Original Settler’s descendants visit the Quarantine Station
Saturday 20th February 2016 was a special day for the descendants of Anthony Cox & Jane Daly, two convicts who resided at the Bruny Island Quarantine Station site from 1856 – 1902. The descendants of their eleven children came from near and far and gathered at the Quarantine Station after scattering John & Mavis Crane’s ashes at the Killora Jetty site. John’s father Edward Crane, was caretaker of the station for forty years 1918 – 1958. John’s mother Violet Crane (nee Summers) died from the influenza pandemic on Boxing Day in 1919. John was only eight months old. John’s father went on to marry Catherine Delaney (the granddaughter of Anthony & Jane) and have three more children. According to one of the family Mavis (nee Reid) was sent down to the Quarantine Station in the late 1930’s to recuperate from peritonitis and as John was living on site they met and fell in love. When Mavis visited, John would take the cart around to Killora Jetty to pick her up. They married in 1942, at St. Paul’s Church Glenorchy and had three children. The youngest family member, John & Mavis’s great granddaughter, Gracie May born in January 2016. She present and will no doubt carry on the family memories of the site passed down to her through the generations.
Bruny put on its best sunny weather, and volunteers, caretakers Kelly and Elise, and Kathy [from Friends of Bruny Island Quarantine Station] were on site to mingle and answer questions. A great time was had by all, exchanging memories such as the times John was locked in the sulphur (fumigation) room when he was naughty and productive fishing excursions in the bay etc. People had driven from Georgetown and Launceston to pay tribute and their respects. A lovely photo of the couple had pride of place on the picnic table.
A self-guided walking tour and visits to the many historic sites at the Quarantine Station is rated as one of the top twenty highlights of Bruny Island (by TripAdvisor). Entry is free and the station’s opening hours are Thursday to Monday, 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. until Sunday April 3rd. After Sunday April 3rd until Sunday October 2nd (non-daylight saving period) the station is open each weekend.
The Crane family relaxing on the verandah of the beautiful historic 1884 Doctor’s Residence at the Quarantine Station.