🏠 Top 5 Historic Towns in Tasmania ~ Discover Tasmania

🏠 Top 5 Historic Towns in Tasmania ~ Discover Tasmania

Tasmania has the most extensive collection of convict-built buildings and infrastructure of all the Australian states.

During the transportation years from 1818 to 1853, convict labour was used to build bridges, roads, churches and other buildings, and many of these are still being used today.

00:00 Introduction
00:35 Richmond
04:22 Oatlands
07:15 Ross
09:30 Longford
12:08 Evandale

Top 5 Historic Towns in Tasmania

Richmond
Richmond is a charming historic town nestled in the Coal River Valley 25 kilometres from Hobart. It has a rich convict history and incredible Georgian architecture, with many restored heritage buildings dating back to the early 1820s.

Richmond Bridge is the oldest bridge in Australia and is still in use. It was built by convicts in the 1820s. Walk along the river, feed the ducks, and admire this amazing bridge.

The Richmond Gaol is the oldest gaol in Australia. It was built in 1825 and used until 1928; it is now open daily for self-guided tours.

St. Johns Church was built in 1836 and is Australia's oldest Catholic Church, still being used.

Wander along the Heritage Walk, and you will learn more about Richmond Village's most important historic sites.

Oatlands
Oatlands is a lovely, historic town located along the midland Highway 83 kilometres north of Hobart. It is one of Tasmania’s oldest settlements, with incredible Georgian architecture and more than 150 sandstone buildings built by convicts in the early 1800s.

They now line the high street of Oatlands and are used as cafes, boutique accommodations, and antique and craft stores.

In the middle of town, you will see a wonderful windmill. This is Callington Mill, a Lincolnshire Tower Mill built in 1837. You can wander the grounds and read the history of the windmill, granary, stables, and cottage.

You will see many historic buildings around town, including the Court House, the oldest building in Oatlands, dating back to 1829.

Ross
Ross is a picturesque, historic village on the banks of the Macquarie River, 117 kilometres north of Hobart. This wonderfully preserved village was built by convict labour in the early 1800s and is probably the best 19th-century village in Australia.

The Ross Bridge is a unique arched sandstone bridge built by convict labour and completed in 1836; it is the third oldest bridge in Australia. The bridge's arches are 186 detailed stone carvings created by convict stonemasons.

The town centre has an intersection with a war memorial and a field gun from the Boer War. The intersection is known as

The Four Corners of Ross, with each corner having a name.
Temptation is the Man O’ Ross Hotel, Recreation is the Town Hall, Salvation is the Catholic Church, and Damnation is a former jail; it is now a private residence.

The Ross Heritage Walk starts at the bridge. It takes you past the Uniting Church on the hill and onto the Ross Female Factory, where you can learn about the experiences of the convict women in the early days of Tasmanian settlement.

Longford
Longford is a classified historic town, and the streets are lined with charming hotels, Bed and Breakfasts, beautiful homes and impressive colonial buildings. Several parks and the lovely Longford Christ Church and cemetery are in the centre of town.

Start from the village green and wander along The Path Of History Walking Tour, which has 34 places of historical interest.

On the outskirts of town, you can explore Woolmers Estate and the Brickendon World Heritage Sites. These grand estates were built by convict labour and are open daily for self-guided tours.


Woolmers Estate overlooks the Macquarie River and is acknowledged as one of Australia's most outstanding examples of 19th-century rural settlements.

You can wander through Woolmers National Rose Garden, which has over 5,000 varieties of roses. It is one of the finest collections of historic roses in the Southern Hemisphere.

You can then explore many buildings, including family houses, workers' cottages, a former chapel, a blacksmith shop, stables, a bakehouse, a pump house, a gardener's cottage, and more.

Evandale
Evandale is a lovely historic village 20 kilometres south of Launceston. It is a National Trust, classified Georgian village, with cafes, AirBnB’s, and antique and craft shops in the wonderfully restored heritage buildings. These buildings date back to the early 1820s and were initially built by convicts.

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