T. B. Moore

Thomas Bather Moore (1850 to 1919) was a pioneer explorer of Western and South West, Tasmania, Australia.

Biography

He was born at New Norfolk and died at Queenstown. He was buried at the graveyard Strahan overlooking Macquarie Harbour.^[1][2]

He was appointed as a Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society. He had been a prospector,^[3] track cutter, botanist, geographer and geologist - all mainly in West Coast, Tasmania area.^[4][5]

His tracks were legendary routes through parts of the South West Wilderness, as well as the West Coast Range.^[6] He had been considered one of the most experienced of Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company's track cutters.

Western Tasmania was dedicated to his memory. In part of the dedication Charles Whitham states:

Thomas Moore was the first in place, though not in time, of those who have explored Western Tasmania. He traversed every portion of the territory, sometimes as a prospector.... his knowledge of this region was never equalled by any other, and will never be surpassed.

— Charles Whitham in Western Tasmania

Naming of Tasmanian landscape

He named many features including Mount Strahan, the Thureau Hills and the Tofft River which runs between those hills and Mount Huxley.^[7]

Whitham says in his book T.B. Moore that Moore "laid it down that all western lakes must have feminine names", which Whitham guessed would be ignored by bureaucrats in Hobart. Hydro Tasmania has since created lakes which have names that do not follow Moore's suggestion.

Author abbreviation

Notes

1. Ian McShane (1982), Library catalogue entry for University of Tasmania Dept. of History thesis: T. B. Moore: a bushman of learning
2. "Family Notices.". Zeehan and Dundas Herald (Tas. : 1890 - 1922). Tas.: National Library of Australia. 16 August 1919. p. 2. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
3. "WEST COAST SILVERFIELD.". Launceston Examiner (Tas. : 1842-1899). Tas.: National Library of Australia. 2 October 1888. p. 3. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
4. McShane, Ian (1983). T. B. Moore : a bushman of learning (Thesis (B.A.(Hons.)). University of Tasmania.
5. "WEST COAST NEWS.". The Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860-1954). Hobart, Tas.: National Library of Australia. 17 September 1932. p. 6. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
6. Binks, C. J. (1980). The Last Explorer. Explorers of Western Tasmania. Launceston: Mary Fisher Bookshop. pp. 219–230. ISBN 0-908291-16-7.
7. For a letter by Thomas Bather Moore regarding the naming of the features along the south west coastline see - "PORT DAVEY TO MACQUARIE HARBOUR.". The Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860-1954). Hobart, Tas.: National Library of Australia. 13 August 1898. p. 3. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
8. IPNI.  T.B.Moore.

References

• Binks, C.J. (1980). Explorers of Western Tasmania. Launceston: Mary Fisher Bookshop. ISBN 0-908291-16-7.
• Blainey, Geoffrey (2000). The Peaks of Lyell (6th ed.). Hobart: St. David's Park Publishing. ISBN 0-7246-2265-9.
• Whitham, Charles. Western Tasmania: A Land of Riches and Beauty.
• Whitham, Lindsay (2002). Railways, Mines, Pubs and People and other historical research. Sandy Bay: Tasmanian Historical Research Association. ISBN 0-909479-21-6.
• Stoddart, D.Michael, ed. (1993). Walk to the West. Hobart: The Royal Society of Tasmania. ISBN 0-9598679-9-6.

External links

• http://www.asap.unimelb.edu.au/bsparcs/archives/P001263a.htm - correspondence between Moore and Ferdinand von Mueller