NarrynA

Our Collections

The Journals of Captain Andrew Haig

The Haig Journals project

In 2018 Narryna volunteers and staff began a project aimed at transcribing the journals of Captain Andrew Haig. Some of the journals, held by the Tasmanian Archives and Heritage Office (TAHO), had previously been partly transcribed with sections of interest to Narryna noted. However, a complete transcription of all volumes held at the archives had not been undertaken.

With an enthusiastic group of volunteers on board to support the project, transcribing commenced in earnest with the aim to have the journals available to anyone who might be interested in Haig’s maritime journeys. It would take almost eight years for the final work to be completed.

A grant provided by TasPorts in 2022 allowed Narryna to publish hard and soft copies of the first tranche of journals. It was decided that the later journals pertaining to Haig’s time in Hobart would be an appropriate and achievable goal. The following journals were published in 2023 in two volumes:

Volume 1          1834 – 1838, 1835 – 1840  & 1838 – 1840                                          

Volume 2          1841 – 1843 & 1852

A second grant from the Australian National Maritime Museum allowed Narryna to publish the remaining volumes which were completed in 2025, these include:

Volume 1          1820 - 1823  & 1821 – 1823

Volume 2          1816 – 1820, 1823 – 1824 & 1825 – 1827

We are grateful for the generous support of TasPorts and the Australian National Maritime Museum, without their support, this historically significant project could not have been completed.

We hope you enjoy reading these journals as much as we have enjoyed transcribing them!

Note: To access each journal, please click on the image.

Volume 1 Concerning the years 1834 - 1840

Captain Andrew Haig's journals (1834–1840) offer a personal account of life in Hobart during the colony's economically challenging 1830s. They reveal his struggles to establish himself as a merchant after a successful career at sea, marked by financial setbacks, failed ventures, and frequent frustration with business associates and the colonial economy. Despite these difficulties, Haig remained determined, supported by his wife Elizabeth, who played an active role in the family's finances. The journals also document their domestic life, including family illnesses, servant management, and the long, troubled construction of Narryna, which the family finally occupied in 1840. Together, they provide a valuable insight into the realities of business, family life, and resilience in early colonial Hobart.

The early journals - volume 2 CONCERNING THE YEARS 1816 – 1820, 1823 – 1824 & 1825 – 1827.

Covering the years 1816–1827, these journals trace Andrew Haig's career as a merchant seaman and later captain trading throughout Asia, South America and the Pacific. They document the complexities of international trade during a period of political upheaval, including the Spanish American wars of independence, the expansion of British influence in Singapore, and the challenges of operating in volatile commercial markets. Haig records long voyages, dangerous weather, ship management, cargoes, and trading negotiations, while also revealing his growing frustrations with unreliable business partners, financial uncertainty and limited career opportunities. The journals also include Haig's first visit to Hobart in 1824, where he recognised the harbour's commercial potential and purchased the land on which Narryna would later be built. Together, these writings provide a fascinating account of global maritime trade and the experiences that shaped Haig before he settled permanently in Van Diemen's Land.

Volume 2 concerning the years 1841 - 1843 & july 1852

By the time the Haig family moved into Narryna in October 1840, Andrew Haig was burdened by mounting debt despite the appearance of prosperity. To meet everyday expenses, he and Elizabeth mortgaged the house, attempted to sell or lease other properties, and sought additional income through teaching and government employment. Haig's financial difficulties were worsened by his responsibilities as manager of the Derwent Ship Building Company and the severe economic depression affecting Van Diemen's Land. His journals reveal growing despair, thoughts of returning to sea, and repeated appeals for help from family in England that went unanswered. Forced to leave Narryna in late 1841, the family moved to more modest accommodation while Haig took whatever work he could find. His writings paint a vivid picture of personal hardship and disillusionment, reflecting both his own struggles and the wider economic collapse that gripped the colony during the early 1840s.

The early journals - volume 1 CONCERNING THE YEARS 1820 - 1823 & 1821 - 1823

These journals record Captain Andrew Haig's first command of the brig Snipe on a trading voyage to the west coast of the Americas between 1820 and 1823. They document the challenges of long-distance maritime trade, including severe storms, difficult navigation, political unrest during the Spanish American wars of independence, and complex commercial negotiations. Haig's writings demonstrate his skill as a captain, successfully bringing his vessel and crew through dangerous conditions while carefully managing provisions, trade, and the day-to-day operation of the ship. Together with his detailed "fit out" notebook, the journals provide a valuable first-hand account of early nineteenth-century global trade, seamanship, and the realities of conducting international commerce across the Pacific.

Thank you to the following organisations for their support of the Captain Haig Journals project.