Frenchmans Cap Timeline

1642 Abel Tasman sails the west coast of Tasmania. He observes three high mountains, one of which was probably Frenchmans Cap.

1822 Account taken from escaped convict Alexander Pearce records the first mention of the name Frenchmans Cap.

1832 William Sharland attempts to climb Frenchmans Cap.

1840 James Calder cuts a track for Sir John Franklin’s party to follow.

1841 Paul de Strzelecki attempts to climb Frenchmans Cap.

1842 Sir John Franklin’s party journeys overland from Lake St Clair to the Gordon River.

1851 Gold parties begin searching near Frenchmans Cap.

1853 James Sprent’s party makes first recorded ascent of Frenchmans Cap.

1857 Tully, Spong and Glover make second recorded ascent of Frenchmans Cap.

1859 William Tully undertakes an extensive search for gold at Frenchmans Cap.

1862 Charles Gould begins the first of his three searches for gold near Frenchmans Cap.

1863 Morton Allport takes the first known photograph of Frenchmans Cap.

1883 T. B. Moore cuts the Linda Track.

1887 T. B. Moore makes the first ascent of Frenchmans Cap from the west.

1900 J. L. A. Moore cuts a track from the Linda Track south across the Loddon Plains and through Calder Pass to a point east of Goodwins Peak.

1908 Robert Thirkell re-cuts and extends J. L. A. Moore’s track, also cutting a branch through Counsel Pass and down to the Jane River.

1910 J. E. Philp recuts Thirkell’s Track and cuts a new track from Philps Lead to Frenchmans Cap.

1913 The Crotty Track is cut, from the Crotty Smelters Junction on the North Lyell Railway to North Col on the shoulder of Frenchmans Cap.

1913 A. L. Meston and Edwin F. S. De Bomford use the Crotty Track to climb Frenchmans Cap from the west.

1914 Charles Whitham’s party climbs Frenchmans Cap from the west.

1914 Robert C. Eyes takes first known photograph of a party on the summit of Frenchmans Cap.

1915 Edwin F. S. De Bomford’s party climbs Frenchmans Cap from the west.

1920 Spurling, Perrin and Yard attempt Frenchmans Cap from the east.

1928 Fred Smithies and Ronald Pitt attempt Frenchmans Cap from the east.

1931 Fred Smithies and Cliff Bradshaw climb Frenchmans Cap from the west.

1932 Lyell Highway opened.

1932 Davern and Anderson climb Frenchmans Cap and discover Daverns Cavern and J. E. Philp’s Track.

1933 Aubrey Davern’s party pioneers an exit route by way of the Irenabyss and the Raglan Range.

1935 PWD work party cut a substantial track, following the route used by the Abels down the Loddon Plains and through Counsel Pass to the Jane River.

1936 Jack Thwaites marks the route from North Col to the summit of Frenchmans Cap.

1937 The Fauna Board sends two parties into the Frenchmans Cap region over the next two years in search of the thylacine.

1939 New Jane River Track opened.

1941 Frenchman’s Cap National Park proclaimed.

1947 Original Tahune Hut completed.

1947 Frank Hurley visits Frenchmans Cap.

1949 Flying fox erected over Franklin River.

1951 Lands and Surveys Department produces first official map of Frenchmans Cap.

1962 First rock climbers at Frenchmans Cap.

1962 Original Vera Hut built.

1966 Bushfire devastates the northern part of the Frenchman’s Cap National Park.

1971 Second hut built at Lake Tahune.

1975 James Sprent’s summit cairn dismantled.

1978 HEC erects first trigpoint on the summit of Frenchmans Cap.

1979 Second hut built at Lake Vera.

1979 HEC announces plans to flood the Franklin River.

1980 Lake Vera and Jane River bushfire.

1981 Wild Rivers National Park declared, incorporating the former Frenchman’s Cap National Park.

1982 Franklin Dam Bill passed by State Parliament.

1982 Franklin blockade set up by protesters.

1982 Wild Rivers National Park inscribed on World Heritage register.

1983 Franklin River saved.

1985 World Heritage Area compensation funds allow a major upgrade of the track and facilities at Frenchmans Cap for the next 10 years.

1986 First BASE jumpers parachute from Frenchmans Cap.

1987 Suspension bridge erected across the Loddon River.

1991 Flying fox across the Franklin River collapses.

1992 Suspension bridge erected across the Franklin River.

2005 Trigpoint officially removed from summit of Frenchmans Cap.

2008 Dick Smith funds a 10-year upgrade of the Frenchmans Cap track, with additional support offered by the Tasmanian Government.

2013 Track work funded by Dick Smith to be completed, including repairs to the Loddon Plains and a new track along Laughtons Lead.