Our first stop was the bridge, just next to where we are camped. It was completed in 1836, built with convict labour, and features some wonderful carving.
The iron staples joining the stonework together all have the convict arrow marked on them.
It really is a picturesque spot.
We came upon these stone buildings nestled into the hill. I'm guessing that this may be where the stone was quarried for the bridge, and the sheer wall taken advantage of. I may be wrong.
Inside the stable there is a food trough carved into the stone. Too clever.
At the top of the hill we reached the Uniting Church.
The interior is lovely, complete with the original kerosene lamps, each with a shiny reflector.
The font is also beautiful.
Once ouside again, we visited the Tasmanian Wool Centre and museum, which was very interesting. I'd have loved to purchase sone of the fine merino garments for sale.
I wonder how Chris the sheep would have fared compared with these samples?
We visited a few antique shops and I was taken aback at this little object. It is a 1920s inlayed cigarette box. It has a fine roller top, from which when opened, a little man lifts up your cigarette. The price was $265.00. I have the identical item, in perfect condition, that I bought at the White Elephant Stall at my favourite church fete that I always refer to, when I was about 10. I think I paid 20c for it. No, I have never smoked. It just intrigued me. I think I had better look after it. I've never seen another one.
After our wander and a famous scallop pie from the bakery (yummo), we backtracked to Oatlands to visit Callington Mill to complete some unfinished business.
When we visited ten years ago we stumbled upon this mill. It was in the early stages of being restored. It was built in 1837 as a flour mill, but all he interior burnt out in the early 1900s, to remain a shell for the next century.
With governments grants it has now had a whole new mill installed, all coming from the UK. They now mill wheat, spelt and buckwheat and make rolled oats. We took the guided tour, which was really interesting, but no cameras were allowed.
While we were in the mill they started up the sails. They let off a brake, and if you look closely, the sails have little canvas shutters along them, which are used to regulate how fast they turn.
From Oatlands ve came back north, this time detouring into Tunbridge. There are some really cute, tidy homes there. This one is for sale.
We kept heading north of Ross to the Campbelltown. It also has a famous bridge, this one is know as The Red Bridge, funnily enough. It was completed on 1838.
There were some interesting carved tree stumps beside the river.
I thought this garden at the book store was rather lovely, with the path lined with thrift.
The streets of Campbelltown are lined with bricks, each one showing the name and age of a convict, the name of the ship they were transported on, their crime, and in some cases what became of them.
I've just sampled a few. Interesting to see that Adam Taylor ended up near Bathurst.
Both sides of the street were line for several blocks. What an amazing story they tell.
Back at Ross I visited the site of the Female Factory. Unlike the one at Hobart, this one is basically a field of uneven ground with some interpretive boards.
The Superintendant's cottage houses lots of interesting stories. It appears the diet was better her than Hobart, as they had a kitchen garden and access to fresh meat, and in the seven years it was open, only 62 babies died (as shocking as that is), compared with the huge number in Hobart.
And to finish the day we had a delicious meal at the lovely old pub.
Tomorrow, we make our way to Launceston for the start of the Ulysses Rally.
No comments:
Post a Comment