'Uninnocent Landscapes’ presentation by Ian Terry

For more than two years, Ian Terry followed the route of George Augustus Robinson’s 1831 Big River Mission – which was credited with ending frontier violence in Van Diemen’s Land. Accompanied by 13 Aboriginal envoys, Robinson spent 11 weeks walking around central Tasmania before meeting 26 survivors of the Lairmerrener and Paredarerme people west of Lake Echo. He promised them that they would later be able to return to their Country if they stopped resisting invasion and agreed to exile.

They accompanied Robinson to Hobart and, after meeting with Governor Arthur, were transferred to Flinders Island. They never returned to Country.

 Ian’s project was to photograph the landscapes the Big River Mission passed through as an act of documentation of change and truth-telling about colonisation and dispossession. It resulted in Uninnocent Landscapes, an exhibition held in November 2023 and a book of the same name (which is now sold out).

Ian Terry grew up in Queensland and Sydney, and relocated to Lutruwita/Tasmania in 1984. He immediately felt at home on this beautiful island. He has worked as a bushwalking, cycling and rafting guide, national park ranger, freelance historian and, most recently, curator of history at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery. Among the many exhibitions he curated at the museum was Our Land: Parrawa, Parrawa! Go Away! which examined the history of frontier conflict in Tasmania. Ian lives in Nipaluna/Hobart.

A small cash donation towards running the event is appreciated.