DELORAINE

1/ Deloraine is a historic town in northern central Tasmania. At the entrance to Deloraine is the ancient "Mill", which is now a stylish restaurant.

2/ Deloraine is divided by the Meander River. The main town is on the western side. On both sides of the river is a lovely park.

3/ The Deloraine Hotel, built in 1848 greets you on the western side. It has lovely 19th Century style balconies and now has a stylish restaurant.

4/ Emu Bay Road is the heart of the Deloraine CBD. The "emu" refers to an extinct species of miniature emu that once thrived in Tasmania.

5/ The British Hotel marks the upper end of the Emu Bay Road and the Deloraine CBD. Behind the hotel you can see Mount Quamby Bluff, which is just south of Deloraine.

6/ Malua is a famous race horse that came from around Deloraine.

7/ Deloraine includes a variety of 19th Century architecture, like this gentry class home.

8/ This lovely, old shop at the top of Emu Bay Road was built in 1863. It is now the Weare Gallery.

9/ East Barrack Street has these interesting Georgian era houses. The barrack refers to the former garrison of Deloraine that was once stationed in this convict origin town.

10/ Being the Anglican Church, St Mark's, naturally, dominates Deloraine. It is built in the classic, Gothic Revival style.

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11/ The altar of St Mark's shows woodwork of the finest quality.

12/ St Mark's has a cemetery which goes back to the very beginning of the settlement of Deloraine.

13/ The view from this angle of the St Mark's Cemetery was all 19th Century.

14/ Highland Lakes Road on the eastern side of the river is the main road to the Great Western Tier Mountains from Deloraine.

15/ This Victorian era house on Highland Lakes Road is now an antique shop.

16/ This is the lovely Tabernacle church near the picnic grounds of Deloraine.

17/ This photo shows the colorful, riverfront cottages on the outskirts of Deloraine.

18/ This photo shows the Meander River in flood in 2016. The water level had already fallen considerably from its peak, but you can see that the park on the left is still mostly flooded.

19/ This photo shows the old mill during the 2016 flood. It is easy to imagine a waterwheel on the right side of the building.

20/ Just beyond Deloraine, on the road to Devonport, is the Elizabeth Town Cafe. This has an excellent selection of pastry foods and is a favorite stopping point.

 

1/ As you enter the river park you pass this memorial to the dead of many wars.

2/ Near the park entrance is this lovely, rotunda, where bands sometimes play in Deloraine.

3/ The northern edge of the River Park is marked by the old road bridge of Deloraine.

4/ A new foot bridge gives you great views in both directions of the river.

5/ Looking north from the foot bridge you can see the old railway bridge of Deloraine.

6/ Looking south from the foot bridge, you can see the rapids and the old water mill. This was being restored when I visited it in 2011.

7/ From the road bridge this view of the Deloraine River Park had a timeless English quality about it.

8/ Looking to the east of Deloraine you behold a plethora of old buildings including the spire of St Mark's.

9/ North of Deloraine the river becomes more narrow.

10/ The road bridge is surrounded by beautiful tall trees on all sides.

 

1/ The Deloraine Craft Fair is held every year in October. It attracts a huge number of artists and craft workers It is located in seven different locations spread around Deloraine. To make commuting between venues easy a free bus service is provided.

2/ Every venue has both a rest and an eating area.

3/ Alpaca breeding is increasing in Tasmania. These alpacas were on display to show off their fine quality wool. The alpaca tent had a wide variety of alpaca wares.

4/ Visitors were able to stroke the fine texture wool of the alpacas.

5/ The alpaca store showed off the huge range of products now made from alpacas.

6/ The ceramics stores had a very wide variety of high quality, ceramic goods on display.

7/ Natural medicines were also on display in some stores.

8/ There were many stores selling jewelry and other body adornments.

9/ There were also stores selling small fun statues.

10/ The variety of beautiful, ceramic objects was very large.

11/ You could even buy exotic things like handmade lampshades.

12/ This store sold a huge variety of unusual, frig magnets.

13/ Some crafts actually displayed how they made their wares. I found this glassblowing show very interesting.

14/ There were even professional painters selling their artworks.

15/ I was most impressed by the quilt displays like these very intricate flower pattern.

16/ The wallabies on this quilt looked almost lifelike.

17/ I was most impressed by how realistic these butterflies looked.

 

1/The beautiful Villarett Gardens are near Moltema, which is located north west of Deloraine and north west of Elizabeth Town. They are on B13 the road to Railton. The telephone number is (03) 6368 and the Internet contact is www.villarett.com.au/ This photo shows the restaurant and entrance building.

2/ This photo shows the flood of color and shape looking up the front hill towards the entrance of the Villarett Gardens.

3/ This strange tree makes a powerful statement.

4/ It is interesting to try to count how shapes and colors green can come in.

5/ The red sticks are a sculpture on the far hill side.

6/ This topiary of the Villarett Gardens shows a great sense of c0lor and balance.

7/ A lovely pond with lily pads lies at the base of the hill of the Villarett Gardens.

8/ This is another sculpture on the far hill of the Villarett Gardens.

9/ This photo is looking towards the lovers sculpture of the Villarett Gardens.

10/ This path takes you back to the entrance of the Villarett Gardens through a profusion of shapes and colors.

 

1/ Kimberley is a settlement on B13 North West of Deloraine. It has this lovely old church.

2/ Kimberley also has a lovely picnic ground near a warm spring.

3/ This is the warm spring at Kimberley. I was not able to find out anything about it.

4/ This image shows a flooded creek near Kimberley in 2016. It has turned a small creek into a lake. Kimberley was one of the settlements most effected by this flood.