Richmond Tas. The oldest bridge in Australia. Built by convicts and opened in 1823. Still in use for crossing the Coal River. A six arch bridge..
Richmond, Old Hobart Town village and the Pooseum.
Just a short distance from Hobart is historic Richmond, home to Australia’s oldest bridge. The Coal River which flows through the town was named and discovered in 1803 not long after the Risdon Cove Hobart settlement began. Coal was discovered along the river banks hence the name. The government granted land to encourage farmers to the district and the town of Richmond was declared in 1824 by Lieutenant Governor William Sorrell. It was the gateway to the East Coast of VDL but also a police outpost with a Courthouse, Gaol, and barracks for soldiers and a watch house. An historic town like Richmond with buildings from the 1830s and 1840s is a testament to the role of convicts in building structures in Australia. Government work gangs of convicts built government and public structures such as the Richmond Bridge, the Courthouse, the Gaol etc but assigned convicts with skills would also have helped build some early structures including private houses for their masters. However, we have no records of this. The Richmond Bridge was built by convicts between 1823-25 and is still in daily use. Nearby is Australia’s oldest gaol built in 1825-28. The town grew quickly in the 1830s with much trade between it and Hobart. It is recorded that convicts built St Luke’s Anglican Church, (1834-36) a structure designed by architect John Lee Archer and opened by Governor Arthur. It is the church with the distinctive square tower and no spire. James Thompson the convict in charge of the interior wood work of the church was granted his freedom for his work. Note that the clock in St Luke’s tower came from the original St David’s church in Hobart when it was demolished in 1868 to make way for the Cathedral. The clock was made in 1828 and still keeps perfect time. The Catholic Church was not built by convicts as it was not the Anglican Church of the government. St John’s Catholic Church is the oldest Catholic Church in Australia and was built in 1836. The spire was added in the early 1900s. It also has an unusual side stone turret which houses the pre-cut stone stairs that give access to the gallery. The spire was added to St John’s in 1859 and was replaced again in 1972.
The heritage classified town has many fine Georgian buildings, antique shops and good cafes, 1830s cottages and grander houses. Look out for Oak Lodge in Bridge Street a gentleman’s two storey residence constructed between 1831-42. The bridge was used for all traffic to the east coast (and later to Port Arthur) and by 1830 Richmond was the third largest town in VDL. Wander down to the Coal River and walk under Richmond Bridge. The Richmond Court House was built in 1825-26 by convicts as was the Gaol nearby. Richmond Gaol was designed by Tasmanian architect John Lee Archer and erected by convicts as was the norm for government structures. The gaoler’s house was also designed by John Lee Archer. This complex is the oldest penal set up in Tasmania. In 1826 a group of Aborigines were believed to be attacking and raiding farms. Consequently a group of soldiers on a retribution search attacked and killed 14 Aboriginal people. Six were captured and taken to Richmond Gaol. They were subsequently released as there was no evidence that charges could be laid against them. Such victimisation was not uncommon in those days. Today Richmond relies on tourism and is the base for the Old Hobart Town model village and the scientific based Pooseum- the only one in the world established by an Austrian lady.
Some buildings to look for in Richmond starting in Bridge Street.
•On the corner of Henry St – Ashmore coffee shop. A two storey corner store circa 1850.
•LaFayette Galleries and shop – a fine Georgian style building. Built as a single storey Post Office c 1826. Opposite in old c1840 cottage is the Woodcraft Shop. And next to it is the stone Congregational Church built in 1873.
•The Regional Hotel – a typical 1880s Australian pub.
•On the corner of Edward St the old Saddlery. Originally a general store. Built around 1850.
•Next to it is the Bridge Inn licensed in 1834. Upper floor added in 1860s or so.
•Next to it is the Richmond Town Hall. Built in 1908 with stone from the flour mill and police barracks.
•Next to it is the Courthouse. Built by convicts in 1825. Used as Richmond Council Chambers 1861 to 1933.
•As the street bends on the north side is the old bakery c1830 now antiques shop and next to it some old cottages c1840.
•Opposite the cottages is Mill Cottage built around 1850.
•At the end of the street where the triangular park begins veer right to the Richmond Bridge 1823-25. You can walk down to the Coal River beneath the bridge.
•First over the bridge is Mill House as the water mill was on the river. Built in 1850. C1900 it became a butter factory.
•Turn left here into St Johns Court. It takes you to St John’s Catholic Church and spire.
Retrace your steps across the river and along Bridge Street to Edward St. by the old saddlery.
Edward Street.
•At the first intersection on the left is Ochil Cottage built c1840. Behind it down the side street is the Goal built 1825/28.
•Across the intersection the little cottage on left was a morgue and dispensary.
•Next left in Palladian style with a central two storey section is the Anglican Rectory. Built in 1831 for the town magistrate. Was only the Anglican Rectory 1908 to 1972.
•Next to it is St Luke’s Anglican Church built 1834/36. Built by convicts.
Retrace your steps to Bridge Street but detour right to 22 Bathurst St for a fine little cottage built circa 1830 with dormer windows. If you want to see more 1830s and 1840s houses walk down Commercial Street for one block only. It starts at the Ashmore coffee shop. Commercial St also has the Richmond Hotel, a fine Georgian two storey hotel built c1830.
Richmond Tas. The oldest bridge in Australia. Built by convicts and opened in 1823. Still in use for crossing the Coal River. A six arch bridge..
Richmond, Old Hobart Town village and the Pooseum.
Just a short distance from Hobart is historic Richmond, home to Australia’s oldest bridge. The Coal River which flows through the town was named and discovered in 1803 not long after the Risdon Cove Hobart settlement began. Coal was discovered along the river banks hence the name. The government granted land to encourage farmers to the district and the town of Richmond was declared in 1824 by Lieutenant Governor William Sorrell. It was the gateway to the East Coast of VDL but also a police outpost with a Courthouse, Gaol, and barracks for soldiers and a watch house. An historic town like Richmond with buildings from the 1830s and 1840s is a testament to the role of convicts in building structures in Australia. Government work gangs of convicts built government and public structures such as the Richmond Bridge, the Courthouse, the Gaol etc but assigned convicts with skills would also have helped build some early structures including private houses for their masters. However, we have no records of this. The Richmond Bridge was built by convicts between 1823-25 and is still in daily use. Nearby is Australia’s oldest gaol built in 1825-28. The town grew quickly in the 1830s with much trade between it and Hobart. It is recorded that convicts built St Luke’s Anglican Church, (1834-36) a structure designed by architect John Lee Archer and opened by Governor Arthur. It is the church with the distinctive square tower and no spire. James Thompson the convict in charge of the interior wood work of the church was granted his freedom for his work. Note that the clock in St Luke’s tower came from the original St David’s church in Hobart when it was demolished in 1868 to make way for the Cathedral. The clock was made in 1828 and still keeps perfect time. The Catholic Church was not built by convicts as it was not the Anglican Church of the government. St John’s Catholic Church is the oldest Catholic Church in Australia and was built in 1836. The spire was added in the early 1900s. It also has an unusual side stone turret which houses the pre-cut stone stairs that give access to the gallery. The spire was added to St John’s in 1859 and was replaced again in 1972.
The heritage classified town has many fine Georgian buildings, antique shops and good cafes, 1830s cottages and grander houses. Look out for Oak Lodge in Bridge Street a gentleman’s two storey residence constructed between 1831-42. The bridge was used for all traffic to the east coast (and later to Port Arthur) and by 1830 Richmond was the third largest town in VDL. Wander down to the Coal River and walk under Richmond Bridge. The Richmond Court House was built in 1825-26 by convicts as was the Gaol nearby. Richmond Gaol was designed by Tasmanian architect John Lee Archer and erected by convicts as was the norm for government structures. The gaoler’s house was also designed by John Lee Archer. This complex is the oldest penal set up in Tasmania. In 1826 a group of Aborigines were believed to be attacking and raiding farms. Consequently a group of soldiers on a retribution search attacked and killed 14 Aboriginal people. Six were captured and taken to Richmond Gaol. They were subsequently released as there was no evidence that charges could be laid against them. Such victimisation was not uncommon in those days. Today Richmond relies on tourism and is the base for the Old Hobart Town model village and the scientific based Pooseum- the only one in the world established by an Austrian lady.
Some buildings to look for in Richmond starting in Bridge Street.
•On the corner of Henry St – Ashmore coffee shop. A two storey corner store circa 1850.
•LaFayette Galleries and shop – a fine Georgian style building. Built as a single storey Post Office c 1826. Opposite in old c1840 cottage is the Woodcraft Shop. And next to it is the stone Congregational Church built in 1873.
•The Regional Hotel – a typical 1880s Australian pub.
•On the corner of Edward St the old Saddlery. Originally a general store. Built around 1850.
•Next to it is the Bridge Inn licensed in 1834. Upper floor added in 1860s or so.
•Next to it is the Richmond Town Hall. Built in 1908 with stone from the flour mill and police barracks.
•Next to it is the Courthouse. Built by convicts in 1825. Used as Richmond Council Chambers 1861 to 1933.
•As the street bends on the north side is the old bakery c1830 now antiques shop and next to it some old cottages c1840.
•Opposite the cottages is Mill Cottage built around 1850.
•At the end of the street where the triangular park begins veer right to the Richmond Bridge 1823-25. You can walk down to the Coal River beneath the bridge.
•First over the bridge is Mill House as the water mill was on the river. Built in 1850. C1900 it became a butter factory.
•Turn left here into St Johns Court. It takes you to St John’s Catholic Church and spire.
Retrace your steps across the river and along Bridge Street to Edward St. by the old saddlery.
Edward Street.
•At the first intersection on the left is Ochil Cottage built c1840. Behind it down the side street is the Goal built 1825/28.
•Across the intersection the little cottage on left was a morgue and dispensary.
•Next left in Palladian style with a central two storey section is the Anglican Rectory. Built in 1831 for the town magistrate. Was only the Anglican Rectory 1908 to 1972.
•Next to it is St Luke’s Anglican Church built 1834/36. Built by convicts.
Retrace your steps to Bridge Street but detour right to 22 Bathurst St for a fine little cottage built circa 1830 with dormer windows. If you want to see more 1830s and 1840s houses walk down Commercial Street for one block only. It starts at the Ashmore coffee shop. Commercial St also has the Richmond Hotel, a fine Georgian two storey hotel built c1830.