RICHMOND

 

1/ Richmond is in south east Tasmania. It is just north east of HOBART. It is the best preserved, historic town in Tasmania. The area was settled from 1805 and it has whole streetscapes that date back to the mid 19th Century. This is Richmond Bridge. It is the oldest bridge in Australia.

2/ Richmond Bridge was built in 1823. It spans the Coal River, which was named after the coal that was discovery near it. It has a stately, historic ambience about it.

3/ This image shows the well constructed arches spanning the Coal River. It was built by convicts to link Hobart Town with Port Arthur.

4/ This is the historic Mill House Cottage. It is adjacent to the Bridge. The lush vegetation around it, give it a strong ambience of history. It is now used for accommodation.

5/ This is another view of the Mill House Cottage showing its clean, Georgian style architecture.

6/ This is the St John's Catholic Church. It was built in 1836 and is the oldest Catholic church in Australia. It stands proudly on a hill just north of the Richmond Bridge.

7/ This is another view of St John's. It is a great example of the Gothic Revival style of the late 19th Century. The Celtic cross on the roof proudly proclaims it to be Irish and Catholic.

8/ This image shows the full view of the St John's Church.

10/ This is the interior of the St John's Church. It shows the classic decore of 19th Century Catholic churches.

11/ Behind St John's Church is a large cemetery.

12/ This is the restored Bridge Cottage. It now provides accommodation.

13/ This is the historic, Richmond Arms Hotel. It has a well preserved dining room, which now offers first class cuisine.

14/ This is the Congregational Church. It was built in 1873 and replaced an earlier chapel built in 1845. Unfortunately, a large tree spoils the view of this church from Bridge Street.

15/ This is Saddlers Court. It is a Georgian shop that is now an art gallery.

16/ This is another view of the Saddler's Court shop. The porch is no longer horizontal.

17/ This view looks down Bridge Street, which is the main street of Richmond. The white building is Lafayette and beyond it is Ashmore.

18/ This is Lafayette. It is a large, Georgian style shop that is now an antique shop.

19/ This is Czeg's Cafe. It has been converted from a Georgian home into a cafe. There are now (2018) thirteen dining venues in Richmond.

20/ This is another view down Bridge Street. It shows the stylish, Anthuna BB.

21/ This is another view of the Anthuna Cottage. It gives you a good idea as to what Georgian style cottages looked like in the 19th Century.

22/ This is Ashmore House on Bridge Street. It now offers fine dining. It is a good example of a substantial, Georgian shop and home.

23/ This is another view of Ashmore House.

24/ This is the Richmond Village Store. It looks like it has been a continuous grocery store since the 19th Century. Richmond boasted having 22 shops in 2018.

25/ This view looks towards the end of Bridge Street. It shows the Vintage on Bridge, which is an antique shop.

26/ This Georgian cottage has been converted into the Peppercorn Gallery. It now offers fine arts and crafts.

27/ This is another cottage that has been converted into a craft shop. It shows how attractive these cottages can be, when they are properly restored.

28/ This is the Emerald Cottage. It is a good example of a more substantial cottage and still retains its ancient stable at the back.

29/ Not all the historic houses of Richmond have been restored. These two cottages on Bridge Street are awaiting restoration efforts by new owners.

30/ This is the St Luke's Anglican Church. It was built in 1834 and is located close to the Richmond Gaol. Note the clock tower. In the 19th Century most people did not own time pieces.

31/ This image shows the view from near the Richmond Gaol towards St Luke's. There was a very 19th Century ambience about the vista.

32/ This is the Richmond State School. It dates from 1835 and is the oldest state school still in use in Australia.

33/ This is Oak Lodge. It dates from 1830 and now houses a historic display.

34/ This is the ancient stable at the back of Oak Lodge. It is built out of split planks, as machine cut timber was not available at this time in Richmond.

35/ This Georgian house opposite Oak Lodge is called Bellevue House. It dates from 1839.

36/ This is another Georgian house near St Luke's. It shows how these ancient houses can still be comfortable residences.

37/ There was quite a variety of restored residences in Richmond. This one shows how comfortable and attractive they can be, when they are fully restored.

 

1/ Every February the St Andrews Society holds the Highland Festival in Richmond. Bagpipe and other bands, plus Scottish dancers compete. The festival is a celebration of all things Scottish. Here we see the Hobart Highland Pipe Band proudly marching past in their stylish, red tartan kilts.

2/ This image shows the full band proudly marching forward.

3/ This image shows the Tasmanian Police Pipe Band proudly marching onto the Green. In the background you can see one of the stores that sold Scottish memorabilia.

4/ This image shows the Police band proudly marching down the Green.

5/ This image shows the St Andrews Calidonian Pipe Band marching by. Note the key role in coordinating the band played by the band master with his baton.

6/ This image shows the full band proudly marching by. Note how every band had a distinct tartan kilt and attire.

7/ After marching in each band formed a circle and performed their songs.

8/ The Hatters, who are an English Morris dancing group, also performed some lively dances.

9/ A number of other bands also performed stirring music.

 

1/ The walls of Richmond Jail are still quite forbidding and behind them lies a real historic experience.

2/ The entrance into the Richmond Jail. Even today it felt sad to walk through this door.

3/ This list gives you some idea of how harsh the punishments for convicts really were.

4/ The internal court yard of Richmond Jail, where confined prisoners were given their daily exercise.

5/ A jail door looking into the internal exercise yard of Richmond Jail. The corridors were dark and forbidding.

6/ This is the sad view that thousands of convicts saw during their long periods of incarceration at Richmond Jail.

 

1/ Old Hobart Town is a large model, which shows what Hobart looked like around 1820.

2/ This street gives an insight into what Old Hobart Town looked like around 1820. This shows the simple cottages of the free settlers. Most people had far worse accommodation.

3/ The quarters of the officers and their families of Old Hobart Town were far superior in size and luxury to those of the other classes.

4/ This area shows warehouses near the docks of Old Hobart Town. This area was a hive of activity.

5/ The officers quarters were quite comfortable for their time. Nearby convicts are working.

6/ The view towards the Church of Old Hobart Town. It shows a wide range of buildings side by side.

7/ Looking towards the centre Old Hobart Town to the area of the free settlers cottages.

8/ This shows the richer part of Old Hobart Town. In Argyll Street convicts are working on the road.

 

1/ Colebrook is a historic hamlet in south east Tasmania. It is north of Richmond. The hamlet is the site of St Patrick's Catholic Church. This was built between 1855 to 1857, according to the designs of Augustus Pugin. He was England's greatest church designer at this time. The church is regarded as having international significance and is today being restored by the Pugin Foundation.

2/ This view shows St Patrick's from the entrance side.

3/ Behind St Patrick's Colebrook is a large gave yard that gives the church a very ancient atmosphere.

4/ Colebrook has another fine, Gothic revival church.

5/ This is a photo of the church looking west into the setting sun.

6/ This is photo shows an interesting Victorian, middle class house in the main street of Colebrook.

7/ This photo shows fine Victorian house in the main street of Colebrook.

8/ This photo shows an interesting, Victorian era shop of Colebrook.

9/ Colebrook has many fine examples of Victorian era cottages, like this one.

10/ This photo shows an idyllic, Victorian era farm house on the edge of Colebrook.

11/ Colebrook is situated in the picturesque Coal River Valley. This is accessed from B31 Colebrook Road, which is the road to Richmond further south.

 

1/ Campania is a hamlet in south east Tasmania. It is located in the picturesque Coal River Valley just north of Richmond. It is accessed on B31 Colebrook Road.

2/ There is a lovely picnic area near the old school of Campania. Here you can see this fine, modern sculpture of Victorian era school children.

3/ I am guessing that this stone building is the old flour mill of Campania. This building was once used as a school and is near the above sculpture.

4/ This fine Victorian era middle class house is near the centre of Campania.

5/ This photo shows a Victorian era shop of Campania.

6/ The Coal River Valley near Campania has large modern farms, as you can see in the photo above.