Carlton is a locality about 15 kms south east of Sorell. It is actually the name for an area which includes Carlton River, Carlton Beach, Carlton Chapel and Carlton Cemetery. It is on the northern side of the Carlton River.
Carlton River was actually named River Brue by sea explorer Baudin in 1802. It was named after one of his officers on the expedition.
According to Peter Macfie’s research,
The name ‘Carlton’ was given by a whaler who visited the Derwent River in 1806, fishing in Frederick Henry Bay for 3 months that year. After British settlement in 1803, “The Carlton,” as it was always referred to, was settled by 1820, with early settlers being McGinnis, Joseph, Quinton and Steele.
A town was supposed to be built on land owned by Steele but this did not eventuate. In the early days of settlement in the municipality, bush rangers were often found in the area as were convicts escaping from Port Arthur.
In bad weather, the river was often impassable and would stop travellers crossing and continuing their journey south towards Port Arthur. It was not until 1865 that a contract was accepted to improve the crossing.
But of course there were accidents crossing the river before an actual bridge was built. It was not until 1882 that a passable bridge was built and opened in 1883.
The mouth of the Carlton River was often a hive of industry including growing brown trout and oyster fisheries. In 1878, salmon were also caught near Carlton River.
In October 1874, a meeting was held to form a cricket ground on the property of James and Frederick Steele with magnificent views of the river.
The obituary for William Morriss in 1888, describes the Carlton River area very fully. William arrived with his parents when aged 6 and had lived at the Carlton for 75 years.
Other posts mentioning places in the Carlton:
- Bushfires in 1856 and 1914
- The Joseph brothers
- Carlton Congregational Chapel
- Cemeteries in the district
- Surf life saving – link will be added when the scheduled post has been published on 22 April
Readers: What are your memories of living in or visiting the Carlton area of Sorell municipality?
I grew up in a river town, so I’m always fascinated by the history of rivers. And, even more of bridges — because a bridge changes everything.
Joy’s Book Blog
Lots of comments were left on the Sorell Historical Society Facebook page about bus drivers in the Carlton area.
Leila: Mr Sydney Mead was our bus driver not aloud to talk on the bus he said so we all learnt to talk on our hands didn’t that make him mad he didn’t know what we were saying.
Ron: Bob Daly drove that bus route as well and I did as well a couple of times
Zoe: Who remembers the driver of the little green ‘bus’ that used to do pick ups from Carlton through to Sorell…to link up with the buses to Warrane High?
Lots of comments were left on the Sorell Historical Society Facebook page about living in the Carlton area.
Kristy: Going down Bally Park Rd on my bike with no hands on the handle bar, thank god I knew how to steer with my knees. LOL (not recommended though by Kristy)
The “surfing”, yeah I was never good at it but I still liked to try.
Riding the bike from one end of the beach to the other.
I probably have a few more stories, I lived in Carlton from ’88 to ’91 as a teenager.
Leila: 71 yrs ago I lived there up the road from Chunky Taylor’s place. I was great friends with Vonda Campbell now Barnes the Gillies family was a bus monitor lived just up the road from turn off to Carlton at Forcett end.
Ron: My Mum and Dad bought a shack at Carlton Beach about 1952 on the track (road) into the beach and it had a old Hobart Tram built across the front of it used as a sun room etc. I am not sure but i think it is was number 3. Great Memories were had there, fishing for black back salmon in the Carlton River.
Melita: I have memories of going to a camp there in about 75/76
Shane: Staying at Rex Wright’s house in the old phone exchange, fishing for flathead then having them on the BBQ within the hour. teaching Patsy to drive in the surf club car park using dad’s HK Premier, hooning around with fellow CBers in the late 80s, cabaret nights at the Lewisham tavern in the early 80s and having divine flounder for dinner.