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.
Eighth, The County of Monmouth, bounded on the north by Somersetshire; on the west by a portion of the Clyde to its junction with the Derwent, and thence on the south west by the Derwent to Storm bay; on the south by Storm bay and Frederick Henry bay; on the east by Pittwater and by the eastern boundaries of the parishes of Ulva, Staffa and Ormaig, and thence by a line to the junction of Beamont's rivulet with Little Swan port river. This county to include Betsey island and the Iron pot island.