SHEFFIELD

1/ The Sheffield Steamfest had an impressive display of old steam engines that is held in Sheffield in north west Tasmania. This photo shows an old Fowler type steam prime mover.

2/ This Marshall steam engine had this impressive canopy on the top, plus a large wood tray. It was one of many great exhibits at the Sheffield Steamfest.

3/ The McClaren engine was steamed up and ready to go. It showed something of the variety of steam machines seen at the Sheffield Steamfest.

4/ The Walsh steam engine was another old monster on display at the Sheffield Steamfest.

5/ There were also some very impressive hand made models at the Sheffield Steamfest.

6/ The skill of the wood working craft shown on this steam boat was very impressive.

7/ The steam boat included this very stylish control panel made out of fine woods. Steam boats were once common on the waters of old Tasmania.

8/ Steam cars were once the major competitors of the internal combustion engine used by cars today. This one was very well restored. Early cars were built out of wood like the old wagons were. It was great to see them at the Sheffield Steamfest.

9/ This steam roller was used to make some of the first Macadam roads in Tasmania. I am glad that this iconic engine was on display at the Sheffield Steamfest.

10/ There were also some very early tractors, like this Farmall, on display at the Sheffield Steamfest. Note the odd tricycle, wheel configuration.

11/ The full throttle power of this modern tractor was demonstrated by its ability to pull the heavy truck. It was an exciting contest to watch at the Sheffield Steamfest.

12/ There was also a horse ploughing exhibition at the Sheffield Steamfest. These Clydesdale horses were used to pull the plow. Draft horses, like these, are now quite rare.

13/ This photo shows the old method of plowing by this old Clydesdale horse plow enthusiast.

14/ The horse drawn plow shown above was sturdy, but simple in design. It could be repaired by the farmer. I learnt some interesting things about the old methods of farming at the Sheffield Steamfest.

1/ Sheffield is an old town in north western Tasmania. It is a picturesque town with many Victorian era buildings. Many of these building are now decorated with the lovely murals that have made Sheffield famous.

2/ Main Street is the heart of Sheffield. Here you can see the murals and the old buildings.

3/ This Sheffield hotel is a great example of the Victorian era style of hotel.

4/ The facade of this store in Sheffield is a great example of Victorian style of building decoration.

5/ Salters store has used 19th Century style fonts to advertise itself. This is one of the more subtle murals seen in Sheffield.

6/ This Sheffield shop has a massive mural on its side.

9/ The town hall of Sheffield was built in 1914. It is an interesting late Victorian design.

10/ Many houses in Sheffield have a view of Mt Roland, which is just to the south.

11/ Tourist information is located just off the Main Street of Sheffield. To the right are some empty panels awaiting murals.

12/ This is another view of the attractive old style shops of Sheffield.

13/ The church of the Holy Cross is one of the Sheffield's historic churches.

14/ The marble shop had a very impressive display of marbles, plus some very complicated marble races.

1/ Sheffield has a heritage railway that does very short trips. The extant line is a very small fragment of a much larger railway that linked Devonport to Sheffield and Mt Roland. It would be wonderful if this old line could be reopened, as it goes through really beautiful countryside. There is also another heritage railway in Devonport that it could be relinked to.

2/ On this trip the train had only a carriage. The station seen here is the original station, but it has been moved slightly from its original position.

3/ This is the tiny locomotive. It was once used in a mine and is amongst the last of its kind still extant in the world.

4/ This is a close up of the locomotive's cabin. All of the working parts had to be repaired and even remade by the volunteers who run the railway.

5/ This photo shows other another wagon and a guards van that are also used by the Sheffield Railway. The locomotive call pull up to 8 wagons.

6/ This photo shows the platform at the rear used by the railway guard.

7/ The train goes on a tiny journey one kilometre down the line to its first stop, where it has to turn around.

8/ To return the locomotive has to be moved to the back of the train. It the distance you can see the spectacular slopes of Mt Roland, where the original railway once journey to.

9/ This is the present end of the line. However, the original track once spanned to the left all the way to Devonport.

1/ In April each year Sheffield holds a mural fest, which attracts skilled artists from all over Tasmania, Australia and even overseas. Many murals have a historic theme, like this one of a little girl buying lollies.

2/ This mural has a complicated theme. It cleverly blends together both the outside and inside worlds of old Sheffield.

3/ The 19th Century was a time when many tonics were in vogue. This mural cleverly exploits "vitality" by having the horses and dog jump out of the picture. It was one of the most creative that I saw at Sheffield.

4/ This mural is about the Tasmanian's search and rescue service. They brave very harsh conditions to rescue lost and injured tourists from the Wilderness. It was good to see them honoured in the Sheffield mural fest.

5/ This mural celebrates 19th Century farming. The Mt Roland element shows that this honours the local pioneers of Sheffield.

6/ This mural was one of the largest. The figures are actually life size and the mural occupies the entire side of a shop. It is almost like looking in on the ancient industry of Sheffield.

7/ This mural has a modern style in its colors and elements, but an old Sheffield theme. Note the minimalist approach to the faces. This new approach is in strong contrast to the staid old 19th Century kitchen theme that it illustrates.

8/ This mural is only part one of the largest that I saw at Sheffield. I like the action and danger that is imposed on the elements in it.

9/ In 2015 I visited Sheffield again and I was impressed by some of the new murals that I saw. This one explores the idea of a mobile phone.

10/ This mural summaries Australia's involvement in many wars.

11/ This mural had a comic and modern flavour.

12/ This mural shows Abel Tasman, the Dutch discoverer of Tasmania. As a purist I have to mention that the flags are wrong. They should be flying a company "VOC" flag - not a standard Dutch flag.

13/ This is part of a modern style mural. It shows the face of Truginini, a famous Tasmanian Aborigine. I was very impressed by the depth of character that the artist was able to show.

14/ I actually started to walk towards this mural for advice, until I realized the joke. You can even see an impression of a photographer in the left window.

1/ Railton is a small town in north west Tasmania near Sheffield. It prides itself on being the town of topiary. It has many good examples around the town.

2/ In a field near the main street of Railton was this farm scene made out of many topiary figures.

3/ Like nearby Sheffield, Railton also has a number of great murals on the town's buildings. This one is about a local mine.

4/ This mural reminds us that Railton was once a frontier town visit by bullock wagons.

5/ The circus coming to a town, like Railton, was a great event in the 19th Century. The enthusiasm is well carried in this mural.

6/ Railton has a number of interesting, Victorian style buildings like this classic hotel.

7/ Railton also has an impressive Victorian town hall.

8/ Hidden away near the war memorial of Railton was this quaint, 19th Century, country style church.

9/ The Railton war memorial is probably unique in having topiary figures honouring the four services.

10/ There was another quaint, church near the war memorial at Railton.

11/ There was also this rough war memorial, which was probably the first memorial built in Railton.

12/ This is a Christmas artifacts shop in Railton. It has a very impressive range of Christmas decorations. The telephone is 0417 556 700 or www.townoftopiary.com.au

13/ The store sells a large range of Christmas decorations and topiary plants.

14/ Inside you will see this very evocative mural. It is well worth a visit, if you are driving through Railton.

1/ Badgers Range is north east of Sheffield. These photos were taken on a club trip on a cloudy day in March 2021, so the colors are poor. We climbed 500 meters to the Kimberley Lookout. This area has recently been upgraded to included new mountain bike tracks and a toilet at the car park. This image shows the approach to the Lookout. It looks to the south towards Sheffield and Mt Roland.

2/ This image shows another view to the south. You can see the town of Sheffield and beyond it the majestic sight of Mt Roland.

3/ This was the view from another lookout that faced the south.

4/ This view looks towards the south west. This area was used by absailors.

5/ This view looks towards the west and shows the rich soil near Sheffield.

6/ The Dashers River flows south of Sheffield in a west east direction. It is just south of C156 Bridle Track Road. Dashers Falls is a short distance from the small car park. This image shows the steep banks of the Dasher River.

7/ The falls are in a steep gully lying about 30 metres below the embankment. This image shows the upper cascade.

8/ This image shows the lower cascade. There was not much water flowing that day.

1/ Barrington is a settlement in north west Tasmania. It is west of Sheffield.

2/ This sign says it all. There really is a place called "Nowhere Else". Behind the sign is the towering heights of Mt Roland.

3/ This photo shows a small farming settlement near Barrington. The brown soil is very fertile in this part of Tasmania.

4/ This photo shows the lawn of the huge Lake Barrington reservoir. The lake is about 20 kilometres long and is used by the rowing teams of Tasmania.

5/ This image shows the view down the Lake looking to the north. Our group walked towards the forest on the left.

6/ The arrows point the way through the cleared undergrowth, making it a very easy walk.

7/ This was the view back towards the starting point.

8/ Our track now led into a forest.

9/ The forest was dominated by manferns. The path led to the approach road, so you could choose to turn around or walk back by the road.