Ross is the perfect base for your holiday in the Tasmanian "Midlands". Surrounded by early heritage history dating back to 1821, you can explore our convict past both here in Ross and also in nearby Campbell Town and Oatlands.
Ross is also conveniently located approximately half an hour from four supurb trout fishing lakes (Tooms, Leake, Crescent and Sorell) and only an hour from the central highlands, The Great Lake and Arthurs Lake, two of the most productive trout fishing spots in Tasmania. It is also conveniently situated for a drive to the scenic East Coast - an hour and a half to Swansea or two hours to St Helen's. For those motor cycle enthusiasts, there is also great motor cycle riding across the Mountains to Bicheno where there is also a Motor Bike Museum.
Campbell Town
Campbell Town is only 10 kms north from Ross and just a 10 minute drive. Campbell Town was established initially as a Military Post or Garrison Town to assist in the protection of those people originally making the somewhat hazardous journey between Hobart and Launceston - it is situated approximately midway between the two cities. On Governor Macquarie's second visit to Van Diemen's Land in 1821 he selected Campbell town for development but it took some years before it began to take on an air of permanency. Campbell Town was granted Municipal status in 1866 and many of the substantial buildings you can see today were built by then. The Fox Hunter's Return was erected in 1834 and the convict built bridge (Red Bridge) was opened in 1838. St Luke's Church appeared in 1839 and it was designed by John Lee Archer who also designed St Luke's Church at Richmond. The impressive Grange homestead (now a Conference Centre) an Kean's Brewery were established in 1840. Campbell Town boasts the oldest Agricultural Show in the southern hemisphere (1838) where superfine Merino wool and livestock may still be seen on the last weekend in May each year.
Today Campbell Town is the commercial and tourism centre for the surrounding pastoral and farming area with The Heritage Highway Museum and Visitor Centre located in the town's old Courthouse on High Street (Midlands Highway) - www.campbelltown.tco.asn.au.
If you visit Campbell Town you can stop for refreshments at any of its vibrant cafes and restaurants. Set into the pavements on either side of the Midlands Highway are plaques detailing the "crimes" of the convicts transported to Van Diemen's Land. You can then walk down to the Elizabeth River (named after Governor Macquarie's wife) by the Red Bridge and gaze in wonder at the three fine chainsaw carvings which depict the history of Campbell Town and its famous son - Harold Gatty.
Oatlands
If you head out of Ross across the wonderful Ross Bridge towards Hobart, you can also take in Oatlands which is the largest of the three main towns along the Midlands Highway and at one time it was suggested that it might become the capital of the Colony of Tasmania. One of Oatlands' claims to fame is that is has the greatest number of colonial standstone buildings in a town environment in Australia. Of these 138 nineteenth century buildings, 87 are located in the main street (High Street). As with the other towns in the area, Oatlands was selected and named by Governor Macquarie and was also initially a Military Post.
However, an important part of the Convict Heritage of Oatlands was lost when the large gaol, which once stood in Barracks Street, was demolished in the late 1930's. It is believed this was the only place apart from Sarah Island (Macquarie Harbour) on the West Coast of Tasmania, Hobart and Launceston at which convicts were hanged.
The most notable of the buildings which remain in Oatlands are the Callington Mill (1837) which worked as a mill for over 40 years and was eventually burnt out. However, the restoration of this dominant feature of the main townscape of Oatlands has been authentically restored to full working order. Callington Mill is the Southern Hemisphere's only remaining example of a Lincolnshire Mill and sits with the original site that includes The Mill, The Granary, The Stables, Mill Owner's House and Miller's Cottage. Reconstruction of the Callington Mill was funded by the Southern Midlands Council, the Australian and the Tasmanian Governments. A highly skilled millwright has been manufacturing the working machinery, cap and sails in Boston, UK, over the past 18 months and has now travelled to Oatlands to complete the installation. A miller has joined him to train local people to operate the windmill and begin production of high quality flour. Flour from the Callington Mill will be used to supply high quality bakers and chefs who will use their skills to transform it into signature products that reflect both baking and cooking traditions and the value of good food. You will also be able to purchase quality bread baked from the flour from the Mill at the Companion Bakery in High Street, Oatlands.
