Roland Warpole Loane
Encyclopedia
Roland Walpole Loane was a merchant descended from a family of English landlords and early settler in New South Wales
. Concerned more with his personal wealth than contributing to colonial society, Loane became a well-known within the colony for his unscrupulous actions and unceasing litigation.
landlords residing in the south of Ireland
. Loane claimed he had been a naval officer, but his name does not appear in any naval records.
Town in 1809 in his own ship "Union", with a cargo of goods valued at £20,000. He sold the ship and its cargo to begin business as a general merchant. He was an active and successful merchant in Hobart, but drew criticism for letting his cattle damage his neighbours' crops on the assumption that the beasts couldn't be driven to the pound.
In 1813, Loane commissioned the building of the 133-ton [brig] "Campbell Macquarie" and moved it to Sydney
where he operated as a merchant trader. In Sydney, Loane purchased Birchgrove
House and leased land on the Balmain
estate.
In 1818, Loane traveled from Sydney to India
, and returned to Hobart Town the following year with cargo. During his absence from Hobart Town, the destruction of his account books prevented the collection of large debts owed to him. This experience was perhaps the catalyst leading to his contempt for the colonial government. Before departing for Sydney in 1813, he had bought a fifty-acre (20 ha) farm near Hobart, and leased it back to the original owner. On his return, he found that the tenant leasing his property had died, the land had been fenced for government purposes and the public was using a quarry on his property. He protested to the colonial government, but was never able to recover the documents proving his ownership, and after a prolonged argument with the authorities, he lost his case.
Loane had a land grant at Pittwater, and after 1818 purchased several areas in the country, including one at Eastern Marshes in the Oatlands
district, and a number of small areas in Hobart, on which he built houses and let them to government officers.
On another trip to India in 1823, Loane returned with a 'Woman of Colour', named Madame D'Hotman, whom he had found in extreme poverty in Calcutta. She was said to have been his mistress. Later, eager to extricate himself from this woman, he tried to persuade her to return to her husband in Mauritius
, but she claimed that he had given her his estate. When she died in 1831 her daughter claimed the property. He fought to regain the estate, all the way to England, but without success.
In 1825 Loane returned to Sydney, built a new residence and acquired land in the town area. In 1927 he returned to Europe and was married in Ireland in 1828 to Mary Lee, daughter of a colonel of the Royal Marines
. In 1830 he sailed for Hobart Town with his wife and made his home on his property at Eastern Marshes, which he named Lee Mount. In 1834 he sold this property after another argument with the colonial government. He briefly returned to England in 1839 to unsuccessfully challenge the colonial government, before returning to Hobart Town in 1841.
He died in Hobart Town on 8 October 1844.
According to Lieutenant-Governor William Sorell
:
In 1834 Loane claimed, without evidence, that Lieutenant-Governor George Arthur
had a personal grievance against him and encouraged the pound-keepers and police to take his cattle. He took his complaints to England and prosecuted in person, displaying rancour, exaggeration and disregard of evidence which did not impress the Colonial Office
.
Arrogant and completely absorbed with the promotion of his fortune, Loane became well-known in the colony for his unscrupulous actions and litigation. He did not participate in any cultural societies that flourished in the community, nor was his name associated with the popular movements of the time.
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. Concerned more with his personal wealth than contributing to colonial society, Loane became a well-known within the colony for his unscrupulous actions and unceasing litigation.
Early life and career
Loane was descended from a family of EnglishEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
landlords residing in the south of Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. Loane claimed he had been a naval officer, but his name does not appear in any naval records.
Life in New South Wales
Loane arrived in HobartHobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
Town in 1809 in his own ship "Union", with a cargo of goods valued at £20,000. He sold the ship and its cargo to begin business as a general merchant. He was an active and successful merchant in Hobart, but drew criticism for letting his cattle damage his neighbours' crops on the assumption that the beasts couldn't be driven to the pound.
In 1813, Loane commissioned the building of the 133-ton [brig] "Campbell Macquarie" and moved it to Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
where he operated as a merchant trader. In Sydney, Loane purchased Birchgrove
Birchgrove, New South Wales
Birchgrove is a suburb in the inner-west of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Birchgrove is located 5 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the Municipality of Leichhardt....
House and leased land on the Balmain
Balmain, New South Wales
Balmain is a suburb in the inner-west of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Balmain is located slightly west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the Municipality of Leichhardt....
estate.
In 1818, Loane traveled from Sydney to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, and returned to Hobart Town the following year with cargo. During his absence from Hobart Town, the destruction of his account books prevented the collection of large debts owed to him. This experience was perhaps the catalyst leading to his contempt for the colonial government. Before departing for Sydney in 1813, he had bought a fifty-acre (20 ha) farm near Hobart, and leased it back to the original owner. On his return, he found that the tenant leasing his property had died, the land had been fenced for government purposes and the public was using a quarry on his property. He protested to the colonial government, but was never able to recover the documents proving his ownership, and after a prolonged argument with the authorities, he lost his case.
Loane had a land grant at Pittwater, and after 1818 purchased several areas in the country, including one at Eastern Marshes in the Oatlands
Oatlands, Tasmania
Oatlands is an important historical village built on the shores of Lake Dulverton in the centre of Tasmania, Australia. Oatlands is located 84 km north of Hobart and 115 km south of Launceston on the Midland Highway...
district, and a number of small areas in Hobart, on which he built houses and let them to government officers.
On another trip to India in 1823, Loane returned with a 'Woman of Colour', named Madame D'Hotman, whom he had found in extreme poverty in Calcutta. She was said to have been his mistress. Later, eager to extricate himself from this woman, he tried to persuade her to return to her husband in Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
, but she claimed that he had given her his estate. When she died in 1831 her daughter claimed the property. He fought to regain the estate, all the way to England, but without success.
In 1825 Loane returned to Sydney, built a new residence and acquired land in the town area. In 1927 he returned to Europe and was married in Ireland in 1828 to Mary Lee, daughter of a colonel of the Royal Marines
Royal Marines
The Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...
. In 1830 he sailed for Hobart Town with his wife and made his home on his property at Eastern Marshes, which he named Lee Mount. In 1834 he sold this property after another argument with the colonial government. He briefly returned to England in 1839 to unsuccessfully challenge the colonial government, before returning to Hobart Town in 1841.
He died in Hobart Town on 8 October 1844.
Litigous Attitude
Throughout his life, Loane believed that he had been robbed by unscrupulous persons and officials and that to progress in such a community he had to use the same system which attacked him. He proceeded to vent his grievances though the court systems of New South Wales and England.According to Lieutenant-Governor William Sorell
William Sorell
William Sorell was a soldier and third Lieutenant-Governor of Van Diemen's Land.-Early life:Sorell was born probably in the West Indies, the eldest son of Lieutenant-general William Alexander Sorell and his wife Jane...
:
Loane was a person who always asserts that he is ill-used by the world collectively and individually. His hand is against everyone and everyone against him. Not a man in the colony would, I believe, rely upon his word or engagement for the most trifling thing.
In 1834 Loane claimed, without evidence, that Lieutenant-Governor George Arthur
George Arthur
Lieutenant-General Sir George Arthur, 1st Baronet KCH PC was Lieutenant Governor of British Honduras , Van Diemen's Land and Upper Canada . He also served as Governor of Bombay .-Early life:George Arthur was born in Plymouth, England...
had a personal grievance against him and encouraged the pound-keepers and police to take his cattle. He took his complaints to England and prosecuted in person, displaying rancour, exaggeration and disregard of evidence which did not impress the Colonial Office
Colonial Office
Colonial Office is the government agency which serves to oversee and supervise their colony* Colonial Office - The British Government department* Office of Insular Affairs - the American government agency* Reichskolonialamt - the German Colonial Office...
.
Arrogant and completely absorbed with the promotion of his fortune, Loane became well-known in the colony for his unscrupulous actions and litigation. He did not participate in any cultural societies that flourished in the community, nor was his name associated with the popular movements of the time.
Books
- Historical Records of Australia, series 3, vols 2-3
- correspondence file under Loane (Archives Office of Tasmania)
- Arthur papers (State Library of New South Wales)