Ross, Tasmania's Heritage Village

From Campbell Town it was an easy short drive to nearby historic Ross - Tasmania's Heritage Village. Situated by the Macquarie River the area was first surveyed by the first Government Surveyor Charles Grimes in 1807, and by 1812 a small garrison of soldiers were stationed in the area. The town slowly grew and in 1821 the village was proclaimed and named Ross by Governor Macquarie. Ross was the parliamentary seat of his friend H. M. Buchanan of Scotland. The original wooden bridge was replaced in 1836 and constructed of sandstone. It is the third oldest bridge in Australia.

We easily found a parking spot in the main street and went for a walk. There are very few information boards in the village, other than the odd 'Heritage Listed' plaque and framed newspaper articles, so a little homework is needed. It is said that the four corners of the centre of the village depict Temptation; Damnation; Recreation; and Salvation.

TEMPTATION - Man O’ Ross Hotel was established by William Saddler in 1835 and was built by the convicts. Constructed from local, hand cut sandstone, it is believed to be haunted. Today it still operates as a pub with accommodation and food.

DAMNATION – Originally the Town Gaol, today it is a private residence.

RECREATION – town hall c1880.

 SALVATION - Roman Catholic Church, c 1920.

 Next to the church is the old Barracks c1827, and now a private residence.

There is a lovely walk along the  river from the bridge in both ways.

Over 40 historic buildings can be located in Ross. St John's Sunday School, c 1847, a beautiful sandstone building. The present building was rebuilt in 1902.

We had to stop at Bakery 31 and get one of its famous scallop pies.

Ross Bakery Inn, dates from the 1830's and was convict built for John Dickinson, an English free settler. Originally named Sherwood Castle Inn, a coaching inn, built of local sandstone, and is listed on the Tasmanian Heritage Register and the National Trust. The original bakery, alongside, has operated for over 100 years on the site.

A little further up the road is St John's Church of England, built in 1868 and contains a 100-year-old pipe organ and stone pulpit. Te church was locked so we couldn't go in to look.

Every where one looks is historic.

There is a new construction of a park in the centre of the main street, which will be great when finished.

The Post Office was built in 1896 and completed in 1889 with a verandah with twin cast-iron columns. Exploring inside there are many interesting trinkets, both new and old. Jonnie was fascinated with the old telephone.

At the top of hill near lookout is the Uniting Church c1885 has beautiful blackwood pews and pretty stained glass windows.

We then drove around to site of the convict Female Factory c1848-1854, thinking it was further away than it was. It would have been an easy walk from the old bridge or the Uniting church. A very interesting building - the only original one remaining - with heaps of information not only about the building but also about the people who once lived there.

Here is a really cool interactive map of Ross here. We spent the whole day here and had lunch and afternoon tea at the bakeries.