Queensland

A visitor who travels to Australia brought us some brochures and key rings from St. Helena Island near Brisbane, Queensland, which was very kind. This was a prison island for men for 60 years from 1867. Described as the "hell hole of the Pacific", the punishments were severe in the early years, and the island secure against escape. It evolved into becoming something of a model prison, when prisoners were encouraged to farm and follow trades. They even boasted a prize dairy herd! The last prisoner left in 1933.

Melbourne

• Then there is the Briars Estate near Melbourne, and only recently a contact we have there sent  this article from their local paper, so it looks as if our Commonwealth Games Team should feel at home!

St Helena – Commonwealth Games, Melbourne, 2006

The athletes attending the Commonwealth Games from the various nations are to be hosted by different municipalities as part of a scheme to establish on going cultural exchange between the municipalities and the Commonwealth countries. St Helena is to be hosted by Mornington Peninsula Shire, which is very appropriate given the St Helena connection with the Balcombe family and their property “The Briars” at Mt Martha within the Shire. The Shire will also be hosting Bermuda and the Falkland Islands.

The Homestead, now a National Trust of Victoria property, hosts the largest Napoleonic Collection in the southern hemisphere due to a bequest from a Balcombe descendant, Dame Mabel Brookes, who also purchased the original Briars on St Helena and presented it to the French Government many years back. The farm property is now operated by the Shire for the public with nature walks and wet lands.

The Queens Baton Relay has already been to St Helena aboard the RMS St Helena, staying for a week during the Island’s National Day in May. Their team is likely to comprise two trap shooters and possibly a marathon runner and a disabled power lifter. The Shire will arrange welcomes for the teams and activities, and our Briars will take part hosting a visit to the Mt Martha Briars.

• Another of the old St. Helena families also settled near Melbourne, and named their area St. Helena, which is a suburb in the City of Banyule, a municipality of Melbourne. The St. Helena Church and cemetery were founded by Major Anthony Beale, who was born in 1790 on the island of St. Helena

Related Information

Army Guild of St. Helena

Someone wrote to say they had purchased a medal on e-bay. Not knowing anything about it, I asked our wonderful historian Trevor Hearl, who corresponded with the lady and tried to research the background to the story of this medal, which we presently feel may have nothing to do with the island, but rather the Saint. If any reader has more information, please get in touch.