Avoca
Formally known as Camp Hill and St Paul's Plains, Avoca is a principal town in the Fingal Valley on the Esk Highway, 27kms from the Midlands Highway. Avoca is located at the junction of the St Paul's and South Esk Rivers, and serves the communities of Royal George and Rossarden.
John Wedge, surveyor and explorer, named the town in 1833, having been inspired by the Thomas More poem 'The Sweet Vale of Avoca'. Avoca's namesake is in County Wicklow in Ireland.
There are a number historic colonial buildings including the Parish Hall, the Union Hotel, and St Thomas's Church.
Ben Lomond
Ben Lomond National Park is Tasmania's largest single alpine area, making it a spectacular place to walk, watch wildlife and view wild flowers. It is also Tasmania's premier downhill ski field. The Ben Lomond National Park is 60 kms south-east of Launceston and covers and area of 16,527 hectares. It is 1,300 metres above sea level, and is set on a large plateau, from which there are magnificent views of mountains, the Esk River Valley, and Northern Midlands.
Historically, Ben Lomond (Tasmania's second highest peak 1572m) was sighted by Matthew Flinders, and was named by Colonel William Paterson, who, in 1804, founded the first settlement in Northern Tasmania. Among the foothills, close under Ben Lomond, lies Kingston, the Tasmanian home of John Batman, built on land given to him as a reward for the capture of bushranger, Matthew Brady. Nearby is Patterdale, the home of colonial artist John Glover.
Bishopsbourne
Bishopsbourne is a picturesque and productive farming area 16kms west of Longford. The village was built on land belonging to Tasmania's first Anglican bishop, Bishop Nixon, who arrived in the colony in 1833. The charming Anglican Church in Bishopsbourne was built in 1844, and was opened for divine service on 25 April 1845 by Bishop Nixon. The Church today still has its first church bell.
Tasmania's original Christ College (also known as Bishopsbourne College) was opened in Bishopsbourne in 1846 with the hope that it would develop along the lines of an Oxbridge-style college, and provide the basis for university education in Tasmania. It was also intended to prepare men for the priesthood. The College's first ten years were at Bishopsbourne, and there is still a sign pointing to "The College". However, it never really developed as its founder's hoped, and a depression in the colony, the remote site, and financial problems led to its closure in 1856. The College re-opened in Hobart in 1879, and officially became part of the University of Tasmania in 1991.
Blackwood Creek
Blackwood Creek is a small settlement in a farming district in the hills which fringe the Great Western Tiers, 20kms west of Cressy. The area is named after the tree used for the production of high quality furniture.
Shepherds used Blackwood Creek as a resting place during their annual summer grazing program on the Central Plateau.
Breadalbane
Situated on the Midlands Highway, 13 kms from Launceston, Breadalbane was named by Governor Macquarie after the Earl of Breadalbane, his wife's cousin. Earlier the district was known as 'Cocked Hat', 'The Springs' and 'Brumby's Plain'. The Breadalbane area was notorious in the early 19th century for sheep stealing. In the colonial days there were three inns at Breadalbane, The Albion, The Temperance Hotel, and The Woolpack Inn (today, only the Woolpack Inn still stands). Increased traffic on the roads into Launceston in the 1860's saw the introduction of a toll gate at Breadalbane. Road tolls were unpopular, and were eventually abolished in 1880.
Today, there is an important roundabout at Breadlabane at the entrance to the city of Launceston, and Launceston Airport.
Campbell Town
Campbell Town is a major pastoral and tourist centre in the Northern Midlands, originally established in the 1820's by Governor Macquarie as one of the four garrison towns between Hobart and Launceston. Campbell Town, and the Elizabeth River, which runs through it (previously known as Relief Creek), were named by Macquarie after his wife, Elizabeth Campbell.
The town, which is situated in an important wool growing district surrounding the Midlands Highway, is 134 kms from Hobart, and 68 kms from Launceston.
Campbell Town, proclaimed a town in 1866, boasts an impressive collection of colonial architecture including the Foxhunters Return (1834), the convict-built Red Bridge over the Elizabeth River (1838), St Luke's Church (1839), The Grange (Dr William Valentine's home, built in the late 1840s), and St Michaels (1857). The Campbell Town Golf Club, adjacent to the Midlands Highway, was originally a race course.
Harold Gatty, a navigator who, in 1931, flew with American pilot Wiley Post around the world in eight days, was born in Campbell Town in 1903. A memorial park in the town celebrates his achievements in aviation.
The annual Campbell Town Agricultural Show is the oldest of its kind in Australia, having run continously since 1838.
Cleveland
Cleveland is a small community situated on the Midlands Highway, 51 kms from Launceston. It was originally proposed that Cleveland become the main centre for the Midlands, but limited water resources put pay to that idea. Instead, Cleveland became a popular coaching stop, and a depot for ticket-of-leave convicts. In colonial times, Clevelend boasted three coaching inns, namely St Andrews Inn, the Bald Faced Stag, and the Squeaker - the latter no longer standing today.
Some say Cleveland was named after a breed of horses imported and bred in the district. Others sources claim that Governor Macquarie name Cleveland after Wm. Harry Vane, Ist Duke of Cleveland (1766-1842), who was a well known English MP, foxhunter and patron of the turf. Horse races were held at Cleveland on a course behind the Bald Faced Stag, and early motor bike races were also held there.
Conara
Conara, situated just off the Midlands Highway, was originally known as The Corners. In Conara was a railway station for passengers changing trains from the Main Line (Hobart -Launceston) to the East Coast, via the Fingal Line. Conara is the aboriginal word for coal, or coal dust.
Whilst driving along the Midlands Highway, The Disappearing House at Conara is one moment in sight, then, the next moment, disappears behind a hill. This historic building was originally called the Epping Banks Inn, later was known as the Corners Inn, and Smithvale.
Conara was by-passed by the Midlands Highway in 1969.
Cressy
Cressy is a rural township on the Norfolk Plains, below the Great Western Tiers, 36 kms from Launceston, and 21 kms off the Midlands Highway. The name is taken from the Cressy Company, which was formed in England to run large agricultural farms and grazing enterprises (along the same lines as the Van Diemen Land Co). It had its beginnings in 1855 as a centre for the richest wheat growing district in Tasmania.
Cressy is also renowned for trout fishing in the nearby Brumby's Creek, and the Macqaurie and Liffey Rivers.
Deddington
Deddington, formally known as Mills Plains, is a small rural community on the Deddington Road, 18kms south of Evandale, and 37 kms south of Launceston. Well known English-born Tasmanian artist John Glover (1767-1849), named the area after the village where he lived, before moving to Tasmania in 1830. He named his property Patterdale.
The picturesque Chapel at Deddington (1842) was probably designed by Glover, who is is also buried in its grounds. Nearby is Kingston cottage, where John Batman, the founder of Melbourne lived.
Epping Forest
Epping Forest, just north of Campbell Town, was the site of a daring stage coach robbery by the notorious bushranger, Martin Cash. It is said that he robbed all the passengers of their belongings, except for Mrs Cox, the owner of the coach, because she was a widow.
Epping Forest, named by Governor Macquarie in 1811, is situated on the Midlands Highway 45 kms from Launceston. It has magnificent views of Ben Lomond and the Eastern Tiers.
Evandale
Evandale is located 19 kms from Launceston, and 8 kms from the Midlands Highway.
Originally established as a military post following Governor Macquarie's first trans-Tasmanian journey in 1811, was then settled around 1816. Earlier names for the district include Collins Hill, Patersons Plains, Gordon Plains, and Morven.
Ned Kelly's convict father 'Red' once lived and worked in the township of Morven. The town's name was changed from Morven to Evansdale (later to Evandale) in 1836 in honour of Tasmania's first Surveyor-General, G.W.Evans. It was declared a municipality in 1865.
Evandale is the birthplace of Tasmanian war hero Lt Col. Harry Murray VC, CMG, DSO and Bar. He was the most highly decorated soldier, in all the allied armies, in World War 1.
National Trust classified, Evandale today is a gracefully preserved Georgian village, popular with tourists because of its rich heritage of buildings including St Andrews Church, the Prince of Wales Hotel, and the Clarendon Arms.
The Evandale Village Fair, the Pennyfarthing Championships, and the Railex Model Railway Exhibition are well established events, staged annually in the village.
Launceston Airport is situated between Evandale and Launceston, four kilometres from the historic village.
Longford
Longford is located at the convergence of the Macquarie and the South Esk Rivers, 27 kms from Launceston, and 12kms off the Midlands Highway. The rich pastoral land, originally discovered by Lt Laycock in 1807 during his epic overland journey from Launceston to Hobart, was first settled in 1808. The area was known originally as Norfolk Plains (after settlers relocated from Norfolk Island), and later called Latour (after a leading member of the Cressy Company). The town was officially named Longford by Governor George Arthur in 1833.
Longford features many well preserved colonial buildings. Christ Church (one of the oldest churches in the state) has beautiful windows and clock. There are many convict-built houses and cottages in the town. On the outskirts of Longford, are two early free-settler estates, Woolmers (1816) and Brickendon (1824), both open to the public.
The bluestone Catholic Church on the Illawarra Road leading into Longford is the final burial place for Australian impressionist artist Tom Roberts, who married twice, both to Tasmanian ladies from the district.
The Longford Racecourse is the oldest continously operating racecourse in Australia.
Nile
Nile, originally named Lymington, is located 15 kms off the Midlands Highway, 11 km south of Evandale on the Nile River, on rich pastoral land below Ben Lomond.
The village was so named after a local property called Nile Farm.
The Nile River was formally known as Cox's Creek after James Cox of Clarendon (1790-1866). Clarendon, is operated by the National Trust, and is considered one of Australia's finest examples of a Georgian manor. The church at Nile has a headstone erected in memory of a veteran of the Battle of Waterloo.
Perth
Perth, 19 kms south of Launceston, is a National Trust classified town situated by the South Esk River. The location was selected by Governor Macquarie in 1821, and proclaimed a township in 1836.
There are a number of buildings of achitectural interest including Eskleigh, the Baptist Tabernacle, and St Andrews Church. The original Perth Bridge (1836) was built by convict labour. It was subsequently destroyed by floods in 1880, and again in 1929 and 1971. It has been rebuilt on each occasion. The South Esk River is a popular fishing and recreational spot.
Poatina
Located on the fringe of the Great Western Tiers, 20 kms south of Cressy, and 55 kms from Launceston, Poatina was originally built to accommodate workers on the Hydro Electric Scheme in the 1950's. Set on a plateau, Poatina overlooks the Midland plains, and onwards to Ben Lomond and the Eastern Tiers.
Today Poatina is a resort town, and a main gateway to the Central Highlands. It boasts a nine-hole golf course and many other recreational activities. The entire village was bought in the mid-1990's by the Christian group, Fusion Australia, and its residents are dedicated to helping disadvantaged young people.
Poatina is the aboriginal word for 'cavern'.
Ross
Originally established as a garrison in 1821, it was laid out as a town, but was not proclaimed as such until 1847.
Ross was visited and named by Governor Lachlan Macquarie in 1821, at a time when the area was known as Argyle Plains. The Macquarie River flows by the township.
Ross is one of Tasmania's finest heritage villages, registered on the National Estate. It has a fine collection of well-preserved Georgian buildings and architecture, with most buildings of historic value. The Ross Bridge (completed 1836) is a fascinating sandstone bridge, ordered by Governor Arthur, designed by John Lee Archer, and embellished with unique carvings by convict, Daniel Herbert. The Ross Bridge is the 3rd oldest in Australia. Once pardoned, Herbert married and lived in Ross, and is buried there.
The remains of the old female factory, a prison for women between 1847 and 1854, are open to the public. The female factory housed 12,000 female convicts during this period.
Ross situated 120kms from Hobart, and 80 kms from Launceston, is a popular stopping point for tourists.
Rossarden
Situated in the foothills of Ben Lomond, 13 kms north of Avoca, Rossarden was established in 1930 to serve the Aberfoyle Tin Mine, which closed in 1982. It is known today for the wild lupins growing in the area, and a spectacular nine hole golf course overshadowed by the mighty Ben Lomond.
Royal George
Depending on the source, Royal George is named after a tin mine, or a 19th century ship. It is a former mining settlement located 15 kms south east of Avoca, which enjoyed the mining boom of the late 19th century and early 20th century.
Western Junction
Western Junction was originally developed as a railway settlement, 3km north of Evandale. It first operated as a railway station, as Evandale Junction. It is situated where the railway junction for the North West Line branches off the main railway line.
Now it is the site of Launceston Airport, which started development in 1931. The light industrial area which embraces Western Junction is today known as the Launceston Airport Translink Centre. It is surrounded by rich and historic farm land.
