Old Rope. It's made from hemp. During the days of Empire the British were a dominant colonial nation based on their superior naval power - and hemp was an extremely important commodity for tall ships. Joseph Banks, a scientist of great integrity and powers of observation, was the first botanist to visit the Great Southern Land and he reported the exciting news back to London that he had seen wild hemp growing in New Zealand - and that therefore the climate and conditions were right for hemp cultivation.

The proposed new penal colony in Botany Bay was seen as a solution to the overflowing hulks being used as prisons on the River Thames during a time of great social change caused by the industrial revolution, but there is evidence that another important motivating factors in setting up the distant convict outpost was the plan to grow hemp for rope production to supply naval ships.

Other fascinating bits of information on the early history of hemp cultivation in Australia will be posted here.

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