Sally Bloomfield – Page 2 – ANDREW BENT: Father of the Free Press in Australia

Events

Memorial Lunch

6 May 20216 May 2021

On 1 May 2021, the Hobart Friends of the ABC held an event to highlight World Press Freedom Day. In doing so they paid tribute to one of the pioneers…

Benjamin Bent

12 Mar 20217 Jan 2024

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 20208 Nov 2025

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 20207 Aug 2022

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…

Family

Mary Bent

21 Feb 202013 May 2022

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…

Family

Catherine Bent

6 Dec 201913 May 2022

Catherine Bent, my great great grandmother, was the second surviving child of Andrew and Mary Bent. The story of her life with her husband Thomas Sydney Hall highlights the power…

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…

Family

Richard Bent

29 Jul 201913 May 2022

Richard was the youngest of Andrew Bent’s known siblings and the last of the three Bent brothers to be transported. Like his two older brothers he had a useful trade.…