launceston in 1927. Another collection was secured for the Tasmanian Museum Hobart after Beattie's death through William Walker, the City paying 250 pounds. Some of Beattie's lectures and photographic notes were placed with the Royal Society's manuscripts on loan by the Museum. Some other papers of J.W.Beattie were bequeathed by him to the Royal Society for safe-keeping. These consist of copies of historical manuscripts and some original manuscripts, press cuttings and notes. See RS.30 RS. 2

List of native words of the Oyster Bay tribe, Van Diemen’s Land

The following list of Native Words was found among papers originally in the possession of Rev. William Bedford, D.D., who succeeded Rev. Robert Knopwood as Principal Chaplain of Van Diemen's Land in 1823. Mr. Bedford took a deep interest in the "Native Question," and was an active member of the Aboriginal Committee, an advisory body appointed by Colonel Arthur to assist the Executive in effectually dealing with the very difficult Native problems of the time. The list and notes have been copied by myself, and are an exact reproduction of the original in spelling and composition. I have not been able, yet, to discover who the writer "H.W.M." was

John Watt Beattie Index: Royal Society Collection

John Watt Beattie (1859 - 1930) who was born in Edinburgh, arrived in Tasmania in 1878 and settled at first in New Norfolk. He was a notable photographer, both of views and portraits and acted as photographer to the Tasmanian Government, and also took over Ansons' photographic studios (1892) in Hobart (the Beattie studios were sold shortly before his death). Many of Beattie's photographs of people and places were published in the Cyclopedia of Tasmania, (1st edn. 1900). He also prepared sets of lecture slides on the topography and history of Tasmania and gave many lectures himself. He was interested in the history and made an important collection of items relating to Port Arthur & convict days, which was sold to the Queen Victoria Museum, Launceston in 1927. Another collection was secured for the Tasmanian Museum Hobart after Beattie's death through William Walker, the City paying 250 pounds. Some of Beattie's lectures and photographic notes were placed with the Royal Society's manuscripts on loan by the Museum. Some other papers of J.W. Beattie were bequeathed by him to the Royal Society for safe-keeping. These consist of copies of historical manuscripts and some original manuscripts, press cuttings and notes. See RS.30. Includes personal papers, diaries and lecture note

Lantern Slide Catalogue of Views of Melanesia and Norfolk Island and Tasmania

Catalogue of lantern slide views of Melanesia and Norfolk Island. Photographs taken during the visit of the Bishop of Tasmania. Includes information about Magic Lantern slides on The Aboriginals of Tasmania ' The Lost Race". Prepared by J.W. Beattie, Wellington Bridge, 52 Elizabeth Street, Hobart. c. 189

Photograph of Dr GF Story, c. 1870 - 1880

A photograph of Dr George Fordyce Story, Tasmania c.1870-1880. The photograph was taken in John Watt Beattie's studio in Hobart Town. From George Musgrave Parker Collection P1/35 (266