Ross. Tasmania. This fine Gothic Methodist Church was built between 1882 and 1885 when it opened. It replaced an earlier Methodist Church built in Ross in 1839. It is now a Uniting Church. Parremores of Beaufront House provided the stone
Ross.
Like Oatlands Ross was originally a garrison settlement set up in 1821. The site was selected by Governor Macquarie himself and named after the town of Ross in Scotland. The town progressed slowly and was not surveyed until 1844 but it grew from the early 1820s. The Macquarie River flows through the town and it is crossed by another famous bridge- the Ross Bridge, built by convicts and designed by John Lee Archer for Governor Arthur in 1836. It is embellished with stone carvings by Daniel Herbert one of the convicts and is the third oldest, and most beautiful bridge in Australia. Herbert was pardoned for his work and lived the rest of his life in Ross. The delightful main street has many interesting buildings including the Tasmanian Wool Centre (free admission), an unusual post office (mid 19th century), and the historic Georgian style Man O’Ross Hotel (1831). The first Man O’Ross hotel was opened in 1817! Nearby is the charming Methodist Church (1885) in a commanding position on the hill near the Female Factory (prison) which operated between 1833 and 1854. Walk around the ruins of this prison that housed 12,000 female convicts during this short period as a probation station. The buildings included a chapel, dining rooms, hospital, nursery, solitary cells, and dormitories. Women were taught how to sew, clean, cook, launder and care for their children. You can see the Overseer’s Cottage. There are few remains above ground, but the Ross Female Factory is the largest intact female convict site in Australia. The shady English trees, the fast running river, and the warm sandstone buildings give Ross a very English feel. The rich pastoral country around Ross is home to some grand mansions that do not, of course, allow visitors. They include Mona Vale 1865, home to the Kermode family( they were married to the Archers of Longford); Somercotes 1840 ( belonged to the Horton family); Lochiel 1839 ( another Kermode property); Beaufront 1837 (owned by Arthur Smith); and Ellenthorp 1827 ( built for George Clarke). Mona Vale is one of the largest and grandest houses in Australia and in my view Beaufront is one of the most beautiful historic homesteads!
Ross. Tasmania. This fine Gothic Methodist Church was built between 1882 and 1885 when it opened. It replaced an earlier Methodist Church built in Ross in 1839. It is now a Uniting Church. Parremores of Beaufront House provided the stone
Ross.
Like Oatlands Ross was originally a garrison settlement set up in 1821. The site was selected by Governor Macquarie himself and named after the town of Ross in Scotland. The town progressed slowly and was not surveyed until 1844 but it grew from the early 1820s. The Macquarie River flows through the town and it is crossed by another famous bridge- the Ross Bridge, built by convicts and designed by John Lee Archer for Governor Arthur in 1836. It is embellished with stone carvings by Daniel Herbert one of the convicts and is the third oldest, and most beautiful bridge in Australia. Herbert was pardoned for his work and lived the rest of his life in Ross. The delightful main street has many interesting buildings including the Tasmanian Wool Centre (free admission), an unusual post office (mid 19th century), and the historic Georgian style Man O’Ross Hotel (1831). The first Man O’Ross hotel was opened in 1817! Nearby is the charming Methodist Church (1885) in a commanding position on the hill near the Female Factory (prison) which operated between 1833 and 1854. Walk around the ruins of this prison that housed 12,000 female convicts during this short period as a probation station. The buildings included a chapel, dining rooms, hospital, nursery, solitary cells, and dormitories. Women were taught how to sew, clean, cook, launder and care for their children. You can see the Overseer’s Cottage. There are few remains above ground, but the Ross Female Factory is the largest intact female convict site in Australia. The shady English trees, the fast running river, and the warm sandstone buildings give Ross a very English feel. The rich pastoral country around Ross is home to some grand mansions that do not, of course, allow visitors. They include Mona Vale 1865, home to the Kermode family( they were married to the Archers of Longford); Somercotes 1840 ( belonged to the Horton family); Lochiel 1839 ( another Kermode property); Beaufront 1837 (owned by Arthur Smith); and Ellenthorp 1827 ( built for George Clarke). Mona Vale is one of the largest and grandest houses in Australia and in my view Beaufront is one of the most beautiful historic homesteads!