NEW NORFOLK & Salmon Ponds

 

1/ New Norfolk is a lovely, historic town in south eastern Tasmania. It is north west of Hobart and it dominates the Derwent River Valley. This photo shows the sign that greets you as you enter New Norfolk from the east.

2/ High Street is the commercial heart of New Norfolk. It is the best place to shop in the Derwent Valley. The yellow building at the far end is the Council Chambers. It sits on the Circle. Willow Court is to the left, while Montagu Street and the Derwent River are parallel to the right of High Street.

3/ This lovely, old church is St Peter's. It is located on Montagu Street, New Norfolk and has a real old world feeling about it.

4/ This is another view of St Peter's, New Norfolk. It has stain glass windows of a very high standard.

5/ This is St Matthews Anglican Church in New Norfolk. It was built in 1823 and is the oldest, extant church in Tasmania. It also has first class stain glass windows.

6/ This is St Paul's Uniting Church, New Norfolk. It was built in 1836 in a very different style from the Gothic Revival style of St Peter's and St Matthew's.

7/ This is the Bush Inn located in Montagu Street, New Norfolk. It is the oldest continuously licenced hotel in all of Australia. The Irish composer William Vincent Wallace wrote the lyrics to "Scenes that are Brighter" in the Bush Inn. The great Nellie Melba once stayed here as well.

8/ This quaint building is the Old Colony Inn of New Norfolk. It was built in 1850. It now offers accommodation and sells antiques.

9/ This is the historic Swallows Nest Hop Kiln at Tynwald Park, New Norfolk. It houses an interesting museum.

10/ This is the Art Deco style Council Chambers. Before it is the New Norfolk War Memorial. It dominates the Circle Street and looks down High Street.

11/ This the New Norfolk Post Office. It was built in a modern style that blends in well with the historic town.

12/ These two interesting buildings are on the Circle. The red building was probably once a business.

13/ A walk around New Norfolk reveals many interesting old houses like this Victorian era example.

14/ This historic home has been progressively expanded. It is today a business.

15/ This substantial Victorian house is the King's Own Inn.

16/ This is the strange, modern complex that dominates the eastern approach to New Norfolk.

17/ The historic Toll House once collected money from people crossing the New Norfolk bridge.

18/ This is the view across the Derwent River from the southern side. The beautiful colours of spring are especially evident on the Derwent at New Norfolk.

19/ This the view from the bridge of a lovely, old complex on the southern side.

20/ This view looks east down the Derwent River at New Norfolk. Note the lovely, proliferation of colours and shapes that you see in spring.

21/ This is the Boyer Paper Mill. It is the major employer in New Norfolk. A tour of the complex is available.

22/ This is the famous bridge at Bridgewater. It is east of New Norfolk. Hobart begins on the far side.

 

1/ Between the 1860s to the 1960s an asylum at New Norfolk was progressively expanded. It is today called the Willow Court Complex and is the scene of a major, restoration initiative. There are about a dozen buildings of historic significance being currently repaired. Each building is an interesting examples of the architecture of the time. Willow Court will soon be one of Tasmania's, largest, historic sites.

2/ In early 2014 the restoration of Willow Court was proceeding rapidly. This photo shows one of the Georgian era wards. It had a real feeling of history about it. The yellow building in the centre is the administrative hub.

3/ This ward is an early 20th Century type. Note how it contrasts with the Georgian ward above. The Willow Court Complex includes interesting examples of the many architectural styles used over the 100 year period.

4/ This large building is mid 20th Century in style. When it is restored, it will look quite grand.

5/ The Victorian era Nurses Quarters is the only building that is currently being used. It is a large complex that surrounds a court yard, where the nurses once relaxed.

6/ This is the lovely, court yard of the Nurses Quarters. Two balconies look out over a rotunda. It is easy to imagine the nurses relaxing here in the olden days.

8/ These are stylishly restored buildings near Willow Court. They give you some idea as to what the restored buildings will soon look like.

8/ This derelict building is a Georgian era ward. It is next to the Nurses Quarters.

9/ A country band was performing in a park area near the Nurses Quarters. When completed, Willow Court will be a major museum and multi purpose complex.

 

1/ The Salmon Ponds is a historic salmon hatchery, garden, museum and restaurant just west of New Norfolk, Tasmania. It has been raising and releasing trout into Tasmania streams since 1861. It is an excellent place to take a break on your tour of the Derwent Valley. The telephone is (03) 6261 5663 and the Internet contact is www.salmonponds.com.au

2/ This photo shows the entrance to the Salmon Ponds. The building to the right is the restaurant.

3/ This is one of the large ponds, where the trout are bred. The man to the left is holding a bag of fish feed. One of the attractions of the Salmon Ponds is feeding the trout.

4/ The ponds are replete with trout. These large trout are about half a metre long. The restaurant has a range of tasty trout dishes.

5/ This photo shows the view down the largest pond towards the hatchery. Notice the ancient, beautiful trees that decorate the garden. This lovely garden has been growing in complexity since 1861. The trees complement the coolness and serenity of the ponds.

6/ This is the hatchery of the Salmon Ponds. You can go inside and see the trout fry swimming in large tanks.

7/ This Victorian era cottage now houses the museum. It is part of a complex of Victorian cottages, where the workers of the Salmon Ponds still live.

8/ The lounge room was decorated in a Victorian era style and contained examples of how large the trout can grow to. The trout on these walls are about one metre in length.

9/ This room contained a very large display of old, fly fishing tackle. I was surprised at how large the range of fly fishing tackle really was. It illustrated the old idea that a fisherman can never have enough fishing tackle.

10/ This was the ladies' lounge room. It was tastefully decorated in a Victorian era style. This is where Victorian ladies gossiped, while their husbands went fishing.

11/ This photo shows the view from the river walk. The cottage is one of a number of cottages used by the workers of the Salmon Ponds complex.

12/ This photo shows the river walk of the Salmon Ponds. To the left is the Plenty River, which joins the Derwent River. You can fish for trout from the river walk and you can see many trout in the river. If you are lucky you might even see a platypus.