Sally Bloomfield – ANDREW BENT: Father of the Free Press in Australia

Benjamin Bent

12 Mar 202111 Mar 2021

Benjamin Bent, the middle of the three Bent brothers, arrived in Australia, like his two siblings, as a transported felon. He had his first encounter with the magistrates, and first…

Bookbinding (2)

11 Sep 202014 Sep 2020

Rivals and Arrivals The eighteen thirties saw an expansion of bookbinding activity in Van Diemen's Land and the arrival of at least two skilled free workmen, GEORGE HOWARD and GEORGE…

Bookbinding (1)

28 Aug 202031 Aug 2020

1827 HTG (detail) This account of Tasmanian colonial bookbinding, in two parts, examines Andrew Bent’s involvement, but also touches on others who offered bookbinding services either as entrepreneurs or practical…

Digitisation

8 May 202011 Mar 2021

Update October 2020 An increasing amount of Andrew Bent's printing output is becoming available online thanks to the fantastic digitisation work of the holding institutions (especially the National Library of…

George Clark

28 Apr 202028 Apr 2020

George Clark was Andrew Bent’s predecessor as Government Printer in Van Diemen's Land. His time as a printer in Hobart Town, from around 1810 to 1815, was relatively short and…

Mary Bent

21 Feb 202028 Apr 2020

Andrew Bent’s Irish born wife, Mary Kirk, arrived in Van Diemen’s Land, like her husband, as a convict. We know she played a central role in his story for thirty…

Early Almanacs

8 Nov 201919 Oct 2020

Andrew Bent’s seven almanacs, published annually from 1824 to 1830, collectively comprise some of his most significant printing. Their survival rate has in general been better than that of his…

Last days

28 Jun 201928 Jun 2019

DIED ... At the Benevolent Asylum, on the 26th instant, Mr. Andrew Bent, printer, aged 55 years, formerly of Van Diemen's Land. (Sydney Morning Herald 28 Aug. 1851) How had…