Author(s): John Wadsley

Tasmaniana

Thousands of Tasmanian men passed through Claremont Camp on their way to serve on the other side of the world during the Great War. This camp had accommodation for 2,000 men, a hospital, post office, kitchens, stores, recreation halls and offices. This book covers all aspects of the Claremont Camp during the Great War in detail, including camp administration, training and instruction, food, medical and dental treatment, entertainment, voluntary organisations and discipline. The raising of the 40th Battalion at Claremont , the only wholly Tasmanian infantry unit in the Great War is covered, as well as the remount depot for training horses which was created just prior to the war. As a precursor to the army's arrival, the colonial farming history of the area is examined with one of the earliest colonial farms in Van Dieman's Land, highlighting some intriguing characters. Following the war's end, the coming of Cadbury in the 1920s and the construction of its first factory in the Southern Hemisphere ushered in a period of growth around the idea of a 'model village'. The development of the Claremont school is an important part of the history and mirrors the suburban growth of the area in the mid-20th century. A foreword is provided by Professor Kate Warner AC, former Governor of Tasmania, and Richard Warner.This history is fully referenced with endnotes, bibliography and an index.