Thread: The search for Stannards grave, Jane R. Tasmania.

120 years ago, a party of young men logging Huon pine on the Jane R. suffered tragedy when a young 19 year old drowned. Now, 120 years and One day , his grave has been found by two intrepid young men, there's something about this story that hits a nerve, deep down. Hard to put into words.


From Tassie boys prospecting;

Nine months ago Rob Parsons, Hugh Calvert and myself took a six day expedition into the remote south west of Tasmania in search of the long lost grave of huon piner John Stannard.In 1901 three men were working along the banks of the Jane river falling hundreds of huon pine trees. The huon pine timber was sought after for it's long lasting quality in the use of boats being shipped all around the world. Tragically in the same year 1901 the young 19 year old John Stannard slipped and drowned while trying to free a log jam in the river. Because of the remoteness of the area his comrades buried his body on a small knoll (hill) on the banks of the Jane River. The grave was last seen in 1938 by an explorer named Michael Sharland who was searching for the Tasmanian Tiger (Thylacine) who was at the time close to extinction. He stumbled across the grave in his travels, photographed it and described what he'd seen. Since this time many have been back into this remote area which is part of the Franklin Gordon National Park but with no success in finding the grave. October last year Rob, Hugh and myself (Levi Triffitt) tried to find the grave it took six days of the most brutal hiking and conditions that Tasmania has to offer and we left the area unsuccessfully. This year with new clues, research and a little more information we head back in for a second attempt to see if we can relocate the grave and restore a small piece of Tasmania's early pioneer history.

THE RETURN FOR STANNARDS GRAVE Jane River Tasmania - YouTube


Rob Parsons version/video of the adventure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjalm...Robs channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCriy...Tassie Boys Prospecting Website: https://www.tassieboysprospecting.the...

Originally Posted by bob10

120 years ago, a party of young men logging Huon pine on the Jane R. suffered tragedy when a young 19 year old drowned. Now, 120 years and One day , his grave has been found by two intrepid young men, there's something about this story that hits a nerve, deep down. Hard to put into words.


From Tassie boys prospecting;

Nine months ago Rob Parsons, Hugh Calvert and myself took a six day expedition into the remote south west of Tasmania in search of the long lost grave of huon piner John Stannard.In 1901 three men were working along the banks of the Jane river falling hundreds of huon pine trees. The huon pine timber was sought after for it's long lasting quality in the use of boats being shipped all around the world. Tragically in the same year 1901 the young 19 year old John Stannard slipped and drowned while trying to free a log jam in the river. Because of the remoteness of the area his comrades buried his body on a small knoll (hill) on the banks of the Jane River. The grave was last seen in 1938 by an explorer named Michael Sharland who was searching for the Tasmanian Tiger (Thylacine) who was at the time close to extinction. He stumbled across the grave in his travels, photographed it and described what he'd seen. Since this time many have been back into this remote area which is part of the Franklin Gordon National Park but with no success in finding the grave. October last year Rob, Hugh and myself (Levi Triffitt) tried to find the grave it took six days of the most brutal hiking and conditions that Tasmania has to offer and we left the area unsuccessfully. This year with new clues, research and a little more information we head back in for a second attempt to see if we can relocate the grave and restore a small piece of Tasmania's early pioneer history.

THE RETURN FOR STANNARDS GRAVE Jane River Tasmania - YouTube


Rob Parsons version/video of the adventure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjalm...Robs channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCriy...Tassie Boys Prospecting Website: https://www.tassieboysprospecting.the...

.....and if they hadn't included the 4WD track to the Jane River Goldfields in with the World Heritage area many years ago you'd have been able to take your 4WD to within a klm or so of where you found the grave!

It was a really nice drive into that area amongst Myrtle and Huon Pine forests. Some bog holes, lots of mud and many fallen trees but my Landrovers did it without any probs on the 4 or 5 occasions I went in. Also rode my Enduro bike in 3 times which was a lot easier...

1984 woulda been my last time in a 4WD with my Stage One V8 with the LROC (Tas) and just prior me buying a new One Ten County, but I later flew in twice more via a chopper which was interesting.
Are the huts still there or has the greenie Parks & Wildlife servants removed them?

Many bushwalkers wanted them to remain for shelter and safety reasons.