Lot 2419

Description

Tasmania, The Van Diemen's Land Company, Colonial Register, 'B' share certificate, 19--, No.B 199, with a capital of £520,000 in 220,000 'A' shares of £1 each and 10,000 'B' shares of £30 each, unissued, blue on buff, scrollwork left side, 'B' in green. With some spotting, otherwise extremely fine.

Formed in 1824 by a group of London merchants to establish a fine wool venture in Tasmania to supply the British textile industry. Receiving a Royal Charter in 1825 the VDL Company was granted 250,000 acres in north-west Tasmania. On October 24 1826 the Company established a settlement at Circular Head with farm labour, livestock including 46 Cotswold sheep arriving from London aboard the 'Tranmere'. Outpost stations were set up at Woolnorth, Emu Bay, Surrey Hills and Hampshire Hills. The VDL Companys circumstances fluctuated over the years with the farming operations being wound up in 1850s. In the 1870s a decision was made by the London directors to resume farming at Woolnorth introducing cattle and horse breeding as well setting up other business ventures such as the Mount Biscoff railway, as well as sawmills and brickworks. In 1993 majority ownership of the Company was bought by Tasman Agricultural Ltd, retaining the name Van Dieman's Land Company.