An Academic Career in Tasmania
1909-1914
The University of Tasmania had first considered a course in biology in 1906 when its Council appointed a subcommittee chaired by Dr. E L Crowther to examine the matter. Crowther consulted Melbourne University about the expected costs and with the Council's approval approached the Premier for £300 a year to finance it. When the Government agreed to this funding Council placed an advertisement in the Melbourne Argus on 15 December 1908. Flynn’s application for the position, accompanied by five testimonials was sent to Crowther in mid-February. Crowther's Sub-Committee submitted the names of three applicants to the Council - Flynn and his classmate Ewen MacKinnon, who were both graduates of Sydney University, and A E V Richardson of Adelaide. The Council judged them to be in that order, a significant accolade for Flynn in the light of the illustrious later record of Sir Arthur Richardson in Australian science. Richardson was the same age as Flynn and was then Assistant Director of Agriculture in South Australia.
Flynn’s classmates at Sydney University all had distinguished careers. When Flynn was applying for the post in Tasmania Thomas Johnston had been appointed Plant Pathologist in a new Bureau of Microbiology in Sydney, Ernest Goddard was about to be appointed to the staff of Victoria College in South Africa and later was Professor of Biology in Queensland.
By Christmas 1908 Flynn was preparing to return to Maitland High School. He had also been offered the Scholarship of the Linnean Society, that would have allowed him to continue his interest in marsupial reproduction. However, in early 1909 he was notified of his appointment to Hobart; very soon after he telegrammed acceptance of the terms and an arrival date. Although he feared that the salary of £250 per annum was barely adequate, the appointment came at a most opportune time. Lily was more than two months pregnant when the position in Hobart was advertised; if Theo obtained the post she would be able to give birth 1000 kilometres away from Sydney, saving both families from potential embarrassment. On 23 January 1909 the couple wed at St John's Church of England, Balmain North, Sydney. Theo’s hasty marriage to this young and volatile woman with no apparent interest in his career seems the only false step in his young life. He seems to admit this in a letter to Hill less than year after the wedding. It ends - ‘I suppose you will regret to hear that I am married’.[Flynn to Hill 30 Aug 1909 Hill Collection Basser Library MS 055 Canberra.]
The young couple first stayed at the stately house in Elizabeth Street known as Westella. From here it was just a short walk along Brisbane Street to the University on the edge of Queens Domain. By April Theo was able to rent a substantial semi-detached villa called Mildura in nearby Warwick Street. His new residence was needed for in June Errol was born in Queen Alexandra Hospital. By February 1910 the Flynns were living in Duke Street Sandy Bay but soon after moved to 10 Darcy Street South Hobart. 
A poster of Westella and on the right Queen Alexandra Hospital
Mildura on the left and the Darcy St house on the right
The erratic behaviour of both mother and son were to soon cause the biologist endless concern.