Gandalf42

The decade that followed the end of the Napoleonic Wars ushered in a new dawn for New Southland. The peace that settled across Europe carried with it a tide of migration, investment, and optimism to the flourishing island nation. In the early months of 1821, the settlers of the Clarendon Valley found a new way to celebrate their prosperity. On a wide stretch of pastureland along the Clarendon Valley Road, the district’s farmers and merchants gathered for what would later be remembered as the first informal horse race in New Southland. The event began humbly enough: a wager between two graziers over whose mare could reach the boundary oak first. But by midday, half the district had turned out to watch. The air filled with laughter, pipe smoke, and the smell of roasting meat. When the signal was given, the riders thundered across the grass, their boots kicking up dirt and cheers erupting from the crowd. Jan De Villiers, a Flemish farmer from St Peters, won the race by barely a length, earning a cask of wine and eternal bragging rights. "Lets make it two casks next year..." joked Crudeaux, the challenger. And so began the annual event which would later become known as the Clarendon Cup. Further to the north, Port Clarendon was transforming from a sleepy coastal village into a bustling commercial hub. The Port Clarendon Livestock Market, opened in 1822 on a broad patch of flat land near the harbour, quickly became the beating heart of the northern economy. Herds of cattle, sheep, and horses were driven in from the Clarendon Valley and Western Highlands, filling the pens with sound and motion. Buyers arrived from every corner of New Southland - farmers from Rochester, merchants from La Perouse, speculators from Salisbury - to participate in the weekly auctions. With the ever-growing coal exports from Black Mountain, and the expanding agricultural economy of the Clarendon Valley, Port Clarendon was quickly outgrowing its harbour. In 1823, plans were put in place to triple its capacity by the end of the decade, partly funded by Woodston Coal, which would secure its own private docks for coal exports. The dock expansion project generated significant interest from local industry, and land prices near the docks skyrocketed. One enterprising land owner, Charles Munster, who's pasture backed onto the docks, was able to subdivide his land and sell off parcels to developers, making a substantial profit. Munster then set his sights on what he knew would come next - a huge demand for housing to sustain the growing workforce. He purchased the adjacent apple orchard and began working on plans to develop it into a high-density neighbourhood. His company - Munster Developments - would later become one of the most successful property developers in the Clarendon Valley area. To the west, engineers of the National Roads Board had been working on plans to construct the first road bridge in New Southland. Congestion along the Great Southern Road between Port Arthur and La Perouse was becoming an issue, particularly on market days when drovers flooded the streets with cattle and livestock on their way to the Port Arthur Markets. The current route meandered around Deer Creek, which added a good few hours to the journey. The new bridge was planned to span the creek at the town of Billings, and would cut travel time by over 2 hours in each direction, eliminating the need to travel through Springtown on the way to Port Arthur. Locals of Billings were mostly supportive of the initiative, however Springtown's merchants were concerned with the significant loss of foot traffic. Business owners were offered discounted lots of land at Billings where a new town centre was being planned near the bridge crossing. The solution satisfied most parties, and the project commenced in late 1823, with the new bridge officially opening 18 months later. The growing web of trade and enterprise soon demanded a stronger financial system. To date, New Southlanders had been trading in a mix of currencies, including Spanish Silver Dollars, British Pounds, and French Francs. This confusion of currencies led to inefficiencies in trade, disputes over valuations, and uncertainty in the local economy. To bring order and stability, the Bank of New Southland was established in 1824 in a stately sandstone structure in Port Arthur, and for the first time, New Southland introduced its own official currency - the New Southland Sovereign, minted in gold and copper. The Sovereign bore on one side a portrait of Arthur Portsman - the founder of the nation, and on the other, the motto: “Unity and Progress" written in all three official languages. The coin’s copper came from newly opened mines in the Western Highlands, where a French entrepreneur named Étienne Roux had made his fortune. Roux’s discovery in 1821 had been a stroke of fate. Travelling with a team of Hakawan and French guides along a stony ridge in the Highlands just to the east of Windsor, he noticed a red glimmer in the rocks. By 1822, he had established the Roux & Cie Copper Works, and within months, smelters lit the Highland skies orange through the night. Hundreds of workers arrived, many of them new immigrants including French miners from Alsace, Flemish technicians, and German mechanics who brought new European methods of refining. Copper ingots flowed down to the capital, and Roux’s furnaces, together with the coal from Black Mountain, became the economic engine of Lemoine’s third term. The peace in Europe combined with economic prosperity brought an unprecedented wave of settlers. French families from the Vendée, Flemish farmers from Brabant, German craftsmen from Saxony and Württemberg, and a growing number of British agricultural labourers seeking fresh fortunes arrived aboard every ship. The government, through the New Southland Company, continued to offer assisted passage for skilled migrants as well as subsidies for establishing businesses on arrival, including mills, tanneries, brickworks and breweries, to promote growth and economic development right across the island. By 1825, the population approached 53,000, with new towns forming along established coastal roads. Under Lemoine, the national road network continued to be expanded, postal services were established, and the first rudimentary stagecoach line began operating between Port Arthur and La Perouse. By the middle of the decade, New Southland had entered what historians would later call the Copper Age - a period defined by industry, confidence, and innovation. The roads hummed with trade, schools and hospitals expanded, industry prospered, and new settlers continued to pour in from across Europe. The young nation was maturing - evolving from a frontier settlement into a strong, determined and prosperous contender in the South Pacific region.

Thanks - it also helps me with developing the narative and influencing the way the cities grow.

As the guns fell silent across Europe in the spring of 1815, a new world was emerging. With the final defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte at Waterloo and the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy in France, the long and bloody Napoleonic Wars had come to a close. What had been a turbulent and uncertain era for the world’s great powers now gave way to a cautious peace, and for New Southland, it meant opportunity. The conclusion of the war unleashed a wave of displaced peoples. Across the continent, famine, economic disruption, and political change spurred a mass movement. People from all walks of life, from soldiers to artisans, farmers to engineers, scholars to merchants, sought new beginnings. And on the far edge of the world, the small but rising nation of New Southland began to shine as a beacon of hope. In July of 1815, Jean-Baptiste Lemoine was re-elected as Commander of New Southland with a sizable majority. His first term had delivered roads, schools, immigration reform, and a bold new settlement at Salisbury. But it was the promise of transformation - of taking New Southland from a frontier settlement to a modern nation - that earned him his second term. Following the fall of Napoleon, the New Southland Immigration Bureau expanded its reach dramatically, and between 1815 and 1818, immigration to New Southland surged. Over 10,000 newcomers arrived over three years - mostly French and German speakers, with smaller groups of Swedes, Swiss, and Flemings. Lemoine’s promise of opportunity, education, and land ownership drew many. Families seeking religious freedom, craftsmen escaping economic stagnation, and former soldiers hoping to start anew all made the long journey south. Whole villages seemed to spring up overnight. Beaumont, Saint Peters, Luddenburg, and Ravendorf appeared on maps by 1818, each founded by clustered communities who brought their language, customs, and resilience with them. With peace came the re-opening of European trade routes long stifled by blockades and privateers. The lifting of restrictions allowed New Southland to formalise its shipping arrangements, particularly with French and Dutch ports. Marchmont International and several other merchant houses benefited directly, expanding their fleets and adding regular sailings to Nantes, Amsterdam, and Genoa. The whaling and sealing industries also rebounded as formerly hostile waters around the Indian Ocean were now open and less patrolled by naval warships. Devenue’s NSWC outfitted a new class of three-masted steam-assisted brigs, extending their reach and harvest. The seeds of industrialisation, which had been planted during Lemoine’s first term, were also beginning to show. With a growing network of roads and ports, and access to new machinery and expertise from Europe, New Southland began to change. In early 1816, a partnership between the New Southland Company and a group of investors from Bordeaux and Amsterdam brought the nation's first mechanised textile mill to life in Salisbury. Powered by a coal-fed steam engine, supplied by coal from Woodston, the mill employed over 200 workers. Within a year, a second mill opened on the Whale Cove riverfront, and a third in Springtown. Small workshops, iron foundries, and brickworks began to appear throughout the towns, sparking a shift in how New Southlanders lived and worked. The economic transformation of New Southland did not go unnoticed. British officials in New South Wales began to pay closer attention to the booming trade routes across the sea. New Southland ships, once small and infrequent, now arrived weekly at Sydney and Hobart, laden with coal, salted meat, hardwoods, and textiles. In 1817, a trade delegation from the Dutch East Indies visited Port Arthur, leading to a lucrative agreement for New Southland coal exports to Batavia. A year later, a merchant treaty with the French administration in Pondicherry gave Salisbury cotton and wool markets a major boost. The New Southland Office of Foreign Affairs was established in 1818 in Port Arthur, and in 1819 the nation appointed its first ambassador to New South Wales - a quiet but symbolic step towards international recognition as a sovereign nation. Despite the optimism, peace also brought competition. With European nations turning their attention once again to colonisation and trade, New Southland found itself increasingly in the sights of larger empires. British and Russian interests in the Pacific reawakened, and rumours circulated of exploratory missions in the Coral Sea and southern waters. Lemoine, cautious of repeating the tensions of the 1790s, commissioned a review of the nation's navy and coastal defences. A damning report was handed down by William Buck - Lemoine's military advisor, outlining the severe vulnerabilities of New Southland's defensive capabilities. Fort Jean-Pierre had been abandoned following its destruction by the British raid in 1796, the rudimentary defences at Battery Point had remained largely unchanged since they were established, and the new defences at Charlottetown were ill-equipped to deal with any sizable offensive. Additionally, the French naval fleet, which had protected New Southland early on had since returned to France, and New Southland had not a single warship of its own to defend itself. It was time for New Southland to modernise its defences. Funds were allocated to constructing a larger fort at Battery Point, capable of defending Charlotte's Bay from naval attack, upgrading the existing watchtowers at Buck's Point, Shepheard's Bay and Charlottetown, and constructing a new military dockyard at Port Gilbert, where vessels could be built, maintained and repaired. By 1820, Arthur's New Southland was a distant memory. In Port Arthur, newly cobbled streets bustled with carriages and carts, and the skyline bristled with cranes, steeples and smokestacks. Salisbury too had bloomed - its wide boulevards lined with new construction, its wharves stacked with lumber, barrels, and crates. Bells rung out across the town each hour from two new churches constructed on opposite sides of Salisbury Avenue, whilst a smokey haze filled the skies across the bay from the bustling industrial hub which had established by the docks. And over in La Perouse, construction of the new High Court of New Southland had been completed, enforcing law and order and solidifying the city's role as the Judicial Capital of the nation. As the decade closed, and a new generation began to take its place, one thing was certain - New Southland was no longer a distant outpost - it was becoming a player on the world stage.

Thank you - i'm also really enjoying expanding each area progressively and allowing historical events to shape the way the region grows. Let's see about those Parisian style buildings...

For many New Southlanders, the name Reginald Woods meant little, but back in 1790's Port Arthur, everybody knew his name. His infamous last words "You havn't seen the last of me..." echoed throughout Arthur's mind long after the man was marched out of town. The missing coins were never found, and Old Reg never did return. But decades had now passed and his name had largely been forgotten. Rumours had spread in the early years following his banishment, but as time wore on, memories faded and the story of Old Reg became folklore. What had become of the man? Was he even still alive? And what of the silver? There was one man who knew the truth. He went by the name of Blackhands Merrin - an ex-convict transported in 1798. From the moment he set foot in Port Arthur, Merrin had trouble finding his place. With a crooked grin and soot-stained hands, he was quick with a drink and quicker to fight, never quite able to outrun his past. But in the back alleys of La Perouse, he heard tales from exploring parties who had returned from the Western Highlands of a hidden camp, eight days trek from Port Arthur, where men lived freely, outside the rule of law, under the shadow of what they called Black Mountain. So on one cold autumn morning, with nothing left to lose, Merrin packed what little he owned and headed off into the wilderness. And this is where the story of Old Reg begins... As he was escorted from Port Arthur with two marines by his side, Old Reg took the winding road north towards Shepheard's Bay, before stepping off the dirt track heading into the thick forests of the Western Highlands. He left with little more than a pack of provisions, a battered pickaxe, and a flintlock pistol slung across his belt. His boots were worn through at the soles, his coat patched at the elbows, but his eyes burned with the fierce defiance of a man with nothing left to lose. He wandered eastward through the Highlands for seven days, climbing ridgelines thick with undergrowth, descending into rain-slicked gullies where not even the early explorers dared to venture. He survived off wild roots, streamwater, and the occasional rabbit snared in crude traps, setting up camp each night - hidden amongst the towering pines, blanketed beneath the stars. On the eighth day, his fortune changed. Whilst following a dried out creek bed through a narrow gorge, he noticed a vein of dark stone glistening in the rockface. He struck it with his pickaxe. The rock cracked and flaked into chunks. "I’ll be damned” he muttered, brushing soot from his fingers. He dropped his pack and began working immediately. He knew from experience - coal was as good as gold. Within days, he had carved out a small entrance into the seam, propped up by salvaged timber and stone. He fashioned a makeshift timber cottage near the mine's entrance and got to work clearing the surrounding area before fencing in his stake. For the first few years he worked alone, digging deeper into the mountain, slowly expanding the mine. He fashioned a crude rail-cart to haul loads downhill and fenced a nearby paddock where he bred a small herd of deer to feed himself. Progress was slow, but Old Reg was in no particular hurry. The days were long and hard, but Old Reg thrived. Here, beyond the reach of Arthur’s laws, he was a free man once more. As time passed, word spread of the place they called Black Mountain. Trappers and shepherds whispered tales of the madman in the Highlands who had struck coal. In 1794, two prospectors arrived from La Perouse. They stayed for a week, helping with the mine in exchange for coal samples, before returning with blackened hands and sacks full of coal. The legend of Black Mountain had begun. By 1796, visitors became more frequent - outlaws, drifters, settlers hungry for work - men with little to lose and everything to gain. Some stayed a few days; others remained for years. Working the mines was tough, and some say Old Reg was even tougher, but for those that made the journey, the reward was certainly worth the effort - returning with pockets full of silver and tales even richer. Two years later Merrin arrived. By then, the mine had expanded deep underground. Several permanent dwellings had been erected down in the valley and a rough dirt path cut its way through the brush trekking North towards the newly established town of Port Clarendon, where much of the coal was bound for. Old Reg greeted him just as he had any other who had made the journey to the mines, but Merrin was different. The two bonded over an unlikely coincidence - one evening over a fire, Merrin shared his story - the failed family business in Aberdeen, the arrest, the sentence, the voyage. "You're not talking about the smithy on Silver Street are you?" questioned Old Reg. "You know it?" replied Merrin. Old Reg chuckled in disbelief - "well, I was the one that bought it off your father..." From that moment on, the pair were like brothers. As trust between the two grew stronger, Old Reg offered Merrin a partnership deal, splitting profits and responsibilities. Reg would manage the mines, whilst Merrin would handle distribution, accounts and contracts. As demand for Black Mountain coal grew, so too did the camp down in the valley below. In 1801 a blacksmith set up a forge. Later that year a trader began bringing tools and salted meat. By 1803 a preacher had built a chapel, and a tavern - The Black Seam - opened its doors, offering boiled stew and hard ale to soot-faced miners. By 1805, the village of Woodston - short for Woods' Town - was starting to emerge on some New Southland maps. Old Reg himself rarely left the mine. He walked the shafts daily, still swinging a pick now and then, still fixing carts when they broke. “I built this from nothing” he once told Merrin, “and I’ll see it through to the end”. And in 1812, that end came. Old Reg was found in his cabin, seated by the hearth, his coat pulled around him, a map of the mines on his desk. At his funeral, fifty miners stood silent as the preacher recited a simple passage. They buried him at the mouth of the mine, his grave marked not by stone, but with the very tool that had built the town: a pickaxe, driven deep into the earth. And yet in the black dust of the mine, the spirit of Old Reg endured. Following his death, Merrin took over the business, building on Old Reg's legacy. By 1815, Woodston Coal was supplying much of New Southland with high quality coal, and had even expanded into international markets, exporting to New South Wales, India, the Dutch East Indies, and China. Today, few remember his name. But for those who’d ever held a lump of Black Mountain coal in their hands, or warmed their home by its fire, he was there - in every ember, in every strike of the pick. New Southland, as he had once promised, had certainly not seen the last of Old Reg.

On a brisk January morning in 1810, the bells of Parliament House rang out across Port Arthur. Crowds filled the Old Town Square, anxiously awaiting the announcement that would shape the course of the young nation over the next five years. Arthur Portsman stood beside his step-brother William Buck, quietly confident that he would fulfil the role of Commander one final time, telling reporters from the New Southland Herald that he had faith in the people to "choose a steady, proven hand". Meanwhile, Gaspard Devenue, the powerful industrialist, had taken a more theatrical approach, reserving an entire restaurant overlooking the square for him and his entourage. His aggressive campaign had, however, raised eyebrows in its later stages, with rumors circulating of incentives promised to his many employees for their vote. Far from the hustle and bustle of Port Arthur, Agada had chosen to remain amongst his supporters in Port Gilbert, quietly hopeful that his message of equality and fairness had won over young families and the Hakawan communities just enough to take him across the line. As Speaker of the House, Jean-Baptiste Lemoine held the responsibility for delivering the election results. He stood at the balcony of Parliament House high above the crowds with a folded paper in his hands - in it the results of the people's vote: "with 498 votes - William Buck" "with 822 votes - Arthur Portsman" Arthur and William stood in disbelief - this was certainly not what they had been expecting. "with 1099 votes - Agada Nokolufa" Lemoine's hands began to tremble as he came to the final two results: "with 1642 votes - Gaspard Devenue" And with enormous pride and emotion, Lemoine finally proclaimed: "and the new Commander of New Southland, with 2274 votes - Jean-Baptiste Lemoine" Applause erupted from the crowd below. The people of New Southland had delivered a striking blow to the old establishment, voting instead for change, progress and unity. With 36% of the vote, Lemoine had won over a third of the electorate. But his vision extended far beyond his supporters - it was a vision for all New Southlanders. Lemoine's new government wasted no time. Delivering on his election promises, in the first few months he had established a National Roads Board (NRB), tasked with overseeing and coordinating the rapidly growing road network; the New Southland Immigration Bureau (NSIB) to deliver his agenda of increased skilled migration; drafted the Workers' Rights Act detailing minimum working conditions, as well as the Education Act, which mandated compulsory education for children ages 6 to 12. One of the first priorities of the NRB was to provide an overland link between Port Arthur and the booming agricultural towns of the Western Highlands, as well as the growing industrial hub at Whale Cove. The NRB put forward a proposal to extend the Great Southern Road to Port Clarendon in the North, as well as to Whale Cove in the South. The new road would be constructed in stages, first focusing on the Northern route, followed by the Southern route. The proposal was quickly endorsed by the Parliament and road works began in 1811 with Stage 1a (Shepheard's Bay to Bournemouth) and Stage 1b (Springtown to Bournemouth). These relatively short sections of road were completed within 6 months and works on Stage 2 (Bournemouth to Sutton Bay) and Stage 3 (Sutton Bay to Port Clarendon) followed thereafter, taking a further 18 months to complete. By the end of 1814, Stage 4 had been opened (Strathmore to Whale Cove), bringing a close to Lemoine’s first major infrastructure project. The opening of these roads not only improved mail and freight transport but also brought remote communities into the national economy. Over the years, Arthur's Convict Settlement Agreement with Britain had worked well for New Southland, bringing in essential labour for the growing nation. But Lemoine's vision reached far beyond convict labour - the time had come for a targeted immigration program seeking skilled artisans and intellectuals. With the establishment of the NSIB in 1810, agents had been dispatched to France, the Low Countries, Scandinavia and the German states to recruit masons, engineers, teachers and doctors. In order to attract these individuals, subsidised travel passes and generous land settlement packages were offered. As a result, between 1810 and 1814, over 5,000 skilled migrants arrived in New Southland - nearly tripling the annual immigration rate. To accommodate this surge of immigrants, Lemoine drew inspiration from Arthur's earlier Eastern Expansion Scheme, building on its foundations and establishing a new Public-Private-Partnership - The New Southland Company. Investment from local businesses and entrepreneurs was swift and the company was able to quickly source enough capital to deliver on its ambitious plans. The flagship project of the company was the founding of a new planned city: Salisbury. Situated along the coast of King Louis Bay, Salisbury was envisioned as a commercial and industrial hub to rival Port Arthur itself. Ground was broken in early 1811, and immigrants soon began arriving at the new Salisbury docks, ready to start a new life in New Southland. Designed with wide boulevards, central civic spaces, and zoned precincts, the city was advertised as the "Jewel of the South" and quickly gained prominence with investors both at home and abroad. However, with this large influx of immigrants, new challenges arose. In 1812 and 1813 a series of epidemics plagued New Southland, particularly affecting the Hakawan population in Port Gilbert. The hospitals that existed in the major towns were rudimentary and ill-equipped to service the needs of the nation's growing population. In response, Lemoine's government allocated funds to expand hospitals at Port Arthur, La Perouse and Port Gilbert, and in 1813 works commenced on a quarantine station on Seal Rock in Charlotte's Bay. Over the past twenty odd years, the local seal population had been decimated by Devenue's NSWC, and the settlement had largely been abandoned in favour of the more successful Whale Cove and Little Cove stations along the South Coast. By mid-1813 the new Seal Rock Quarantine Station was opened, becoming the first point of call for all new immigrants to New Southland. Meanwhile, investments in civics continued to be pursued by the Lemoine administration. The Education Act of 1812 established rural schoolhouses in every town with a population above 250, and by 1814, New Southland’s first public high school had opened in Port Arthur. Lemoine also laid the foundations for a High Court in La Perouse, a Customs House in Port Arthur, and opened a new public park honouring the nation's founder - Portsman Square. Despite all this, the nation suffered a tragic loss in April of 1814: the death of Jean-Francois La Perouse, aged 73. A statesman, explorer, and bridge between cultures, La Perouse had served New Southland faithfully as a Governor, diplomat and trusted advisor. His passing was mourned nationally, with a state funeral held at the St Joan of Arc Church in La Perouse, and a bronze statue was commissioned in his honour. Dignitaries from across New Southland, as well as from abroad attended the service. An emotional Arthur, who had formed a close bond with La Perouse ever since their fateful encounter back in 1789, addressed the service: "To many of you gathered here today, La Perouse was a great man - a true leader. Humble, caring, true to his word - he was an inspiration to us all - myself included. But to me... he was much more than that... to me he was and will always be a true friend... rest in peace my friend..." As the year drew to a close, Lemoine had delivered much of what he had promised. Infrastructure had improved, public health and education were no longer afterthoughts, and the economy was growing strongly. But not all were satisfied - some saw the rapid increase in immigration as a threat to New Southland's identity; conservatives feared the rapid pace of change; and murmurs about rising public debt were growing louder in the press. Yet Lemoine’s popularity remained high. And late in the Spring of 1814, Jean-Baptiste Lemoine once again stood on the steps of Parliament House to announce his candidacy for a second term.

Thanks. There's a long way to go 😀

Six weeks had passed since the successful mutiny, however the "Charlotte" had yet to reach New Zealand. The crew were getting anxious as supplies were running low, and Arthur was forced to halve the rations for the remaining food and water, further adding to the crew's missery. Word was spreading of a second mutiny against Arthur to re-instate Captain Gilbert and turn the ship back towards New South Wales, however just as tensions were about to boil over, a young sailor by the name of Henry Fisher, yelled out from the crow's nest "LAND AHOYYYYY". Arthur rushed to the upper deck, pulled out his telescope and was delighted to see the green speck of land after having being surrounded by nothing but open ocean for months on end. The crew were overjoyed, breaking out into song and dance "What shall we do with the drunken sailor? Early in the morning!"..."Wey hey and up she rises. Early in the morning!". As the battered ship approached the great landmass ahead, Arthur was on the lookout for a safe place to drop anchor. The "Charlotte" was steered into a wide open bay, dotted with several heavily wooded islands. As the ship entered the great bay, numerous smaller bays, inlets and coves were revealed, offering shelter and protection from the brisk ocean breeze. After a quick survey of the surrounding areas, Arthur selected one of the more protected coves to the North to investigate. The narrow entrance to the cove would provide a strong defensive position and would also keep the mutineers well hidden if any unfriendly ships were to pass by. As the ship entered Arthur's Cove, the wind subsided and the waters were calm. A group of wild deer were seen drinking from a small stream nearby, indicating a reliable source of fresh water (as well as fresh meat!). Nearly 5 months had passed since the ship had departed Cape Town, and the crew were eager to set foot on dry land once again. With the anchor finally dropped, Arthur, along with William, John and several other loyal marines, jumped in the gig and rowed out to the nearest shoreline. Believing they had reached New Zealand, Arthur ordered John to calculate their longitude and latitude to confirm where exactly they had landed. Arthur had been studying the maps that Captain Gilbert kept in his cabin and was now quite familiar with the area. He was also aware that local tribes inhabited the land, and that they would need to be cautious to avoid conflict. After an hours work, John provided his calculations to Arthur. By comparing his makeshift sundial set up on the sand with Captain Gilbert's timepiece, which had been set to Greenwich time, he was able to estimate the longitude - "135 degrees West, sir". He would have to wait until sunset to calculate their latitude from the stars. Arthur could hardly believe what he had heard - based on Captain Gilbert's maps, New Zealand was located between 170 and 175 degrees East! The had travelled well beyond their planned destination and arrived at a land which did not make any appearance in any of the maps he had seen. To be sure, the party would need to wait for sunset for John to confirm the latitude. In the meantime, the rest of the crew began to disembark, bringing supplies and setting up camp along the rocky shores. Fortunately for the crew, during the stop-over in Cape Town, several cows, sheep and horses had been brought aboard, all of which had managed to survive the rough journey. Bags of seeds, boxes of tools, several tents, and a large surplus of gunpowder were also brought ashore. As night began to fall, the tents were erected, a fire was lit, and John began his work calculating the latitude. After a short while, he estimated a latitude of 50 degrees South - even further south than New Zealand's South Island. It was now apparant to everyone that they had indeed not arrived at New Zealand, but had stumbled upon a completely new undiscovered land - possibly completely unknown to the rest of the civilised world. With this revelation, feelings of both excitement and fear rippled through the camp - on one hand it was miraculous that they had discovered a new land which they could claim as their own, starting a new life free of the shackles of the British Empire. However, on the other, they had entered the great unknown, completely isolated from the world around them, and most likely assumed to have perished at sea. Would anyone even begin to look for them? Would anybody find them? Could they really survive in such remote isolation? The odds were against them, however the convicts were a hardy bunch and their will to survive was quite a match for the challenges ahead.

The landscape of New Southland, once blanketed in dense forests, had transformed dramatically over the preceding decades. Now steadily receding, towering pines and coastal oaks gave way to the relentless hum of sawmills working day and night; their timber fueling the nation’s growth - fencing vast homesteads, building new homes and inns, expanding docks, constructing ships, and feeding the hearths of a growing population. As each acre was cleared, it yielded fresh purpose: pastures for cattle and sheep, and farmland for wheat, barley, and vegetables. Grazing in particular had surged over the past two decades, and with it came a boom in livestock. Sheep and cattle numbers surged, fueling demand for organised markets. The most prominent of these, the Port Arthur Livestock Markets, was established on a wide tract of land along the Great Southern Road, just beyond the town’s limits. It became a weekly spectacle, and a permanent hub for ranchers, traders, and drovers. As land values rose and populations grew within the urban centres, development grew denser. Sandstone terraces began to line the streets of Port Arthur; timber tenements filled the growing districts of La Perouse; and brick rowhomes spread outward from Port Gilbert - built to house both families and workers flocking to the towns for opportunity. Around Parliament House, the first multi-storey office buildings began to take shape. Although modest in size, they symbolised New Southland’s transition from a rough frontier outpost to an organised, self-assured nation, and marked the emergence of a growing professional class. Among their tenants were some of New Southland’s most influential institutions: Gaspard Devenue's New Southland Whaling Company; Bond & Co, the whaling enterprise founded by William Bond operating out of Double Bay; The New Southland Herald, the nation’s first newspaper; JB Agricultural Holdings, originally a small farming business set up by Joseph Billings, now becoming a major land holder along Deer Creek; and Marchmont International, a merchant shipping venture rapidly growing in stature. In February of 1808, New Southland celebrated twenty years of settlement - a moment of deep national pride. Celebrations were held in every corner of the country - from the bustling harbour towns of Port Arthur and La Perouse, to the rolling countryside of the Eastern Territories. Commander Arthur Portsman had led the nation since the first landing at Arthur's Cove back in 1788. His two decades of leadership had brought with it both stability and growth. He had overseen the nation’s transformation from a settlement of survivors into a thriving, self-governing state. But with the introduction of the new parliamentary system, his leadership was no longer a certainty, and over the next 18 months, campaigns began for New Southland's first general election. The election of 1810 would determine not only half the House of Commons and the four Territorial Governors, but also the position of Commander itself. Now approaching sixty, Portsman announced he would contest the leadership one final time, running on a platform of continued growth, particularly eastward, and drawing heavily on his legacy. The New Southland Herald backed him, calling him “the builder of the nation". But for the first time, Arthur faced some serious competition - and not just from rivals, but from old allies too... Among his challengers was an unexpected figure: his brother-in-law, William Buck. Once his loyal Deputy Commander, now seeking his own ambitions, Buck had been instrumental in several pivotal moments - the mutiny aboard the Charlotte, the influential letter to King Louis XVI, and the successful defence against the British incursion of 1796. Buck was acutely aware of the regional threats to New Southland's existence, and campaigned on strengthening national defences and expanding diplomatic ties with key allies overseas. Another strong competitor entering the race was Jean-Baptiste Lemoine - Speaker of the House. Positioning himself as the bridge between the English, French and Hakawan communities with his ability to speak all three national languages, Lemoine promised to unite New Southland through construction of nation-building infrastructure, the establishment of minimum working conditions, and a skilled immigration program targeting artisans, engineers and professionals across Europe. From the business elite came Gaspard Devenue, the founder of the powerful NSWC. A man of immense wealth and ambition, Devenue ran on a platform of industrial expansion, economic liberalisation, and job creation. His supporters - mostly merchants, factory owners, and land speculators - saw in him the promise of wealth, though critics feared he would entrench inequality. Finally, there was Agada Nokolufa, the son of the revered Hakawan chief. Backed by the influential Gilbert family, Agada drew strong support among Hakawan communities and progressive settlers. Though virtually unheard of outside of Port Gilbert, his campaign focused on education, public health, civil services, and environmental protections. As the campaigning reached its height, the New Southland Herald ran full-page columns, towns held spirited debates, and taverns buzzed with speculation. Five distinct visions for the nation now stood before the people: The founder. The defender. The unifier. The industrialist. The idealist. Would New Southland reaffirm its founder with one final term or would the nation choose to chart a bold new course? Only time, and the vote of the people, would tell...

At the dawn of the 19th century, a new symbol of hope and sovereignty rose from the heart of Port Arthur. Where the modest timber home of Arthur Portsman once stood, a grand structure now dominated the old town square: the Parliament House of New Southland. Crafted from locally sourced timber and stone, and overlooking the Port Arthur docks, the Parliament House was to become more than just an administrative center - it would become the beating heart of New Southland’s democracy. Designed to reflect the ideals of a young and ambitious nation, the building blended Georgian symmetry, French neoclassical elegance, and Hakawan artistry. It featured a grand hall for assemblies, smaller chambers for committees, and offices for the various departments that would emerge. After five years of painstaking construction, on 1st January 1805, the Parliament House was officially opened. With its sandstone façade glowing in the morning light, the doors were opened to the public for the inaugural session of parliament. Within the grand assembly hall, beneath tapestries depicting the settlers’ journey - from the mutiny aboard the Charlotte to the founding of Port Arthur, Governors and representatives from each of the four Territories had arrived for the inaugural session, which was to be opened by the nation's Commander - Arthur Portsman. Arthur stood before the podium, steady and resolute. “Today,” he proclaimed, “we lay the cornerstone of our future. This Parliament House is not just a building; it is a beacon of our collective will, our shared dreams, and our unwavering commitment to self-determination.” The crowd's cheers echoed through the city. For many, this was more than just a ceremony - it was the culmination of years of perseverance - a signal that their small island outpost had matured into a nation of its own. The first order of business was the election of the Speaker of the House. In a unifying moment, French-born settler Jean-Baptiste Lemoine was elected - a powerful symbol of unity, bridging linguistic and cultural divides between the English, French, and Hakawan communities. The next monumental step was the ratification of the Charter of New Southland - the nation’s constitution. Drafted through rigorous debate, the document enshrined the principles of equality, liberty, and rule of law, and balanced diverse political philosophies: British parliamentary structure, French civic ideals, and Hakawan traditions. It established a bicameral legislature, enshrined civil rights, and recognised English, French, and Hakawan as official languages. The Charter passed unanimously, a moment of unity that cemented the nation's democratic foundations. In addition to this, to reflect the multicultural and regional identity of the new nation, key functions of government were decentralised and split between the three major Territories - Port Arthur would become the Administrative Capital, La Perouse the Judicial Capital, and Port Gilbert the Cultural Capital. In the months following the inauguration, the parliament addressed urgent issues such as trade regulations, infrastructure planning and land allocation. The most ambitious proposal, however, came from Arthur Portsman himself: the Eastern Expansion Scheme. Designed to consolidate the nation's hold of the island, improve defensive capabilities and boost economic growth, the plan aimed to explore and settle the underpopulated Eastern Territories. With the promise of vast untapped resources in the East having the potential to fuel New Southland's growth for generations to come, the time for expansion was now. Until now, the only settlements in the East included two small whaling stations at Little Cove and Double Bay - home to fewer than a hundred settlers. Under the leadership of French cartographer Lucien Deroux and English explorer Captain Samuel Penrith, surveying parties left Port Arthur to mark out new towns at strategic locations. By the end of 1806, three new towns had been established, tripling the population of the Eastern Territories: Charlottetown - a military outpost at Cape Charlotte - the northernmost point of mainland New Southland; Rowan - a farming commune nestled along the fertile shores of King Louis Bay; and Devonport - a fishing port on King Louis Island. The opening of Parliament in 1805 was more than just a ceremony - it marked the birth of a nation. From a distant outpost on a rugged island, New Southland had emerged as a sovereign state built on unity, resilience, as well as a great deal of luck - prepared for the challenges ahead and determined to shape its own destiny. As Parliament convened session after session in its stately hall, New Southland began a new chapter - an era of expansion, cooperation, and progress.

Thank you, so am I.

With the sounds of whales spouting becoming more and more frequent, and as the winds began to pick up, La Perouse knew he was close... Nearly three years prior, La Perouse had departed New Southland to return home to France along with a substantial portion of his loyal crew. The fate of the small island nation rested in his very hands, and he personally felt a huge debt owed to the people of New Southland for saving his life. The letter that had been given to him by Arthur the night before he departed was addressed to King Louis XVI, and La Perouse was determined for it to be personally delivered into his hands. Little did he know that the France that he had left behind was nothing like the France he was returning to. With the French Revolution in full swing, and the fate of the monarchy itself in dire situation, what would this mean for New Southland? It was late in September of 1790 when La Perouse finally docked at the French port city of Brest. News of his surprise arrival travelled quickly and he was promptly invited to an audience with the King. It was there that La Perouse presented Arthur's handwritten letter to King Louis XVI. The people of New Southland were seeking French protection against the British threat in the region, and were offering in exchange safe and free passage to their established ports, the opportunity for the French to establish a military post, and land grants to any French citizen willing to settle on the island. The King, however, was unimpressed and appeared to have little interest in the offer - there were much larger threats on the home front that were occupying his time. If it were anyone else, they would have simply accepted the King's decision and walked away - however La Perouse was a strong character and was well-respected by the King. He implored the King to reconsider, noting the abundant natural resources in the area, particularly whales for oil and seals for furs, which could easily be exploited by the French for lucrative profits. With the current budget woes in France, the King could not say no to an opportunity to bring in more revenue. "You have outdone yourself yet again my dear La Perouse... prepare a fleet!" Unfortunately for La Perouse, who had imagined a quieter life upon his return to France, he was tasked with leading the French fleet on a return voyage to New Southland to plant the French flag. The fleet, consisting of six ships - four supply and two military - set off 18 months later on the long journey to New Southland. This time, La Perouse had brought along his family, as did many of the crew who had travelled with him - seeing France descend into revolt against the monarchy and potential for war in Europe, they felt New Southland offered a much safer life for them and their families. A total of 785 French settlers, including many single women, had joined the voyage swayed by the promise of free land grants and a fresh start. Notably, many wealthy French royalists had also joined the journey, fearing the growing revolutionary support in France, which could land them in prison - or even worse! After 8 months of smooth sailing, La Perouse could once again sight smoke rising in the distance and led his fleet through the narrow heads of Arthur's Cove towards the now bustling settlement of Port Arthur. When the French arrived, La Perouse could hardly believe the transformation that greeted him. The docks had been greatly expanded. A ship-building yard had been constructed down by the old fishing camp and several new large merchant vessels were glimmering in the water. The town had been laid out well with formal streets, a paved town square, and several large civic buildings. The old wooden shacks were no more, and Port Arthur was looking like a proper port! Farmland had greatly expanded all around Deer Creek, and the settlement of La Perouse had survived, retaining its pioneer charm. He recognised his old residence, still intact, right besides St Mary's church, seemingly awaiting his return. The French fleet docked at the new Port Arthur wharves, which were twice the size they had been when La Perouse had last seen them. There on the timber docks stood Arthur and William, greeting La Perouse with a warm smile - "wonderful to see you again, my friend - we wern't sure you'd ever return". "A deal is a deal" replied La Perouse. "I see you have been busy" he stated as he looked around at all the new developments around the town. "So have you" replied Arthur, pointing out to the six ships docked at the port as supplies were unloaded and the crew began to disembark. The arrival of the French settlers brought immense change to New Southland. The most noticeable was the huge shift in demographic. More than half the population of New Southland was now of French origin, and the French language, culture and way of life became an integral part of New Southland society. For Arthur and his men, this brought both risk and opportunity - particularly for the role of government and policy-making. To appease the French settlers, La Perouse was offered a newly created governmental position - Minister of French Affairs - providing the French settlers a voice in the New Southland government. Meanwhile, before the French settlers officially became citizens and registered voters, new laws were quickly passed behind the scenes extending the term for governmental representatives from 1 year to 5 years, biding some time for the current government to deal with this sudden change. As promised, land grants were offered to the newly arrived French settlers, mostly around the town of La Perouse, which was undergoing a major transformation. As Minister of French Affairs, La Perouse was handed responsibility for the management of the town and surrounding lands. A new town plan was laid out on the Southern side of Frenchman's Creek, partly inspired by L'Enfant's plan for Washington DC, and construction of grand avenues, parks and plazas, and large civic buildings was underway. Within no time, the small town of La Perouse had become a major economic centre. The new migrants also brought with them many new skills, which were lacking in the early settlement. One of the most significant was the arrival of skilled brickmakers. Until now, most of the buildings constructed in New Southland were of local timber and stone. Although his offered fairly quick construction, after only a few years some of the older buildings were beginning to deteriorate - a more permanent construction material was required. Fortunately, an abundant source of good quality clay was discovered just to the South of La Perouse, where the first brickworks of New Southland was established. One of the key reasons some of the French settlers joined the fleet to New Southland was the promise of vast wealth to be made. With strong demand for whale oil in Europe, and lucrative profits associated with the fur trade, the whaling and sealing industries quickly took off. One entrepreneurial businessman, Gaspard Devenue, who had assisted in funding the expedition to New Southland in exchange for the rights to the four supply ships once the journey had been completed, immediately begun work converting the ships to whaling vessels. Before long, the New Southland Whaling Company had established several whaling stations all along the coastline, as well as a small camp on Seal Rock to take advantage of the abundant seal population there. To protect French interests in the region and support the defence of New Southland, a new French military outpost - Fort Jean-Pierre - was established on Fisher Island, named after the young sailor Henry Fisher who had first spotted it, in the middle of Charlotte's Bay. Over the next 18 months several more French supply ships arrived in New Southland, bringing hundreds more settlers seeking new opportunities and an escape from war in Europe. As much of the land around Port Arthur and La Perouse had been claimed, new land grants were provided to the settlers further inland, resulting in the establishment of several small rural towns and villages. New Southland was growing quickly, bringing certainty and substance to the settlement. No longer was this land simply a mutineer's haven, but it was fast becoming a fully-fledged autonomous nation, and an important European presence in the South Pacific. However, with this rapid growth, word quickly spread of the island's discovery, which the French had been trying to keep a secret. With the nearby British colony of New South Wales recently established, this new French-backed outpost could pose a significant threat to British interests in the region. With both nations already at war, surely this could not be tolerated...

Thank you. Appreciate the compliment.

The arrival of the 1800s would bring significant change to New Southland. The events over the following century would leave a lasting impact which would forever shape the future of the small island nation. Following several years of exploration, detailed maps had been pieced together by the LRO and for the first time, a clear picture emerged of exactly what constituted the nation of New Southland. Now that the LRO could accurately register all land ownership across the island, the government would be able to effectively implement policies to best suit the communities in each of the regions, which had been divided, named, and Governors elected to represent in the New Southland government. Administrative offices were constructed in each of the newly established Territories, apart from the sparsely populated Eastern Territories, which fell under the administration of the Port Arthur Territory. Work also commenced on a new Parliament House in Port Arthur to house the reorganised government, still to be ultimately led by Arthur Portsman as Commander and William Buck as Deputy Commander. The five previous ministerial roles were disbanded, as each of the regional Governors would now represent their respective communities across all issues. Port Arthur Territory Capital - Port Arthur Governor - Edward Richardson Population - 2151 Port Arthur Pop: 1628 The first and largest settlement of New Southland, and Capital of the island nation. Hugging the banks of Arthur's Cove, Port Arthur had grown from humble beginnings to a now bustling portside town. As the gateway to New Southland, Port Arthur was the first port of call for most new arrivals. The docks were busy year-round with exports of New Southland wool, grain, timber, whale oil and seal furs, as well as the many imports from around the world to fulfil New Southland's hungry appetite for advancement. Billings Pop: 315 The second settlement in New Southland. Established by Joseph Billings as the first farming community along the banks of the Deer Creek, Billings has always been an important settlement. Now stretching right along both the East and West banks of the creek, and importantly situated along the Great Southern Road between Port Arthur and La Perouse, Billings has become a prominent settlement in the region. Shepheard's Bay Pop: 95 Established as an isolated outpost in the far North of the island to mitigate spread of diseases amongst the livestock herds in the early days of New Southland, Shepheard's Bay has slowly grown into a quaint village at the very Northern end of the Great Southern Road. French Territory Capital - La Perouse Governor - Jean Francoir La Perouse Population - 1394 La Perouse Pop: 1230 Founded by esteemed French explorer Jean Francoir La Perouse, originally on the Northern bank of Frenchman's River and later moved to a master-planned site on the Southern bank, La Perouse is the second largest settlement in New Southland. Home to a majority French population, the town is the capital of the French Territory and an important commercial hub in the region. Abbotsbury Pop: 83 One of two towns established along the Great Southern Road between La Perouse and Port Gilbert. Large farms and pastures have been established following land grants along the major thoroughfare. St James Pop: 28 A quiet rural village on the outskirts of La Perouse established by French immigrants who had been offered land grants in the area. A dirt path tracks its way through the forests back towards La Perouse. South Coast Territory Capital - Port Gilbert Governor - Thomas Gilbert Population - 972 Port Gilbert Pop: 795 First established by Captain Thomas Gilbert of the "Charlotte" and his six loyal marines following Arthur's successful mutiny, Port Gilbert has had a turbulent history. Barely surviving the first winter, if it was not for the arrival of the Hakawa tribe, Port Gilbert would likely have ceased to exist. Unfortunately, despite this luck, the poor choices of Thomas Gilbert and his men led to the near destruction of the town by Arthur, which of course led to the sinking of the "Charlotte". However, once again the Hakawa would come to the aid of Port Gilbert, which now is an important port town at the Southern end of the Great Southern Road, and capital of the South Coast Territory. New Chessington Pop: 117 The second town established along the Great Southern Road between La Perouse and Port Gilbert, New Chessington had grown around Henderson's Inn at the crossroads to the important military outpost at Buck's Point. The inn - owned and run by the one and only George Henderson, who after retiring from his watchtower duties had followed his dream and opened his very own hotel - had become a welcome pitstop to travelers along the Great Southern Road, who could always find a warm bed to sleep in, a hearty meal, and of course a refreshing glass or two of ale. Whale Cove Pop: 31 Founded by Gaspard Devenue for the New Southland Whaling Company (NSWC), the settlement of Whale Cove is the main hub for whaling in the region. The population rises and falls with the whaling seasons, however a small permanent population remains to maintain the ships during the off season. Western Highlands Territory Capital - Rochester Governor - John Stonewell Population - 155 Rochester Pop: 79 Established in the heart of the fertile Clarendon Valley, Rochester is known for its high-quality fruits, which seem to grow particularly well in the microclimate of the valley. Rochester is also the capital of the Western Highlands Territory. Port Clarendon Pop: 16 Where the valley meets the sea, Port Clarendon sits along the northern coastline at the end of the Clarendon Valley Road. Ships arrive periodically at the docks taking produce from Rochester back to Port Arthur for processing and international exporting. Eastern Territories Capital - N/A - governed by Port Arthur Territory Governor - N/A - governed by Port Arthur Territory Population - 41 Little Cove Pop: 22 Similar to Whale Cove, Little Cove was also established by the NSWC further to the East of the island. Very isolated, and without regular supplies, this small outpost only maintains a minimal permanent population throughout the year. Double Bay Pop: 19 Another whaling and sealing station in the East, however not founded by the NSWC, but instead by William Bond, one of the original mutineers from the "Charlotte". Taking a chance, William had sailed on one of the exploration vessels mapping the island for the LRS. Upon his return, he had taken a large land grant in the remote North-East of the island. After convincing several other New Southlanders to join him, they had pooled their funds together to purchase a whaling ship in the hope of seeking fortune in the lucrative whale oil trade.

Thanks - it has been a lot of work progressing each settlement slowly, however I think it will be worth the effort in the end.

With the ever-growing international trade at the Port Gilbert docks, Thomas took one final chance to have his revenge against Arthur. A letter, addressed to Robert Jenkinson (Lord Hawkesbury), British Foreign Secretary at the time, providing the full details of the events of January 1788, was sent in secrecy aboard one of the many merchant vessels headed for London. In his letter, Thomas had requested the British send troops at earnest to arrest Arthur and his men and made further recommendations for himself to take control of the island and bring it under British rule. Would this mark the end of a free New Southland? Would Thomas finally succeed in his stubborn attempts to take down Arthur and emerge victorious. Perhaps it would under other circumstances. However, unfortunately for Thomas, luck was rarely on his side. The British policy of convict transportation had been around for over 200 years, and despite the American Revolution ending transportation to North America, new opportunities had opened up in New South Wales and, more recently, New Southland. Transportation had eased the burden on the prison system in Britain, and had also made many men quite wealthy. Lord Hawkesbury and several other senior ministers in the British government were benefiting substantially from the policy. Private companies such as Bennett & Co, founded by whaler Daniel Bennett, had yielded extensive benefits through signing multiple contracts to transport prisoners across the seas with the British government. It just so happens that many of Bennett & Co's major shareholders were senior British government ministers. Profits from Transportation and the returning trade hauls were significant, and news of a successful mutiny aboard one of the convict ships could spark unrest amongst convicts on future transportation operations. Word of Arthur's successful mutiny could not be allowed to become public knowledge. There was already a growing negative public opinion regarding the policy, and any further bad publicity could bring an end to Transportation, and more importantly, an end to those lucrative profits. The risks were just too high. Behind the scenes Lord Hawkesbury and Daniel Bennett made an arrangement with Mrs Gilbert, the wife of Thomas Gilbert, in exchange for squashing the story. Mrs Gilbert, who was just happy to learn that Thomas was alive and well, accepted a large sum of money in exchange for agreeing to never making any mention of the mutiny in public, and to ensure Thomas would also stay quiet. It was made clear that failure to comply with this arrangement would not end well for the Gilberts. So in February of 1803, Mrs Gilbert was sent off aboard one of Bennett & Co's transportation ships - "Caledonia" - on its journey to New Southland. Orders from Lord Hawkesbury were that Mrs Gilbert was to be treated as a first-class passenger on her one-way voyage to New Southland. Several months later, Mrs Gilbert was reunited with her husband, who was also just as happy to see her after so many years apart. The other news however was bittersweet. Having exhausted all his options, Thomas finally decided to settle down on the outskirts of Port Gilbert, where he had constructed a grand manor - Gilbert House - surrounded by English gardens, overlooking the town and the great Southern Ocean. With their new found wealth, the Gilberts turned to philanthropy, opening a new church in the centre of Port Gilbert, establishing a botanical gardens - the first in New Southland - and upgrading the schoolhouse in town. If the British had turned their backs on him, then so too would he on the British. All his efforts now were focused on the good people of Port Gilbert, and the prosperity of New Southland. By helping the people who respected him the most, he hoped to leave a lasting legacy for himself - to be remembered as one of New Southland's founding fathers, a great leader, and a local legend.

Ten full years had passed since Arthur and his men had first set foot at Arthur's Cove and established the settlement of Port Arthur - a significant milestone and important achievement to be celebrated by all. Festivities began on the newly proclaimed holiday of Settlement Day. A re-enactment of the first landing at Arthur's Cove was played out, with tents set up on the shore - just as it had been all those years ago. Following the ceremony, the area was proclaimed a public park - Settlement Park - the first of such in New Southland for all to enjoy. New Southland had come a long way since then, however expansion had been limited to the Western portion of the island, mainly along the coast with a few small inland villages. Whaling and sealing camps had been established further to the East, however not much was known of the land beyond. Crude maps existed of the island, drawn up by fishermen on their search for new fishing grounds, and a French naval expedition a few years earlier, however a more detailed map was required. The government of New Southland put forward a proposal offering extensive land grants to explorers who returned to Port Arthur with detailed maps of the island. With the ever-growing livestock herds in existing pastures, many graziers were keen to take up the offer to expand their operations. Ships departed the Port Arthur docks, heading North-West and South-West to map the island's coastline. Meanwhile, several parties trekked inland, following the ridgelines of the Western Highlands, using the vantage points to map the inland regions. As more and more detailed maps were delivered to the LRO, land grants were offered to the explorers, and the populations of the major towns began to fall. Once well-maintained houses became run-down and abandoned, and local businesses, especially at the docks, were finding it more and more difficult to attract workers. New Southland was growing faster than it could handle - what it needed was a significant boost to its population to sustain its rapid growth. Until now, only French citizens had been offered land grants upon arrival, limiting the appeal for immigration from other nations. The government of New Southland knew that the policy of offering land grants would ultimately become unsustainable as productive land became more scarce - a new model would be required. Perhaps an old acquaintance could assist... Over in the British colony of New South Wales, the convict population was rapidly growing and vastly outnumbered the free settler population. The British policy of Transportation, and the closure of the North American colonies, meant that a significant number of convicts were now being transported to Sydney Cove. It seemed the British had a problem with oversupply of an unwanted population, and New Southland the exact opposite - perhaps a deal could be reached which would benefit both parties. Now on friendly terms following their earlier altercation, La Perouse had been keeping in regular contact with Lieutenant Johnston over in New South Wales. With the approval of the New Southland government, a letter was penned offering the British an alternative convict transportation option. The deal would benefit many parties - businesses in New Southland would have access to a much larger workforce, the British transportation ships, once emptied, could be laden with goods to trade for profit in European markets, particularly highly demanded whale oil and seal furs, even the convicts would benefit by being granted citizenship upon arrival. Lastly, one of Arthur's more hidden agendas, the demographics of New Southland would begin to shift from a majority French presence to a more diverse base - one which he hoped could be more easily controlled by the government. Less than a year later, the first of many convict transportation ships arrived at the Port Arthur docks. The convicts (mostly men) were granted citizenship upon arrival, and low-interest government loans to purchase cheap run-down properties in the towns. Jobs were plenty and following several years of decline, the towns of Port Arthur, La Perouse and Port Gilbert finally returned to growth. With the surplus labour, several long-awaited large-scale government projects were commenced - including construction of the Great Southern Road providing an overland link between Port Arthur, La Perouse and Port Gilbert for the first time; new stone churches in the three major towns; and a new government quarry in the steep valleys just to the North of Port Gilbert.

The year was 1796 and New Southland was quickly becoming a prosperous island nation in the South Pacific - rivalling the British colony of New South Wales in New Holland. The population had swelled to over 3,000 thanks to a steady stream of settlers emigrating from France to escape the ongoing Revolutionary Wars - most still loyal to the King and feared retribution if they remained in France. Although far from the theatre of war, New Southland was not immune to its consequences - for only a few months prior, local fishermen had spotted a British ship scouting the island. Over in the British penal colony of Sydney in New South Wales, Governor John Hunter was faced with a difficult decision - one which would shape his legacy and potentially the future of the newly established colony. His scouting ship had returned with maps depicting New Southland and rough estimates of its population. The maps detailed a small fort and several French military ships at Fisher Island, the settlement of La Perouse, and also Port Gilbert, both of which appeared to be undefended. They did not however identify the major town of Port Arthur and the fleet of ships docked there, which had been concealed within Arthur's Cove. Estimating a population of around one thousand, much smaller than the population of Sydney, Governor Hunter had made his decision. The opportunity to become a military hero - the conqueror of French territory in the Pacific - was simply too tempting to pass. Underestimating the threat, Governor Hunter ordered two ships to set sail from Sydney Cove with the objective of destroying the French garrison and claiming the island for Britain. Back in New Southland, Arthur had been working on improving defenses around the island since the first sighting of the British scouting ship. New watchtowers were established on the Northern coast near Shepheard's Bay, as well as on the Southern headland at Buck's Point, giving a much more expansive view over the seas surrounding the island. The marines had also been undergoing regular training exercises with the French soldiers at Fisher Island, in preparation for an expected British attack. When it would come, nobody knew, however the people of New Southland were sure of one thing - they would never cede to the British and would fight till the last man for their freedom. As the two British ships approached New Southland, the French garrison at Fisher Island came into clear view. It appeared much quieter than what the British were expecting - not a single ship was in sight - nor any sight of soldiers at the camp. This could be easier than expected, thought Lieutenant George Johnston, who had been tasked with leading the expedition. "Fire away!" he yelled, as cannon fire shot out across Charlotte's Bay, destroying the primitive wooden defenses on Fisher Island. Lieutenant Johnston waited for a response, however he was only met with an eerie silence. With no retaliatory attack, and no sight of movement, Lieutenant Johnston ordered the ships to approach the island. However, unbeknownst to the British, their each and every move was being carefully watched by a very patient Arthur Portsman, who had positioned himself high up amongst the shrub in the densely forested Western peninsula. The British ships had been spotted earlier in the day approaching New Southland, and Arthur had quickly put his plan into action. The two British ships dropped anchor and two gigs were seen rowing out towards Fisher Island filled with redcoats. As soon as the men disembarked, Arthur gave the signal - a fleet of 12 ships (mostly merchant and fishing vessels - although this was not known by the British) burst through the heads at Arthur's Cove, completely taking the British by surprise. They quickly surrounded the British at Fisher Island, who had no choice but to surrender. La Perouse, who had been commanding the fleet, disembarked to meet Lieutenant Johnston on the shore. "Good to see you again, Lieutenant" he smiled. "What a surprise to see you here!" replied Lieutenant Johnston in shock, who had met La Perouse back when he had first visited Botany Bay just over eight years ago. After a brief negotiation, the two men agreed to the surrender terms - the British would be able to return to New South Wales unharmed, in exchange for a gentlemen's agreement that no further hostilities be pursued by either party. Lieutenant Johnston and the British had been under the impression that New Southland was a French possession, and thus a significant threat to their influence in the region. This myth was clarified by La Perouse, who insisted the island was in fact an independent nation under French protection, and posed no threat to the British colony of New South Wales. Pleased with this revelation, and thankful for the safety of his men, Lieutenant Johnston set sail back to Sydney Cove, however in slightly lighter vessels - all cannons, gunpowder and rifles had been confiscated by La Perouse to bolster his own supplies. Arthur's plan had worked - and not a single life lost in the encounter - a victory for both sides. Although officially the British and French would remain at war, at least New Southland was safe from further attack... at least for now.

Glad you are enjoying it. So am I.

"Fifty skins for the whole lot?". "Seventy skins". "Hmmm, how about we meet half way - sixty skins and it’s a deal". "Deal". Two years earlier, as Captain Gilbert and his loyalists had struggled through their first Winter, they emerged into the Spring desperate for something to eat other than dried fish and venison. The were running low on food stocks and feared eating any of the wild berries and mushrooms - a young marine by the name of Edwin Richards thought they would be safe enough and unfortunately had fallen severely ill after trying some. After initially showing signs of improvement, his condition quickly deteriorated and it looked like he wouldn't make it past the weeks end. Almost as if they had heard his prayers, on the horizon heading straight towards their little cove, Captain Gilbert spotted several canoes racing towards them. The Hakawa tribe of a nearby island archipelago had been travelling to New Southland for centuries. They made the long journey every few years during the Spring months to gather deer hide for clothing and blankets, and for further trade with other Pacific islanders. In the past they had settled a small outpost on the South of the island, not far from Camp Gilbert, however the bitterly cold winters were too much for them to bare, and they had abandoned the settlement over a century ago. As they approached landfall, the canoes slowed and the crew appeared to arm themselves with clubs and spears. Captain Gilbert and his men walked down to the shoreline with their hands in the air - hoping they would not be attacked. The Hakawa Chief, seeing no threat in the party of seven unarmed men, raised his left hand and the crew lowered their weapons. The canoes beached on the shore and the Hakawa Chief marched up towards Captain Gilbert with his entourage following closely behind him. Captain Gilbert introduced himself as leader of his men and welcomed the Chief to his small camp, showing him around and offering him some of their dried fish and venison. The Chief showed no interest in the food offerings, however was fixated on the elaborate deerskin coats that Captain Gilbert and his men were wearing. They had made them to keep warm during the Winter, and had almost perfected the art of tailoring - producing not only jackets, but deerskin blankets, hats, pants and boots. Captain Gilbert, seeing an opportunity, took off his coat and offered it to the Chief. The Chief turned around to speak with some of his men, who rushed back to the canoes on the beach. They returned with several bags full of sweet potatoes and root vegetables, spears and hatchets, fishing nets, baskets, and a few caged chickens. The Chief signaled to Captain Gilbert, seemingly offering a trade - one item for one item. Captain Gilbert asked his men to give up all of their coats and placed them on the ground. The Chief nodded and his men took the coats and left their items for Captain Gilbert and his men. The Chief then ordered his men to set up camp on the shores, not far from Camp Gilbert. The Hakawa remained at their campsite for almost two weeks, sending small hunting groups into the forests every few days, returning with several large bucks each time, which they then skinned and ate at the campsite - sharing some of the meat with Captain Gilbert and his men. During their stay, Captain Gilbert and the Hakawa Chief formed a strong friendship, aided by one of the Hakawa warriors who had learned to speak a little English from European missionaries on another Pacific island, acting as translator between the two. Captain Gilbert and his men learnt which local fruits and berries were edible, and which to avoid, as well as how to make medicine from native plants. With this knowledge, young Edwin had recovered in no time, and the men were able to substantially improve their diet. As the Hakawa were packing up to return home, the Chief made a deal with Captain Gilbert to return the following year to trade for more deerskin. They agreed to bring many more items for trade that would be sure not to disappoint. Over the course of the next year, Captain Gilbert and his men worked tirelessly hunting wild deer and growing their domestic deer livestock, including constructing several new stone pens, and making deerskin products to trade. The men also worked new fields along the creek where the soil was more fertile, planting the crops they had traded. Fishing was also made much easier with the nets and spears they had received, and the men built a storehouse to store the excess food and deerskins. In little over 12 months, the small camp had turned itself around and had turned into a hugely successful settlement. However, as the following Spring came and went, the Hakawa were nowhere to be seen. Captain Gilbert and his men, who were relying on the return of the Hakawa, were bitterly disappointed. They had worked so hard over the past year to build up a large stockpile of trading goods, however with nobody to trade with, their efforts appeared to have been wasted. Not ones to give up, they pressed on, hoping for better luck the following Spring. As the following Winter season waned, and the forest re-emerged from its slumber, Captain Gilbert and his men were constantly on the lookout for any signs of movement on the horizon. Fortunately for them, this year luck was on their side and the Hakawa were once again spotted on the horizon, approaching Camp Gilbert. This time, the fleet seemed much larger than the first encounter, and the Hakawa Chief had brought along some unexpected, but warmly welcomed offerings. Over the past year and a half, the Hakawa had been drawn into a regional conflict with neighbouring tribes - the reason they had not been able to return. After a series of initial setbacks, they had partnered up with an ally and won a significant battle, capturing many prisoners. Some of the prisoners, including several women, were brought along with other items to trade with Captain Gilbert and his men. Negotiations began and a deal was struck - sixty deerskin jackets for all thirty prisoners, ten chickens, seven pigs and five bags of root vegetables. Captain Gilbert and his men thanked the Chief for his trade and once again welcomed the group to set up camp down by the creek. This time, however, a permanent trading post was constructed, and several of the Hakawa remained at Camp Gilbert. The Hakawa, along with the prisoners, helped Captain Gilbert and his men to clear more land and establish new fields along the creek, build a dock and several small boats for fishing, and build new pens for the growing livestock, whilst Captain Gilbert and his men assisted the Hakawa to build stronger timber dwellings and a large wooden storehouse at their trading post. Camp Gilbert was now a bustling little village, and Captain Gilbert, who had better become known as Chief Gilbert, held the respect of the Hakawa who had permanently settled at the trading post. With greater numbers under his command, Chief Gilbert had come up with a daring plan... "we strike at dawn..."

He will be back for sure

Over the following six months, the blacksmiths of New Southland were busier than ever, having been tasked with quartering the horde of Spanish Silver Dollars, turning the 10,000 coins into 40,000 - more than enough to sustain a healthy circulation amongst the population. The work was meticulous and the hours long. The workshops were guarded day and night by the marines, and the blacksmith's pockets were checked after every shift. Counting of the coins at the end of each shift was the responsibility of the marines, who dreaded the task. Some of the younger marines had thought of a clever way to make the counting much more efficient, saving them hours of work at the end of each shift. They had built a scale and filled a bag of exactly 100 cut coins on one end, which they would then use to measure the coins provided by the blacksmiths at the end of each shift. A balanced scale gave the marines comfort that each bag was filled with exactly 100 cut coins. However, if the marines thought they were being clever, they had no idea that they had been played for weeks by one sharp blacksmith by the name of Reginald Woods. Old Reg, as he was more commonly known, had been watching the coin counting process closely and had worked out a simple yet effective way of deceiving the unsuspecting young marines. By simply adding a few stones to each bag, Old Reg had been able to pocket hundreds of cut coins over the past few weeks. He had been hiding them in his shoes, which the marines never thought to check, and had quite a stockpile hidden in a secret location up on the hillside overlooking Arthur's Cove. Old Reg had a colourful history. Joining the navy as a young boy he had fought for Britain against the Americans in the Revolutionary Wars. Wounded after a cannon misfire, he was shipped back home to recuperate. After receiving no assistance from the government and relying solely on the care of benevolent nuns at his local parish, when he was fit enough to walk again, he was quickly moved out to make way for other injured veterans. On top of that, his payout was so insignificant, as the navy was only willing to pay him for his time spent in active service, which amounted to little over a week. Infuriated by his treatment by the country he had risked his life for, Reg became somewhat of a nomad, roaming the countryside taking odd jobs here and there, avoiding taxes and the authorities. He became an apprentice at a small family-run blacksmith in Aberdeen where after 5 years, he took the reins and purchased the business for himself. Unfortunately for Reg, after only a few years, economic conditions worsened and he was forced to sell up. He then tried his luck working the coal mines, but couldn't stand the backbreaking work. Once again, he became a nomad, heading north into the Highlands where he squatted on crown land, hunting wild bucks and catching fish in a nearby stream for food. Life was great for Reg until one day he was caught by some park rangers skinning a buck he had just killed. He was tried and convicted, sentenced to transportation, and the rest is history... It was only when Arthur inspected the progress of the coin cutting one morning did he find out about the deception. He spent the rest of the day observing the blacksmiths and marines for any sign of malpractice. Old Reg was unaware and had snuck a few quarters into each shoe. At the end of the shift the routine check was completed by the marines - weighing the bags and a quick check of the blacksmith's pockets before heading over to Arthur's office. However, just as they were all about to leave, they were stopped by Arthur and a second group of armed marines. "Empty the bags right now!" Arthur demanded. As the coins dropped to the ground, several round river rocks rolled towards Arthur's boots. He picked them up and threw them back at the two young marines - "Explain this!". The two young marines looked down in horror. "Check their pockets" Arthur ordered his company to check the two men "They're clean, sir". "Check them too" he demanded, pointing at the blacksmiths. As they frisked the blacksmiths, they found nothing, but Old Reg, shaking with nerves, suddenly lost his footing and fell to the ground. As he was helped up, one of the marines noticed something by his boots. A shiny piece of silver reflecting in the evening sun. "Sir, come take a look at this". As Arthur walked over, Old Reg knew there was no way out, and tried to make a dash for the hills. Of course, he had no hope of outpacing the young marines, who were at least half his age. He was brought to the ground and dragged off to Arthur's office for interrogation. "Search his house". "Where's the rest of the silver?". "I don't know what your talking about" replied Old Reg. "Don't make this harder than it needs to be". "Alright, alright. I cut these few pieces wrong and I didn't want to get into trouble so I hid them. I was going to give them back of course..." "I'll give you one more chance to tell the truth". "Sir, that is the truth, this is the first time and will be the last". Arthur knew Old Reg was lying through his teeth. He had his men look through all the bags of quartered coins earlier in the day, where they had pulled out no less than 200 river stones - easily enough to have deceived the marines of at least 1000 quarters. "His house is clean, sir". Arthur gave one last look at Old Reg before the marines dragged him out to the town square - "Well then I guess that settles it". A half hour later, most of the townsfolk had gathered in the square for an emergency meeting. "I have called you here this evening for the public trial of one Reginald Woods, caught stealing silver coins and refusing to co-operate with the investigation. As you all know, this is a clear breach of our founding principles. Nobody is above the law - there can be no leniency. The rules have been broken and the punishment must be enforced". As he detailed the events of the day and the overwhelming evidence against Old Reg, including eyewitness accounts from the marines and other blacksmiths, public opinion was staunchly against Mr Woods. Old Reg was given an opportunity to defend his actions, however most of the public had already made up their mind. A show of hands confirmed the verdict - guilty. The punishment - banishment. "Any final words?" Arthur asked Old Reg - "You havn't seen the last of me..." he chuckled, as he was led out of the square. That evening, Old Reg packed his belongings under the close watch of the marines and bid farewell to Port Arthur. He took the winding road north towards Shepheard's Bay, before stepping off the dirt track heading East through the forest up into the highlands.

Thank you. There are so many different plugins that can work for each era - looking forward to using many more as the years progress.

From the ashes, rises the phoenix... The Spring of 1791 would be one that would forever change the future of Camp Gilbert. Hope, optimism, excitement - not at all words one would associate with Chief Gilbert and his men as they began to clean up the absolute destruction Arthur had delivered to Camp Gilbert. If any building had managed to survive the onslaught, it was either severely damaged and needing to be pulled down, or completely burnt out and uninhabitable. In fact, the entire town would need to be rebuilt from the ground up. For Chief Gilbert and his men, this was only half the battle. Their storehouse just days earlier had been brimming with fresh food and produce, and stacked with hundreds of deerskin items ready for trade - all of which had now been turned to ash. Not only this, but to further rub salt into the wound, the Hakawa who resided at Camp Gilbert were completely spooked by the sound of cannon fire - they had never heard or seen anything like it! They had no intention of staying at Camp Gilbert and would return home at the next trade visit - which hopefully would not be too far off. Chief Gilbert had seemingly lost everything with his daring mission to steal the "Charlotte" - however once you hit rock bottom the only way surely is up! Yet again, it would be the Hakawa who would answer Chief Gilbert's prayers in his hour of need. Not more than a few days later, a fleet of Hakawa canoes were seen on the horizon heading straight towards Camp Gilbert. This time, the fleet was immense - at least 40 canoes were on their way - perhaps the Hakawa Chief was expecting a big trade deal this year... As the Hakawa approached Camp Gilbert, the smell of burnt timber still filled the air. The smile on the Hakawa Chief's face quickly disappeared once he saw what remained of the settlement - for he too was counting on the success of Camp Gilbert for his own reasons. The year prior, he had ordered the establishment of a permanent trading post at Camp Gilbert. However, this was all part of a much larger plan. The Hakawa Chief had heard rumors that his ally had switched sides and was now siding with his enemy - threatening the entire existence and future of his tribe. It would only be a matter of time before war would reach his islands. The permanent trading post at Camp Gilbert would be his fall back if he and his tribe were forced to flee their homeland. Unfortunately for the Hakawa, the rumors had indeed turned out to be true, and it was not long before war was upon them. Although they fought valiantly, they were no match for the new joint alliance, and the Hakawa Chief was forced to give the order to evacuate. They packed all they could, jumped in their canoes and headed South on the long journey towards New Southland. Disembarking at Camp Gilbert, the Hakawa Chief stood in disbelief. "What happened here?" he asked. Chief Gilbert replied with only one word - "war". The Hakawa Chief began to soften. Knowing that they both shared a common experience he simply stated "let us rebuild - stronger together". The two men shook hands and agreed to rebuild the settlement together - a new home for the Hakawa and a fresh start for Camp Gilbert. With the help of the Hakawa, the land was quickly cleared and timber gathered from the surrounding areas. This time Chief Gilbert was able to masterplan the new township of Port Gilbert - a main street would run North-South linking the fertile farming region along the Gilbert Creek to new residential areas around the newly named Hakawa Point. Works began on a large town square surrounded by civic buildings including a new town hall, storehouse, church and a large residence for the two Chiefs, who would share the responsibilities for governing the new settlement. A large lumber yard was built to process the logged timber and new docks were also constructed at the mouth of Perseverance Cove. Farming along the Gilbert Creek was expanded and new livestock pens constructed on the Western side of the creek. With the abundance of labour, the new town of Port Gilbert was quickly established. It wasn't long before news of the reconstruction, as well as the huge influx of foreigners, had reached Port Arthur. Rough estimates of the new population of Port Gilbert provided by Arthur's scouts easily matched that of Port Arthur and the surrounding region. Arthur considered his options - he could once again launch an attack, however this would be risky and losses would likely be heavy; he could build up new defences at Port Arthur in preparation for a possible retaliatory attack, however this would consume significant resources and reduce the available defences at the mouth of Arthur's Cove, which were much more important; or lastly he could choose a more diplomatic route - making peace with Captain Gilbert and possibly open up new trade opportunities between the two major settlements. The three options were discussed between the Port Arthur governmental representatives, and a consensus was reached - a peace treaty would be offered to Captain Gilbert in exchange for a guarantee that no further warfare be pursued. Noting the vulnerability of Port Arthur's main food supply along the unprotected Deer Creek, possibility the French at La Perouse could join Captain Gilbert and easily outnumber Arthur and his men, and that an ongoing conflict would only push New Southland backwards, a delegation was sent out to Port Gilbert with the peace offering. The proposal was readily accepted by Chief Gilbert and the Hakawa Chief, who would benefit greatly from the deal. Before long, the first trade missions departed the Port Gilbert docks full of deerskin products, local medicines, fishing nets, baskets, spears and hatchets, with the aim of bringing back cows and sheep for expanded livestock operations, as well as tools and building supplies to assist the reconstruction process. On the return journey several experienced carpenters and masons also joined the merchant ships to work on the reconstruction projects in Port Gilbert.

Thanks. Just testing out different mmps to add effect. The settlers used loose rocks early on to stabilise the batters around the docks, however these will likely be upgraded in future to a more permanent solution as more skilled stone masons join the settlement.