[4] In 1835 Dry voyaged to Mauritius and the British ports in India, on his return to Tasmania he managed his father's 30,000-acre Quamby Estate near Hagley which he inherited on this death in 1843.

[3] Encounters with the native Palawa people and reports of Europeans shooting them feature in the area's history and mythology.

He resigned his seat with five others, who together became known as the "patriotic six", after a conflict with Governor Wilmot over the Wilmont's refusal acknowledge the cost to the colony of the convict system which caused free labour to leave and his use of casting vote in the Council to block inquiries and secure his budget.

When the Council met in 1851, Dry was unanimously appointed its Speaker and remained so for four years before resigning his seat in July 1855.

His government succeeded in making some economies, introduced the Torrens real property act, and pushed the sale of crown lands.

At Hobart all business was suspended on the morning of his funeral, and during the four days' journey to the church the residents of every township on the route joined in the procession.

His modest kindliness (it was said of him that he never condescended because he never thought of anyone being inferior to himself), his public and private charities, his honourable character, earned the respect and affection of the whole colony.