Derwent Bank & Swanston letter books Index: Royal Society of Tasmania Collection

Abstract

The Derwent Bank was established in 1827 and opened for business on 1 January 1828 in Davey Street, Hobart, with a staff of two, the cashier Stephen Adey and the accountant John Leake of Rosedale, Campbell Town. William Henry Hamilton was appointed managing director in 1830 but retired in 1832 and was replaced by Charles Swanston (1789-1850), a former Captain in the Indian Army. Swanston also carried on business as an import and export agent in wool, tea, sugar, rum, etc. The bank failed in 1849 and John Walker, merchant and mill owner of Hobart, acted as liquidator. These letter books were found with the papers of John Walker in the mill buildings formerly occupied by him in Barrack Street, Hobart (see also Walker papers RS:20). Another Swanston letter book in the State Library of Victoria a and accounts of receipts and payments 1835-1840 - RS.9