Deny King

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Deny King
ornithologist, artist, miner
Known forPreservation of the orange-bellied parrot
SpouseMargaret Ann Cadell
ChildrenMary and Janet

Charles Denison (Deny) King

ornithologist, environmentalist, painter and tin miner. He spent fifty-five years living in Melaleuca in Port Davey, part of the remote South West Wilderness of Tasmania where he discovered the extinct shrub, Banksia kingii, among other major exploits.[1]

Biography

King was a tin miner by profession and followed his father, Charlie, to Melaleuca in 1936, where he built a house, which was accommodation for himself and workers as well as the airstrip which opened up tourism for the South West Wilderness.

On 6 June 1940, Deny King enlisted in the Australian Army where he served through World War II being discharged on 15 October 1945.[2]

On 5 November 1949, Deny King married Margaret Ann Cadell at St David's Cathedral, Hobart.[3] The couple had two daughters, Mary and Janet.[4]

He was instrumental in preserving the habitat of the

eyebright, Euphrasia kingii (nowadays known as Euphrasia gibbsiae subspecies kingii), as well as a flowering evergreen in the Protea family (Proteaceae): King's Lomatia (also known as King's holly, Lomatia tasmanica).[1]

In 1971, the King family's life at Melaleuca was the subject of an episode of the

ABC television series "A Big Country".[4]

In 1975, King was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia for his community service.[5][6]

On 12 May 1991, Deny King died suddenly of a heart attack at the home of his daughter Mary King in Hobart. He was cremated and his ashes scattered at Melaleuca.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b Mattingley, Christobel. "Deny King". The companion to Tasmanian history. Centre for Tasmanian Historical Studies, University of Tasmania. Archived from the original on 16 October 2013. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
  2. ^ "King, Charles Denison". National Archives of Australia. p. B883:TX2261.
  3. ^ "Family Notices". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 19 November 1949. p. 40. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
  4. ^ a b "THE KINGS OF MELALEUCA". The Australian Women's Weekly. National Library of Australia. 5 May 1971. p. 17. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
  5. ^ "QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY HONOURS". The Canberra Times. National Library of Australia. 14 June 1975. p. 9. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
  6. ^ "King, Charles Dennison". It's an Honour. Australian Government. Archived from the original on 9 February 2015.
  7. ^ "Deny King dies". The Canberra Times. National Library of Australia. 15 May 1991. p. 4. Retrieved 14 October 2013.

Further reading