The Heritage Highway

Today travellers can enjoy the regions colourful, colonial history, experience tree-lined villages with beautifully preserved sandstone buildings, convict-built bridges and churches, and landscapes that have inspired some of Australia’s most famous artists. You can stay in coaching inns that were once a welcome sign for both weary horses and travellers.

Quick Tips:

While many centres have appeal, the highlight for me was the village of Ross. Allow several hours to wander the streets, shops and attractions. Perhaps even consider staying overnight here or in one of the many small inns or B&Bs that dot the area.

Best Way To Get Around:

The dominant feature of Ross is the famous Ross Bridge, built by convict artist/stonemason Daniel Herbert, who carved the superb artwork on the bridge. Equally important are the tree fine churches on a hill overlooking the town. The churches and bridge are floodlit at night for the pleasure of those staying in the village.

In the centre of town, the Four Corners have become well known for each having a special character, representing Temptation (Man-O-Ross Hotel), Recreation (Town Hall), Salvation (Church) and Damnation (the jail) now a residence. The view from here down the main street is just wonderful. There are antiques, crafts, art and woollen products on sale and a choice of tearooms, bakeries, and takeaway outlets.

We chose the Ross Bakery Inn for lunch and were delighted with the decision, even though we had to wait 15 minutes for a table. The weather was cool so we ate inside and started with a bowl of hot soup to warm us up. It was delicious. My wife then chose a quiche and I had a freshly baked bread roll with a range of fillings. The cakes and pastries were very tempting but we decided on two cups of hot tea and to share a coffee scroll. Inside it was nice and cosy, perhaps because of the wood-fired oven that is still in use. The smell and taste was just like your grandmother’s kitchen.

Next door to the bakery is the Ross Bakery Inn, a B&B run by the same owners. There are three bedrooms with bathrooms and a guest lounge with a log fire. Guests get to sample goodies from the bakery as part of their stay. Next time we will stop.

The Tasmanian Wool Centre in Ross celebrates the importance of the wool industry to Tasmania and highlights the importance of Ross as one of Tasmania’s earliest rural settlements. The Centre has become one of rural Tasmania’s premier tourist attractions.

Ross is situated in the heart of Tasmania’s best wool growing area. It has on many occasions held the world record price for a bale of extra superfine Merino wool. Displays in the Wool Centre’s Heritage Museum and Wool Exhibition include samples of superfine wool cloth and garments from Fujji Keori Ltd of Japan, together with many interesting features of a by-gone era. You can enjoy the museum on a self-guided, or guided tour.

We wandered around ourselves acquainting ourselves with the wonders of Tasmanian wool. There were some excellent audio-visual presentations and the chance to experience the historic displays on the convict period. In fact the whole display was above expectations and quite fascinating.

The Centre is part of the Tasmanian Visitors Information Network so there is a wide range of information, and accommodation and tours can be booked here. There is an excellent shop for those wanting a souvenir. There is no admission charge to the Centre and the museum requires only a small donation. Don’t miss it if you are in Ross.

Brickendon, owned and farmed by the same family for over 170 years offers a rare opportunity to experience and enjoy early colonial Tasmania. You can visit the historic Farming Village, stay in the quaint cottages and wander the glorious gardens of the main house. As a bonus, the property is just a few minutes from the historic township of Longford with its arts and craft shops, antiques and traditional country stores.

We wandered through the 1820s buildings of the village. Each building constructed of pit sawn timber or convict-made bricks reveals a story of the Archer family, their workers and the local farming community. The buildings that make up the village were all purpose built and are still used today for a similar purpose. There are Dutch barns, a granary, poultry shed, smokehouse, chapel, cookhouse, blacksmiths shop shearing shed and so forth. It was excellent.

There are activities and games but we had no time to participate. The kids would love the giant hay maze and the barrel horses. There are animals to pat and cuddle and fishing rods are available for those who wish to try their luck in the nearby Macquarie River or the farm dam.

We inspected the accommodation (but didn’t stay because we had made other arrangements). The accommodation was originally built as workers cottages in the 1820s. Each cottage has its own special features such as open log fires, antique furniture, deep old-fashioned bathtubs and scented cottage gardens. There are also rustic farm cottages built from recycled farm materials. All are fully self-contained.

We then made a quick visit to the extensive parkland gardens that surround the elegant Georgian Main House. There are over 180 varieties of old roses, many interesting perennials and a magnificent collection of trees from around the world, planted during the 1830s. There are also over 30 kilometres of Hawthorn hedgerows giving the whole area the look of picturesque English style countryside.

Village entry is A$8.50/3.50 adult/child and A$25 per family. Accommodation is from A$144 for two adults B&B.

It was not until the 1820s, however, that Oatlands was settled. By 1830 there was a local brewery and Oatlands was planned to be the ‘capital of the Midlands’. Much of Oatlands development took place in the 1830s and today many residents still live in these historic buildings. Stone for building and clay for brick-making was discovered nearby. Today, Oatlands has the largest collection of colonial, sandstone buildings in a village environment in Australia.

In 1877, Oatlands boasted seven hotels, three breweries and an aerated water factory. Today, there is one hotel providing accommodation, a youth hostel and various forms of colonial accommodation. There are counter meals, tearooms, fast food takeaways and snack bars for the travellers and the central Tasmanian Tourism Centre is open seven days a week. Just walking along the main street, with its collection of 87 sandstone buildings, is a delight. Check out the local antique shops for a possible bargain.

The highlight of a Oatlands visit is the Callington Mill, the third oldest windmill in Australia and one of only four to have survived a bygone industrial era. This was a steam and wind flour mill built in 1836. A climb to the top is worthwhile and for doll lovers a visit to the adjacent residence is a ‘must’. There are over 2,000 dolls from all over the world on display.

Also visit St Paul’s catholic church. The famous English architect, Augustus Pugin, who was responsible for the British Houses of Parliament, designed this building. This church, two others, the Council Chambers, Court House and Callington Mill are all floodlit at night.

The town has considerable historic interest. There are more than 100 homes from the 19th century and many other interesting buildings. The highlight for me was the Red Bridge, a convict-built structure from 1837. It is said to be constructed from over one and a half million bricks and took 15 months to build. Other buildings of importance include St Luke’s church (1839), Powell’s hotel (1834), Campbell Town Inn (1840), The Grange (1840) – now owned by the National Trust, and the old brewery (now the Masonic Temple).

Campbell Town is home to the Heritage Highway Museum (Tel: 6381 1353) at 103 High Street. Here you can see the history of the Midlands presented in a working courthouse. This building also houses the information centre. There is also an interesting art gallery at 120 High Street where works by noted Tasmanian artist Sonja Bieniek are on display.

Before leaving town, you will notice in a small park on the left as you head north, an odd little memorial to Harold Gatty, a local, who with American Wiley Post first circumnavigated the world by plane in 1931.

Accommodation is available at the Cambelltown Motel and at three up-market B&B properties – Foxhunters Return, The Gables and The Grange.