Arabian Nights

By 1806, Hobart Town was suffering severe food shortages and expeditions of soldiers were being sent to the area around Pontville to hunt kangaroos and emus.  One of these expeditions included a well-travelled member of the Royal Marines, Private Hugh Germain who brought a little of the exotic Middle East to the struggling colony.

Private Germain is believed to have served in Egypt and during his foray beyond Hobart Town, he carried a copy of the 'Arabian Nights' in his swag.  Rumour has it that he is responsible for bestowing some well-known Tasmanian locations with some rather incongruous names; thus you may travel through Bagdad and Jericho, you might cross the Jordan River or visit Jerusalem Plain (now Colebrook), or stand on the shores of Lake Tiberias.