The history of the Heritage Highway region is intrinsically linked to the extraordinary road builidng that occurred in Van Diemen's Land in the first half of the 19th century.
An overland route through the Midlands was pioneered by the Surveyor General, Charles Grimes as early as 1807; remarkably it is the route we continue to travel today. By 1819, there was a rough and winding track of about 160 miles between Hobart Town and Port Dalrymple in the north, well worn by cattle, sheep and carts. It was the task of a Major Thomas Bell of the 48th Regiment to construct a road from the Derwent River to St. Peter's Pass near Oatlands. Known as Bell's Line of Road, it would ultimately become part of the finest highways in the Australian colonies. Some of Bell's original road can still be seen from the Heritage Highway passing through the Southern Midlands. Look out for dirt farm tracks winding around and across hilly, rural properties.
As you journey through the historic heart of Tasmania, spare a thought for the convict road gangs, many of whom laboured under appalling conditions to open up the interior of a fledgling colony whose very existence remained in the balance.
As the colony struggled to survive, life was harsh and precarious. Much of the daily drama was played out in and around what we now know as the Heritage Highway. As convicts carved a road through a wild and difficult terrain, free settlers fought to establish crops and stock, constantly under threat from escaped felons, violent bushrangers and the increasingly displaced Aboriginal tribes. Small villages began to appear, to service the needs of road gangs and overseers; beautifully crafted bridges, public buildings, churches and coaching inns followed. Most of Tasmania's finest private estates were built in this area from convict labour.
More than 150 years on, their work is clearly evident, nestled in our colonial villages and towns and across a magical and historic landscape. It is testament to the skills of our early stonemasons, surveyors, engineers and architects - and those whose back-breaking labour turned their plans into reality. In a previous life, many had existed on the criminal fringes of distant, industrial cities. For some, their new life brought fame and acknowledgement; others perished, their names perhaps remembered on worn and humble gravestones.
Situated on the South Esk river, Avoca has a number of buildings of historic significance. The Old Parish Hall, St. Thomas's Church, Marlborough House and The Parsonage are well worth a look ...Read More
The lower Bagdad valley formed some of the first arable farmland in the new colony of Van Diemen's Land. Chauncy Vale Wildlife Sanctuary is one of Tasmania's oldest conservation areas. It was the ...Read More
There are several entry points into the Heritage Highway region, however the drive along Hobart Road provides the greatest interest. This area is home to the historic Franklin House as well as ...Read More
Some Tasmanian places seem to have the strangest names! Brighton, a pleasant seaside resort town on the southern coast of England can surely have little similarity with Brighton, a military ...Read More
The farmlands of the Campania district are rich and diverse and the occupants have largely been farming these lands for generations. The Bicentennial Mill Park with its historic steam flour mill is ...Read More
Campbell Town has become a bustling service centre for the surrounding rural area, best known for its world-class, superfine wool. However, its earlier origins are still very evident. The town ...Read More
Epping Forest was a favorite haunt of bushrangers and the site of a daring coach robbery by the notorious bushranger, Martin Cash. It is said that Cash robbed all the passengers of their ...Read More
The turn off to the Coal River Valley is south of Jericho and provides an alternative route to the village of Richmond. The Valley's rolling, pastoral landscapes produce some of the best ...Read More
Cressy is a small town situated in the heart of the Northern Midlands rural district. It was originally developed to service surrounding wheat farms in the 1850s. Today, the Cressy area is a ...Read More
This historic village is situated on the South Esk River, a few kilometres beyond Launceston airport. Evandale has retained its charm and ambience from the early days of the colony. One ...Read More
Travelling south, Jericho is a detour off the Heritage Highway just beyond Oatlands. Here you will find rare remains of a probation station which housed over 200 convicts. The paddocks ...Read More
Just off the highway, this is a well-preserved and quaint colonial village with some beautiful examples of early domestic architecture. Wander amongst the gravestones in the grounds of St. Mary's ...Read More
Much admired for its typically English landscape, Longford has an interesting connection with Norfolk Island. In 1807, a large number of English free settlers arrived from Norfolk Island. At ...Read More
The preserved heritage in Oatlands makes the town a unique national treasure. Oatlands has the largest number of colonial buildings in a village setting in Australia. Much of the stone was ...Read More
Perth was originally named, 'The Punt' as it was here that travellers journeying between Hobart and Launceston were ferried across the South Esk river by one of these flat-bottomed boats. ...Read More
Just below the Great Western Tiers, Poatina Resort Village is surrounded by some of the most rugged and beautiful landscapes in Tasmania. Originally, Hydro workers lived here while ...Read More
Today, Pontville is a tiny village which belies the thriving settlement that existed there in the mid-1840s. At that time, Pontville was an important stopping point for travellers on route ...Read More
This old mining town has spectacular views of Ben Lomond. Rossarden's former golf course is known for its scenic surroundings; recently it was re-designed by golfing great, Bob Shearer and re-opened ...Read More
Acclaimed as Tasmania's finest heritage village, the tree-lined streetscape of Ross reflects its days as a garrison town, dating back to 1812. It's most significant feature is the ...Read More
An historic bush border town, Tunbridge is spanned by Blackman's River Bridge which was built by convicts and is the oldest timber, single span bridge in Australia. The bridge was used as a ...Read More
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