Farewell to historian

Peter MacFie a ‘great mind with greater heart’

A FORMER resident historian at Port Arthur, Peter MacFie has been remembered as a kind-hearted man with a “great mind” after he died following a battle with motor neurone disease.

Pete, as he was known, worked at the Port Arthur Historic Site from 1983 until 1991 and published numerous works of history over the course of his life. He died in Hobart on Thursday, April 28, aged 78.

A skilled musician, the late Pete wrote his own compositions and played in several folk rock bands.

His brother Rob MacFie said Pete was “a very intelligent man and very generous in his help to people”.

“He helped establish about half a dozen of the history societies around the state over the years,” Rob said.

Born in Launceston in 1943, Pete was preparing before his death to publish a memoir about growing up at the Glebe.

Rob said his family and friends would ensure the book was still released.

“The amount of detail written from memory when he was only five to 10 years old is incredible,” Rob said.

One of five siblings, Pete is survived by his two sons, Nathe and Lachlan.

Among his most celebrated works are On the Fiddle, a collection of transcribed compositions by the convict fiddler Alexander Laing, and Underground Hobart, which delves into the depths and catacombs of the state capital.

“He wasn’t wealthy and didn’t make any money out of (history), really,” Rob said. “It was just a passion.”

Pete had lived at Dulcot for about 25 years before he had no choice but to move into a residential aged-care facility at Warrane after he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease.

“He was in a diabolical state,” Rob said. “For two years, he couldn’t move his arms or his legs. He lost his ability to talk properly.

“It’s a dreadful disease. Absolutely shocking.”

Rob said he had been overwhelmed by the outpouring of emotion from those who had known Pete.

“A lot of people have been very caring and kind in their comments, that’s for sure,” he said.

LGBTQI+ activist Rodney Croome, who met Pete at Port Arthur in the 1980s while working as an undergraduate tour guide, said Tasmania had lost “a great mind and a greater heart”.

“He generously taught me about the hidden history of Port Arthur, about the reality of convictism and its continued impact today, and about the joys and pitfalls of local history in Tasmania,” Mr Croome said.

“History is poorer for his passing, as is the island.”