HOBART William

August 1836: William and his family arrived on the same ship as watchmaker James Robe and family.
1839: Undertook clock repairs and maintenance to St John’s Church Town clock, Launceston.
1840s: St John’s Church Town clock lost or gained time or stopped because of non-payment of wages to Mr ‘Hobbart’.
1840-1841: House and shop occupied by Mr ‘Hobbart’, Launceston advertised for rent.

1845: Moved to Adelaide, South Australia, and worked as a watchmaker in Rundle Street.
April 1847: The Adelaide Observer reported William had left for Van Diemen’s Land in a ‘fit of melancholy, where he died of a broken heart’ following very public court cases involving himself and his children. He may have travelled to Van Diemen’s Land, but did not die there.

1863: William Hobart senior and son William junior were sentenced to two years hard labour in the Yatala Labour Prison in South Australia for housebreaking and theft of various items.

The Examiner (Launceston) 12 November 1892:
‘Reminiscences [by B.]
Fifty-two years ago, resided in Charles Street, near where Stewart Bros’ watchmaker’s shop now stands, Mr Hobart, a watchmaker. This old gentleman, who was an enthusiast in music, had built an organ for himself, and many a time have I stood on the pathway by his house listening to the strains of music poured forth from the instrument under the fingers of one of Mr Hobart’s daughter.’