History of The Burnie Field Naturalists Club

On the 31 st of January 1952. the inaugural meeting of The Burnie Field Naturalists Club was held. Members from Devonport Field Naturalist Club attended and Fred Swann was president. The ‘Billy Tea’ tradition started on the outings that were organised.

Members included several APPM staff. The first exhibition was held in October.

In 1958 various areas were discussed before the club leased land at Rocky Cape for a shack. A house on Old Surrey Road was purchased from APPM for £75 and in March 1960 it was moved to the site and installed with much hard work. Regular working bees with plenty of billy tea were the building was up to scratch. Power was connected in 1968, but facilities remain basic. In 1963 rents were set at £2.10s for members and £3.10s for other users.

The shack was sold sum years ago. There was also the Liena shack offered to the club for £12 in 1970, by the Forestry Commission. Unfortunately its remote location made it difficult to supervise. Vandalism became a problem and it was destroyed by fire in April 1980.

The club's close association with Rocky Cape gave members an intimate knowledge of the area and when crown land between Sisters Beach and Rocky Cape was suggested for a reser/e, they were active in support ofthe proposal. There must have been satisfaction when the Rocky Cape National Park was gazetted in 1967 and enlarged in 1975.

Regular camps soon became a feature of the club's programme. Many were memorable: snow at Waratah for the first Easter camp in 1963: staying at the 10 mile in an EBR carriage; walking over the old abl railway bridge (the now reopened West Coast Wilderness Railway): the pub at Gould‘s Countw; the hall at Piper‘s River where a water tank ran dry; camps have taken us to many interesting areas, and the tradition continues. Suggestions for future sites are always welcome. A lot of work goes into the research that has to be done to gather background material for a successful camp. Local history, geology, contacts. special items to look for. all add to the experience and fun.

The club has organised classes for its members and others on demand. and visiting experts have been welcomed for lectures and field excursions. Visiting clubs have also tasted our hospitality. We have been active in the Federation of Field Naturalists Clubs which provides a forum for clubs to exchange information and explore common ground.

In the local area, members were involved in several tree planting schemes. Traces remain in Burnie Park, around the Swimming Pool, and at Burnie High School. To celebrate the bicentennial, the Burnie Town Walk was proposed. Plants have been identified and labelled at several camp sites including Araluen, Paton Park, and Guildford.

The earliest club newsletter that exists dates from April 1966. Production methods have changed over the years, but the content remains a lively record of the club's activities and members interests. A full history remains to be researched and written.