Colonial History

Much of Tasmania’s architectural heritage survives today in the cities and towns around the island, with fine examples of buildings from Georgian, Victorian and Federation periods. Many colonial dwellings and public buildings have been restored as tourist accommodation, restaurants or attractions. The city of Hobart has some of the finest sandstone buildings remaining in Australia, including the stately Town Hall on Macquarie Street, and the historic waterfront warehouses that line Salamanca Place.

Echoes of the colonial period can be seen across the island:

Hobart – historic Sullivan’s Cove warehouses, rowdy taverns and maritime workshops have been recycled as restaurants, artists studios and galleries. The sandstone Parliament House was convict-built and nearby at Battery Point, street after street of original workers’ cottages can be seen. Hobart also has Australia’s oldest operating theatre, the Theatre Royal, and many colourful historic pubs.

Launceston - Australia’s oldest provincial centre, the city was established in 1806. It contains some of the country’s best examples of Edwardian, Victorian and Federation architecture.

Heritage Highway - links the northern city of Launceston to Hobart in the south, travelling through historic villages like Evandale (home of the annual National Penny Farthing Championships); Ross, which has Australia’s third oldest bridge, built in 1836 by convict stonemasons who carved 186 figures into the arches; and Oatlands, with its Pugin-designed St Paul’s Church.

Bothwell – this central highlands village, with a population of about 300, has more than 50 buildings of heritage value, the oldest golf course in the southern hemisphere, and the Australasian Museum of Golf.

Grand Homes – wealthy graziers built some of Tasmania’s finest homes, including Brickendon at Longford, farmed continuously by seven generations; Calstock at Deloraine, a magnificent country house built in grand style in the 1850s and set on an estate of 200 acres (81 ha), now a guest house; Arcoona, also at Deloraine, a beautifully restored National Trust classified home, originally the local doctor’s residence, from the late Victorian era; and Woolmers, a gracious Longford property in the one family for six generations. One of the great Georgian houses of Australia, Clarendon Homestead near Evandale, was built for a wealthy woolgrower and has extensive formal gardens and parklands.

Photo: Clarendon House