On 15 January 1836 George Arthur, the Lieutenant Governor of the Island of Van Diemen's Land
proclaimed, via The Hobart Town Courier, the first counties and parishes to be surveyed in the colony.
The County of Devon, bounded on the east by the river Tamar, and by a portion of the river South Esk, on the south by the river Meander and by the Great road from Deloraine bridge to the Surry hills; on the west by the continuation of that road to Emu bay; and on the north by Bass's Straits. This county to include all islands in the river Tamar, and all islands situate between the mouth of the river Tamar and the mouth of the river Emu.[3]