VHNRA Proposal 13 Jan 2016 .pdf

7/25/2019 VHNRA Proposal 13 Jan 2016 .pdf

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Proposal

To rename Emita Nature Recreation Area,Flinders Island, Tasmania

14th January 2015


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This proposal has been prepared by Alan and Liz Robinsonwith assistance from Ken, Brad, Pam & Margie Robinson,

who were born and grew up on Flinders Island

Children of James Huitfeldt RobinsonGreat grandchildren of Valentine & Tilly Huitfeldt.

January 2016

Contents

1. Introduction & Overview

2. Proposed renaming

3. Township Vs Nature Recreation Area

4. The case for History

5. Justification of proposed new name

6. Summary and Benefits

Appendices 1 to 12(Separate document)


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The Emita Nature Recreation Area is located on the western coastline of Flinders Island,Tasmania, right on the 40th Parallel.

This Nature Recreation Area is approximately 2 km long and comprises 126 ha. It faces out toMarshall Bay and Bass Strait and is surrounded primarily by coastline and farmland.

The Emita Nature Recreation Area was officially named by the Tasmanian Nature ConservationAct of 2002. This Act defines a Nature Recreation Area as An area of land (a) predominantlyin a natural state; or (b) containing sensitive natural sites of significance for recreation.withthe purpose of : Public recreation and education coexistent with conserving the natural andcultural values of the area of land.

There are four Nature Recreation Areas on Flinders Island, the others being

Palana Nature Recreation Area (60 ha)Killiecrankie Nature Recreation Area (844 ha)Mt Tanner Nature Recreation Area (4,235 ha)

Note: The area has been officially named the Emita Nature Recreation Area for the past 14years. In this document, the term Nature Recreation Area refers to the same area and spansthe 104 year period since it was first set aside as a community space, including the last 14years.

1. Introduction and Overview

Emita Nature Recreation Area

Allp

orts

Beach

Emita

Beach

Source: www.placenames.tas.gov.auand search on the keyword Emita
http://www.placenames.tas.gov.au/http://www.placenames.tas.gov.au/


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2. Proposal

For a number of years part of the foreshore area in the township of Emita has been signposted asthe Emita Beach Coastal Reserve

When this sign is upgraded to the official DPIPWE reserve classification there will be anopportunity to rename this area and provide a direct connection with island history and thespecific history of Emita, while at the same time including Nature Recreation Area as part of itsofficial name.

We propose that the Emita Nature Recreation Area (ENRA) is renamed as the

Valentine Huitfeldt Nature Recreation Area

to acknowledge the first Warden of the Flinders Island Council who was the first resident of thetownship of Emita and effectively the founder of the township.

125 years ago, Valentine Huitfeldt emigrated from Trondheim, Norway and arrived on FlindersIsland with his wife Tilly, another Norwegian. They were pioneers of the Emita area, and built theirfirst home in 1891 within the area of what became the township of Emita.This home was locatedin bushland that over 110 years later in 2002, became part of the Emita Nature Recreation Area.

In 1903, they moved to their next home, Throndstad, now named Kentdale. Then in 1912 theymoved to their newly-built home Stella Maris in the centre of the new township of Emita and werethe first residents of the town.

The purpose of this proposal is to justify the name Valentine Huitfeldt Nature Recreation Area

(VHNRA) with irrefutable evidence that is specific to this area and specific to the town of Emitaand the Nature Recreation Area, while adhering to the DPIPWE Guidelines for place naming inTasmania, and respecting the role and authority of Tasmania Parks & Wildlife in this process.

This proposal aims to answer the two key questions- Why is the Emita Nature Area the best option for acknowledging Valentine Huitfeldt?- Why is Valentine Huitfeldts name the best option for the Emita Nature Recreation Area?

Huitfeldt might appear initially difficult to pronounce, however most people get it right the firsttime pronouncing Huit - feld. However, the everyday pronunciation in Australia is more like

Witfelt. In the Norwegian language the name Huitfeldt is translated as white field.


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Scale - 1 kmCave

Beach

Preservation of the name Emita.

Renaming the Emita Nature Recreation Area will not diminish the name Emita. The name isstrongly embedded into place name nomenclature of Flinders island and Tasmania through itsprimary usage as:

The Emita localityThe town of Emita

Emita BeachRefer to Appendix 1 to see how these three entities fit together.

Common usage of the name Emita on a daily basis on Flinders Island is almost 100% in referenceto these three. On the other hand, the name Emita Nature Recreation Area is not currently in useby the community on Flinders Island.

Further, renaming the Nature Recreation Area to provide a direct link to the history of Emita, willaccentuate the character and identity of the Emita township, rather than diminish it.

2. Proposal (continued)

Emita

Beach

There are precedents in Tasmania for naming a Nature Recreation Area or Conservation Area afteran individual or a family. For example,

Kate Reed Nature Reservation Area, 110 ha, of comparable size to the ENRA.

And precedents on Flinders Island. For example,

Bun Beetons Point Conservation Area (102 ha)Blyth Point Conservation Area (109 ha)

The Emita Nature Recreation Areawith its four beaches.(yellow dash line as outer boundary)

Allpo

rts

Beach


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Emita Township

Emita Nature Recreation Area

At the outset it is helpful to differentiate between the Emita township and the EmitaNature Recreation Area (ENRA). They occupy an almost identical footprint on landarea as depicted in the two maps below, with the differences pinpointed by thearrows.

The similarity in footprint between the ENRA and the township can be confusing as

both carry the same primary name, Emita. Clearer differentiation will be an outcomeof this Nature Recreation Area having its own unique name while still being part ofthe Emita township.

When compared to other nature recreation areas, the ENRA is unique as it encircles49 town blocks, a number of which to date have houses erected.

3. Emita Township compared to Emita Nature Recreation Area

Source for both above maps:

www.placenames.tas.gov.au and search on the keyword Emita

Emita township residentialarea comprising town blocksencircled by the ENRA

Emita townshipresidential area notcontained in ENRA

This piece of land was part of Valentines1st property at Emita. It is still part of theENRA today, however it is not within theEmita township boundary.
http://www.placenames.tas.gov.au/http://www.placenames.tas.gov.au/


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During the term of the inaugural Flinders Island Council, elected 1908, surveying for the newtownship of Emita was completed and the town plan was drawn up in the Surveyor Generalsoffice in Hobart, dated 3rd March 1911 (A copy of this plan is included on page 15). The planidentified land blocks and owners, a proposed harbour, a public hall site, a water reserve, aschool reserve and an area of 50 acres of native bush and coastline set aside for recreationpurposes, along with other areas as nature reserves.

In January 1911, as guests of Valentine Huitfeldt the first Warden of the Council, the Governorand the Premier of Tasmania along with the Surveyor General and the Minister for Lands visitedEmita and passed through the Emita township site on their way to Valentines home. They passeddirectly through the Nature Recreation Area. And passed through it again on their return journey.

The first house in the town was Stella Maris, erected for Valentine and his family in 1912 andstill standing sturdily today. A general store was opened and a jetty was constructed at the southwest end of Emita Beach during 1912. A small private school was built and opened. The FlindersIsland wireless station was erected in 1914 only 150 metres from what became the boundary of

the Nature Recreation Area, and a short distance to the Emita town.

However, the history of the town itself has faded with few reminders apart from the 1911 townmap hanging in the Furneaux Museum, and the two buildings still standing from 1912. The otherbeing a cottage/school built soon after Stella Maris and is now part of the Furneaux Museum andknown as Dryazell,.

While Emita was officially gazetted and proclaimed as a town on 22 May 1940, the fact thatthere has been relatively little building activity over the years does not negate its official townstatus. The proclaimed town is a crucial part of island history, Emita history. It relates to earlysettlement in a formative period of the island development, the first 25 years of the 20th century.

The history of the township parallels the history of the Nature Recreation Area. Their histories areentwined, although today the history of the Nature Recreation Area has faded probably morethan the history of the town. Do the public know when it was established? how it evolved? whoestablished it? what was its original purpose?

The telling of this history is not aroused by the current signpost Emita Beach Coastal Reserve.nor by the official name Emita Nature Recreation Area. When someone first hears either of thesenames, they probably assume they know the source of the name simply, its a reserve ornature area in the Emita locality. They are right. And the lead-in to local history stops there.

In contrast, the names of Bun Beetons Point Conservation Area, Mount Boyes, Mount Blyth,

Holloway Point, Walkerss Lookout, Allports Beach and others on the island, or the Kate ReedNature Recreation Area near Launceston evoke questions about the name, which leads to tothe role of these individuals or families and their contribution to the local community. Historygets re-told.

Similarly, the name Valentine Huitfeldt Nature Recreation Area will awaken interest in thehistory of the Emita town, Emita beach and the surrounding Nature Recreation Area and help toensure that this history is remembered and perpetuated.

Place names are doorways to history.

4. The case for linking history to the name ofthe Nature Recreation Area.


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Evidence #1 - The First Warden

Valentine Huitfeldt was elected as the inaugural Warden of the first Flinders Island Council in

1908. His name warrants acknowledgement for this contribution to the community.

No landmark, road or geographical feature on Flinders Island has yet been named after him.

Many communities recognise their first Warden or Mayor through naming a landmark, a road ora geographical feature after them. Refer to Appendix 6 for examples including King Islandwhichhas named Munro Place and Munro Road after their first Warden who was also elected in 1908.A number of other Tasmanian councils have also named landmarks after their first Warden, forexample Launceston, Devonport, Latrobe, Wynyard, St Helens (Break ODay Council) andSheffield (Dorset Council).

As Warden of the Flinders Island Council, Valentine had a strong connection with establishing

the new township of Emita. He demonstrated his commitment to this new development throughbeing the only Councillor at the time to buy land and build a house in the new township.

There is no better landmark or feature to acknowledge the first Warden of the Flinders IslandCouncil than the Emita Nature Recreation Area.

Service to Flinders Island Council by Valentine Huitfeldt and his family

Following on from Valentines service as Warden, two of his son-in-laws Cyril Robinson andBert Grist were elected as Councillors representing the North Ward, including the Emitatownship. Both were committed to the development of the new Emita township throughthemselves acquiring land lots in the town.

Valentines grandson James Huitfeldt Robinson served as a Flinders Island Councillor for theNorth Ward, again including the Emita township area.

In total, Valentine and his direct family contributed over 35 years of service as Flinders IslandCouncillors representing Emita and the North Ward.

5. Justification of the nameValentine Huitfeldt Nature Recreation Area

Official opening of theWhitemark Wharf in 1905 bySir Harry Barron (in light suit

with walking stick),

Valentine Huitfeldt, standingin centre with hands claspedbehind his back. Six years

later, Valentine championedthe building of a wharf at

Emita. the same year that SirHarry Barron as Governor ofTasmania visited Valentines

home at Throndstad.

Photo - courtesy of FlindersIsland Historical Research

Association


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Wireless Hill

Huitfeldt home from1891 to 1903

Huitfeldt home from1912 to 1927

Huitfeldt homefrom 1903 to 1912

LISTmap Number 5755(Land InformationSystem Tasmania)

Town boundary

Evidence #2 - First Residents of Emita Township

After arriving on Flinders Island in 1890, Valentine Huitfeldt built his first house in 1891 insidethe area that 110 years later was named the Emita Nature Recreation Area. He and his family

lived there for the following 12 years. His next home was Throndstad (now Kentdale), also in theEmita locality. Then in 1912, he moved to his third home, Stella Maris located in the centre ofthe Emita township and within the ENRA. Valentines family lived here for 15 years. All threehomes were within two kilometres of each other.

Their eldest daughter Emilie was the first child born in the Nature Recreation Area and theProclaimed Town of Emita.For proof, refer to Appendix 3. Four of their six children were born attheir 1st home, and years later, all six of their children grew to adulthood living at their 3rdhome, Stella Maris, alongside Emita Beach and Allports Beach. Right in the Emita NatureRecreation Area. That is skin in the game. There is no better proof of being first residents of thetown.

Valentine and Tilly Huitfeldt lived in the Emita locality for over 32 years. They are both buried inthe historic Wybalenna Cemetery, just 1 km from the boundary of the Nature Recreation Areaand 1 km from their first home. Again, that was their commitment to this area.



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Evidence #3 - Valentine Huitfeldts direct connection to the Nature Recreation Area

The evidence so far in this proposal includes Valentine Huitfeldt being the firstWarden of the Flinders Island Council and the first resident of the Emita township.These two points together provide strong justification for acknowledging Valentine bythe naming or renaming of a suitable landmark or feature on Flinders Island andpreferably in the Emita locality.

The next consideration isWhat makes an individuals name suitable for a specific landmark or feature? and,

What makes a landmark or feature suitable for an individuals name?

Valentine Huitfeldts name is the best option for the Emita Nature Recreation Area. Itis a small, unique nature reserve encasing a small township including the FurneauxMuseum and it warrants a name that is synonymous with the history of the area. Aname that has been associated with the area and the township for more than 100years.

In parallel, the Emita Nature Recreation Area is the best option for a landmark orfeature to include Valentines name given his deep-seated connection to it. Thisconnection came through his involvement with the conception and evolution of theEmita town and through his home being located within the town and within the

Nature Recreation Area. The ENRAs early history and Valentines history are entwined.There is no better option to acknowledge Valentine. In particular

- he was Warden at the time this area of 126 Ha was set aside for communityreserves as part of the town being planned.

- Valentines landholdings effectively bookended the area and formed sectionsof its perimeter prior to the Emita township being established.

- From the time this reserve area was set aside, Valentine and his family wereliving there. He and his family were using it as a nature recreation area fromday one.

These three points, all integral to Valentines direct relationship with the Nature

Recreation Area are described further in the following six pages.



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Two otherlarge reserveareas are identifiedonthe larger townmaponthenext page:

- Lot 64C @ 138 acresbetween Allports Beach and CaveBeach,and

- Lot64A@115acres betweenEmita Beach and LittlePlain

Thats atotal of303acres =122hectares. Additional minorreserves makeup 4hectares giving

the area specifiedtoday as the area of theEmita Nature Recreation Area.

Key point: In2015 the EmitaNatureRecreationArea comprises 126 hectares.This area was set

aside during the term of the inauguralCouncil (1908- 1911).

Emita Beach

AllportsBeach

Stella Maris, directlyacross the gravel roadrom this Reserve setaside for Recreation

Purposes

Evidence #3 - Valentine Huitfeldts direct connection to the Nature Recreation Area - page 1/6

The plan for the town of Emita was drawn up in 1911, and land was set aside in the townshipfor community reserves. One such example was Lot 64B on the town plan being 50 acres Set

aside for Recreation Purposes between Emita Beach and Allports Beach as shown below bythis section of the complete town map on the next page. Note Stella Maris location.


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Compiled

anddrawnattheSurveyOfficeHobart

C.K.Oldmeadow

3.3.1911

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Hobart


Evidence #3 - Valentine Huitfeldts direct connection to the Nature Recreation Area - page 2/6The 1911 Emita Town plan

This map identifies all three major reserves,Lot 64A,

Lot64B and Lot 64C, set aside inthe 1911 Emita town plan.

Lo

t64A

Em

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Be a

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All

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Be a

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Lo

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4B

Lo

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4C

Va

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Valentines landholdings surrounded sections of the Nature Recreation Area. These land lots areshown on the earth view below along with the yellow dash line which marks the outer perimeter ofthe ENRA as it is today.

Before the Emita town was planned, his first property on the island, Lot 13108 (acquired in 1891),formed what became the southern boundary of the ENRA. Then Lot 13887 formed part of the northeastern boundary. Valentine had leased a further 1,000 acres by 1899, and this formed the northernsection of the boundary of the Nature Recreation Area.

Proof of Valentines landholdings depicted below is included in Appendix 11 including a plan ofthese properties dated May 1899. This was Valentines own document at the time.

In addition to his landholdings surrounding the Emita township, from the time it was founded,Valentine demonstrated his strong support of the new township by acquiring 5 land blocks (and hisfamily acquiring 4 more town blocks) within its boundary. Refer to the previous page.

He was the only Councillor to invest in the new township by the time the town plan was compiledand drawn in March 1911. The other two North Ward Councillors on the inaugural Council wereCollis and Allison, neither of who had purchased Emita town blocks by this date.

Valentine was an early champion of the new town.

Valentines 1st home 2nd home and 3rd home are shown below.


Scale - 1 km

Cave Beach

ENRA outer boundary

Valentines properties

Valentines lease EmitaBeach

Lot13887

149acres 340acres

2

1,000 acrelease

150acres

AllportsBeach

3

Lot1310877acres

1


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The purpose of the next three pages is to describe some examples of how Valentine and hisfamily had a unique ongoing relationship over a number of years with the the area that became

the Emita Nature Recreation Area. An area that includes bushland, Allports Beach, EmitaBeach, a section of Cave Beach and a small beach to the north east of Emita Beach.

When the family moved to Stella Maris, and were the first family living in the Emita township,they then had both Allports** Beach and Emita** Beach within 250m. This gave theirnumerous guests, visitors and those who attended the many community functions at Stella

Maris (refer to Appendix 5, page 16) easy access to these two family-friendly beaches. Therewere very few other houses in the area at the time and none were closer to these beaches.

**names of these beaches today. Different names were in use at the time. For example, AllportsBeach did not take its name until 1927 (when Dr. Allport purchased Stella Maris) at the earliest.

Key Point: 100 years ago, Valentine, his family and the community were using the beaches ofthis area, consistent with the purpose of a Nature Recreation Area as defined by the 2002 Act:

Public recreation and education coexistent with conserving the natural and cultural values ofthe area of land.

Cave Beach was once known asHuitfeldts Beach as documentedby the photo on the right, courtesyFurneaux Museum. This photo isincluded purely as evidence of thename Huitfeldts Beach. In 1916when this photo was taken,

Valentine and his family wereliving at Stella Maris, in the Emitatownship.

Valentine & Tillys first property onFlinders Island directly abuttedCave** Beach (See earth view onpage 13) and their first home (builtin 1891) was only 500m from thisbeach.

At that time, they were the only family living this close to this beach (refer Appendix 2).Five of Valentine & Tillys six children were born during the 12 years they lived at thishome. They did not have a motor vehicle so frequent visits to Cave Beach were highlyprobable. Their eldest child, Arild Huitfeldts memoir (Furneaux Museum) describes hisregular visits with his siblings to these beaches near their home.



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In 1911 Valentine was an initiator of the

jetty at Emita. He promoted thecommunity need for it publicly both tothe Council and the TasmanianGovernment. See right. This jetty wasbuilt in 1912 as a centrepiece for thenew townshi of Emita.

Communit recreation at Emita Beach

Trove: To The Editor, The Mercury, August 1911Sir

The people at the north end are very anxious thatthe Government should soon decide to build a jettyat the township of Emita, where it is deep water,and a fairly good natural harbour, which with amoderate outlay, could be made into a first-classport. - Yours, etc ..

V. HUITFELDT

Trove: The Examiner, February 5, 1913EMITA, Jan 30 ...

A pleasing little ceremony took place here on 14thlast (January 1913), when the last pile of the jettywas driven by Mrs. Huitfeldt (Tilly), in the presenceof a small number of spectators. After breaking abottle of wine over the pile, and wishing prosperityto the township and the jetty, Mrs. Huitfeldt gavethe necessary pull to let go the monkey, anddeclared the pile well and truly driven. The visitorspresent were afterwards hospitably entertained byMrs. Huitfeldt and her family at afternoon tea onthe jetty.

Valentines wife Tilly opened the newjetty at Emita Beach on 30 January 1913.Refer to Examiner article on right.

Tilly set an example for communityrecreation by swimming at Emita Beachevery day of the year regardless of weather.Source: Bess Larner, Valentine & Tillys eldestgranddaughter who turned 101 in June2015. Bess is a reliable source, she visitedher grandparents at Stella Maris and EmitaBeach until she was 12 years of age.

The town plan set aside a 50 acre community reserve at the South West end of the jettybeach, and 115 acres at the North East end of the beach. Both areas became part of theEmita Nature Recreation Area in 2002.



Of the four beaches in the ENRA, Emita Beach once had a jetty. The jetty had a commercialfunction and also became a focal point for community gatherings and community recreation.


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**Little Plain, Throndstad became the venue from the early 1900s for an annual communityrecreation event and gymkhana known as the Snake Gully Sports held on New Years Day.(Source: Furneaux Museum). This event, now known as the Emita Sports was held at LittlePlain for more than 50 years.

Key point: An annual island community recreation event right alongside the area that in 2002was named the Emita Nature Recreation Area.

Refer to Appendix 12 regarding the nearness of Valentines Throndstad home to Little Plain.- Throndstad was Valentines 2nd family home (1903-1912).- Throndstad was renamed as Kentdale after Valentine sold the property.

The walking track from Allports Beachto Castle Rock on Marshall Beach isrenowned as one of the 60 great shortwalks of Tasmania. This is a 3.3kmwalk (one way) and runs through theENRA.

A walking track along this route wasused regularly from 1913 to 1922 byValentines family.

In 1912, Valentine and his familystarted living at Stella Maris. In 1913his eldest daughter Emilie marriedCyril Robinson and they then lived atCyrils Marshall Rock property, nearthe beach and close to Castle Rock.

From 1914 to 1920, Emilies fourchildren were born at Marshall Rock.Valentine and Tilly walked the CastleRock trail and on to Marshall Rock tovisit their grandchildren, or meet them

at Castle Rock. They did not own amotor vehicle, and this was theshortest route between the two homes.Often they walked via Little Plain**.

Source: Bess Larner, the eldest of these4 grandchildren, age 101 in 2015.

Walk to Castle Rock fromStella Maris

Walk from Castle Rock toMarshall Rock & EmilieHuitfeldts family home

Walk through NatureRecreation Area to LittlePlain

Boundary of NatureRecreation Area

Stella Maris

Marshall Rock family home

Castle Rock

In addition to their relationship with the beaches of the Nature Recreation Area, and the bushlandsurrounding their home, the family regularly walked through the area. They were in it, often.

Little Plain




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Evidence #4 - Contribution to the community

Valentine Huitfeldt was a leader of Flinders Island community for a number of years and made asustained contribution to the island and the Emita locality over a 30 year time span. The pre-

WW1 era was a period of progress on the island and Valentine was a supporter and driver ofthis progress. Some examples of his contribution to Emita for which documentary evidence hasbeen compiled in Appendix 5 include:

hosting Tasmanian government officials to the island and his home, including theGovernor and the Premier (1911).

participating in the planning of a new township at Emita (1910, 1911) both as CouncilWarden and as an Emita resident.

building the first home in this new township and with his family becoming the firstresidents in the new township (1912).

his service to Flinders Island both as a councillor and as a JP. opening a general store in the new township (1914).

Commonwealth acquiring part of his land for the new wireless station, Emita (1914) andhis son Arild working on the implementation of this wireless station.

two of his children attending the new school (private) in the new township (1913-) the jetty being built for this township at what is now known as Emita Beach (1912) granting a public roadway through his

property at Emita as confirmed by thisarticle from Trove fromThe Examiner 23rd February 1911

World War 1 & World War 2 service

From their base at Stella Maris, Valentine and Tillys family contributed significantly to Australiasrole in WW1 and WW2 with ten of their family membersfrom Flinders Island giving warservice. In particular, Valentine & Tilly had 3 sons and 3 grandsons serve in WW1 and WW2each carrying the Huitfeldt name, all born on Flinders Island. Refer to Appendix 5, page 16 fornames of each of the ten family members.

How is this extensive war service relevant to renaming the nature recreation area ?When a single family has contributed to this extent in serving their community and country, it

adds weight to the family patriarchs name being recognised in their community. And it addsweight to his name being recognised at the location where he and his family lived during wartime.

With Stella Maris, Valentine and Tilly provided their family a base and a safe haven right withinthe Nature Recreation Area throughout the Great War and for the following decade. Their homeat the embryonic Emita township became the family hub and a community hub during the yearsof WW1. They hosted post-war functions and celebrations for the returned soldiers and theFlinders Island community at their home. Refer to Appendix 5, bottom page 17.

They hosted community gatherings at nearby beaches including what was known as HuitfeldtsBeach, and is now named Cave Beach. See photo on page 16, taken during war-time in 1916.



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Evidence #4 - Contribution to the community (continued)

Valentine & Tillys community service is demonstrated by them often making their homeavailable for church services and community dances.They hosted many Tasmanians and

Victorians, many Flinders Islanders and a number of international travellers.On 6th January 1911, Valentine hosted a visit by the Governor of Tasmania and the Premier athis home at Emita. They were accompanied by the Minister of Lands, the Surveyor General anda party of 14, along with other Flinders Island Councillors. Refer to Appendix 5, page 16.

That day, the Governor and his party were transported from their steamer at Lillies Bay toThrondstad with their route to Valentines home passing directly through the area that had beensubdivided to become the Emita township and through the Nature Recreation Area. And againon their return to their steamer. This is well documented in Arild Huitfeldts memoir***,available in the Furneaux Museum.

The official survey for the Emita township was completed exactly one month after this visit toThrondstad. The town plan was then compiled, drawn and authorised by the Surveyor General

on 3rd March 1911, less than two months after the above visit by the Governor to Valentineshome.

A copy of this town plan is included on page 15. Three major reserves marked out on this planmake up 97% of the Emita Nature Recreation Area.

A much larger version of the Emita town plan hangs on a wall in the Furneaux Museum. Todaymost land blocks in the town still adhere closely to this plan.

*** Arild was Valentine & Tillys eldest child. He was 19 years old at the time of this visit andassisted with the transportation of this official government party, as documented by him.


Sir Harry Barron

Governor Sir Harry Barron with his entourage, the Huitfeldt family, and someisland Councillors on the front verandah of Throndstad on 6th January 1911.

Valentine Huitfeldt


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Evidence #5- Emita historic homes of character.

Valentine Huitfeldt contributed further to the areas history through having built what are nowregarded as two* of the historic homes of Emita and Flinders Island, one of which is located inthe centre of the Emita township and surrounded by the Nature Recreation Area. This house,Stella Maris, still stands today 103 years after it was built, overlooking Emita Beach and AllportsBeach, two pristine beaches well known for community recreation. It is the oldest home in thearea. Refer to Appendix 9.

Historic homes contribute to a communitys sense of heritage and character. Stella Maris ismore than just a house. Its a combination of position and history. Walk across the small gravelroad in front of Stella Maris and you are in the bushland of the Emita Nature Recreation Area. Inthe reserve area that was set aside over 100 years ago, just across a small gravel road.

Importantly regarding this proposal, this house was designed by and built for Valentine & TillyHuitfeldt.It was the home of the first family to live in the town of Emita and the first home to

be surrounded by the nature reserve that became the Emita Nature Recreation Area.Historic homes in an island community are unique and worthy of preservation particularlybecause of the challenges in that era of transporting building materials to remote locations suchas this. Motor vehicles or trucks on the island available to transport building materials were ararity at the time (1902 through 1912). Refer to Appendix 9.

Stella Maris helps to justify the proposed new name VHNRA, as it was the sole house in theEmita town when the nature recreation area evolved as a community space. It was the placefrom which Valentines family set out on a daily basis to walk through this area or to goswimming or fishing at any of the four nearby beaches. The family respected the nature theywere living among as is documented in Arild Huitfeldts Memoir*** in the Furneaux Museum.

* The other historic home built for Valentine in 1903 was Throndstad, now known as Kendale.*** Arild was Valentine & Tillys eldest child. He lived at Stella Maris until he was 36 years old

Huitfeldt family at Stella Maris in 1920.Valentine in centre carrying one of his granddaughters, Belle Solomon

(nee Grist), age 97 in 2015. Car belongs to Belles father, Bert Grist.



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Renaming the Emita Nature Recreation Area as the Valentine Huitfeldt Nature Recreation Area

enables the following key benefitsfor the community

a) Gives this community nature area a more unique and more memorable identity.b) Gives this nature recreation area a name which connects directly to an informative narrative

about the history of the Emita township and helps to preserve that history by re-telling it.c) Acknowledges the Nature Recreation Area as a significant landmark on the island and

significant in the history of the island by naming it after the first Council Warden.d) Expands the Emita narrative from a tourism viewpoint with a name that is another connection

to the early European heritage of Flinders Island.e) Acknowledges the first Warden of the Flinders Island Council and acknowledges him at the

location where he lived and served the community.

Based on thejustification and supporting evidencepresented in Section 5 we propose that theEmita Nature Recreation Area is renamed as theValentine Huitfeldt Nature Recreation Areatoachieve increased recognition of this picturesque nature area while enhancing preservation ofthe history of the Emita township and surrounding area, and acknowledging the effective founder

of the township. At the same time, the purpose of the reservation is not affected by this renamingand stays consistent with the Tasmanian Nature Conservation Act of 2002.-

The proposed name satisfies DPIPWE naming guidelines giving preference to names that are (a)in keeping with the character and tradition of the area, and (b) with historical or localsignificance.

The name VHNRA is in keeping with the character and tradition of Emita through being directlylinked to the areas history including the proclaimed town, the first house, the wireless station,the old jetty and more. Further, the name Valentine Huitfeldt has both historical and localsignificance for Emita.The name is a integral part of the history of thisarea and the Emitatownship, making VHNRA a fitting and meaningful name.

The five points of evidence presented individually satisfy DPIPWEs guidelines:1. Valentine Huitfeldt was the first Warden of Flinders Island Council, elected 107 years ago.2. In 1891, Valentineand Tilly Huitfeldt were the first residents within what became the Emita

township boundary.Then over a century ago in 1912 they were the first residents in the newEmita township.

3. Valentine had a direct connection with the same land area and public space that in 2002became the ENRA. His relationship with this area dated from before it was first set aside.

4. Valentine Huitfeldt, Tilly Huitfeldt and their family provided sustained community service toEmita and Flinders Island over a number of years.

5. Valentine Huitfeldts home in the Emita township, Stella Maris still stands strongly today, 103years after it was erected. It was the first home in the Emita township and the first home

encased by the ENRA. It is the only home in the town remaining from that time.

Importantly, a renaming to Valentine Huitfeldt Nature Recreation Area will meetthe DPIPWErequirement for public safety:The assignment of place-names must promote public safety and not cause confusion foremergency services, transport, communication, mail services or the general public.It is a name that is distinct, invites curiosity and therefore prompts recall of its location.

5. Summary & Benefits


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Appendix 1 - The Emita Township & the Emita Locality

Appendix 2 - Proof of first residents of Emita township

Appendix 3 - First birth in Emita township - Emilie Huitfeldt

Appendix 4 - Huitfeldt family life in the Emita township

Appendix 5 - Proof of Huitfeldt contribution to Community

Appendix 6 - First Wardens in Tasmania

Appendix 7 - Emita township official Survey

Appendix 8 - Huitfeldt land ownership in the Emita township

Appendix 9 - Huitfeldt Historic Homes on Flinders Island

Appendix 10 - Valentine Huitfeldt background

Appendix 11 - Valentine Huitfeldts landholdings surrounding

the Nature Recreation Area

Appendix 12 - Community Recreation - Little Plain & Sports

Appendices

These Appendices are compiled in a separate document. Thislist is included here to ensure the reader knows what else is

available and the extent of proof provided.

This proposal has been prepared by Alan and Liz Robinsonwith assistance from Ken, Brad, Pam & Margie Robinson,

Children of James Huitfeldt Robinson & wife Doris,Grandchildren of Emilie Robinson (nee Huitfeldt),Great grandchildren of Valentine & Tilly Huitfeldt.

This submission is endorsed by John Huitfeldt, Bess Larner (nee Robinson), andBelle Solomon (nee Grist), grandchildren of Valentine & Tilly Huitfeldt.

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VHNRA Proposal 13 Jan 2016 .pdf

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