Bruce Poulson was born in Hobart on 9 February 1938. After receiving a USA Fulbright Scholarship he taught history and literature at Hobart High and Hobart Matriculation College before becoming the principal of Elizabeth College. He was also a co-founder of both the Tasmanian and Australian history teachers' associations and subject advisor to the Schools Board. After he retired he relocated to Hastings Bay where he established a farm. ;;Bruce was also an avid historian who specialised in researching the early history of Tasmania's Far South, areas that included Recherche Bay, Southport, Hastings, Dover, Ida Bay and Lune River. He published several books on the subject.;;When Recherche Bay was threatened with logging in the early 2000s Bruce was instrumental in the anti-logging campaign.;;He died on 4 May 2007.