The Finest Heritage Village – Ross
The Heritage Highway stretches from Hobart to Launceston with the most significant places being Kempton, Oatlands and Ross. Filled with sandstone Georgian architecture, Ross sits on the banks of the Macquarie River, 69 miles north of Hobart and 48 miles south of Launceston as inscribed into the Ross Bridge in Roman numerals. Ross was officially established in 1821 but only began real expansion in the 1830’s through land grants to free settlers decided from Hobart Town. In todays Tasmania, the village of Ross is known for three reasons: The Bridge The Female Factory The Bakery The reasons are as:…
Convicts of Van Diemen’s Land – The Convict King
Jorgen Jorgenson “The Convict King” Jorgen Jorgenson (Jorgensen) was born the son of a Danish watchmaker in 1780 and proceeded to live an adventurous life. He was an adventurer, explorer, king, spy, convict, constable and writer. Among other things. Jorgenson developed a habit of finding himself in places at significant times. I guess adventure can put you in such situations. He joined the Danish navy at age 14, and as a privateer was onboard the Lady Nelson with Matthew Flinders during his exploration of Bass Strait, the establishment of both settlements on the River Derwent and the discovery of the Tamar estuary.…
Easy to access waterfalls around Hobart
Are you looking for waterfalls that are easy to access, that are not too far or too difficult to get to and picturesque enough to make it worth your while? As a novice photographer I have always thought that waterfalls are an appealing subject. There is often a short adventure to get to the location and they are inherently beautiful and refreshing to be near. Some Tasmanian waterfalls do take a organised effort, but the pros show how wonderful a waterfall image can be. My opinion is a waterfall must be worth the effort. Increasingly, I am leaving the…
Convicts of Van Diemen’s Land – Mary
Mary McLauchlan “First Woman Executed in Hobart Town” Mary McLauchlan arrived in Hobart Town on 14 January 1829 and was sent to the Female Factory. She was onboard the first ship of women sent to the Female Factory in Hobart. Mary had been found guilty of theft in Glasgow and sentenced to 14 years transportation. The story goes she was trying to protect her husband Will Sutherland, who was the primary suspect. Mary was soon appointed to Mr Charles Nairne in the Coal River Valley as a domestic servant. She became pregnant but Mary would not name the father.…
Convicts of Van Diemen’s Land – The Hangman
Solomon Blay “The Hangman” Solomon Blay was found guilty in England in 1837 for the crime of counterfeiting coins at the age of 20. After serving time in hard labour he applied for the most hated position in the colony, the job of hangman. The Colony’s Executioner Blay served in the role for 50 years, making him the longest serving hangman in the British Empire. He operated as hangman in Oatlands, Launceston and Hobart. Find out more about the History of Oatlands. Between 1840 until 1891 Blay sent 206 prisoners to their deaths in his 50 year career as the…
Sandstone, Hangings, Coaches and Long Forgotten Plans – Oatlands
The Heritage Highway stretches from Hobart to Launceston, but the coolest and most significant places along it are Kempton, Oatlands, Ross and Campbell Town. The township of Oatlands was established in 1821. Oatlands is located on a turnoff from the Midlands Highway, some 85 kilometres north of Hobart. Governor Lachlan Macquarie named Oatlands because the area reminded him of the grain producing areas of Scotland. Grand Plans for Oatlands Similarly to Kempton, Oatlands was a key station for horse and cart, merchants and travellers between Hobart Town and Launceston. At one point in the mid 1800’s, Oatlands was considered…
Convicts of Van Diemen’s Land
The gaols in Britain were over crowded. Transportation to the new colony was the sentence of choice for the magistrates. For convicts sent to the end of the world their punishment was seen as a death sentence. The life of a convict was certainly tough in early days of penal settlement of Van Diemen’s Land. However, some crafty, mischievous and desperate buggers made their names infamous in the penal colony through their own adventures and tribulations. George “Billy” Hunt – “The Convict in Disguise” George “Billy” Hunt was found guilty of stealing a handkerchief and was sentenced to 14…
Time Travel on the Heritage Highway – Kempton
The Heritage Highway stretches from Hobart to Launceston, but the coolest and most significant places in Tasmania’s history are Kempton, Oatlands, Ross and Campbell Town. The Heritage Highway is essentially The Midlands Highway but with some scenic side stops. The Heritage Highway was originally built by convict labour. Taking the Road to Kempton I hopped in my trusty makeshift DMC DeLorean and set the dial to the 1800’s. Time travel is the ultimate adventure. Just ask Marty McFly. Zooming out of Hobart Town I pass by Pontville, Mangalore and a place called Bagdad. My first point of call is…
Seek Adventure in Tassie’s Playground
Goodness, gracious, golly-gee, that escalated quickly! How are you going? I hope you, your friends and family are healthy and safe from COVID-19 implications as best as you can be given your location. I’ve been unproductive and absent from writing and exploring Tasmania for a few reasons, namely COVID-19 and the lockdown. I’ve kept busy with a new university course (getting my science on) and a few bouts of sickness, including a couple of uncomfortable COVID-19 tests (negative results) in which my nostrils got assaulted resulting in three weeks of nose bleeds. Fun it was not. Lawsuit is pending.…
Escape to Bruny
Bruny Island is a small island off the south east coast of the big Tassie island. Bruny has a bit of “Californication” about it. I’ll call it “Brunyfication”, that’ll do. It has its own state of mind. The troubles of the real world fade into obscurity while I am are there. Time to get my Bruny on. Seatbelt is on! Leggo! Getting Started Catching the 8.30 ferry meant waking up waaaay too early on a Saturday morning, but it’s a dirty job and someone’s gotta do it. My mate Charlie and I make the early morning drive down to the…