Fri, 22nd May, 2015 King Street Oval RV Stop, Campbell Town to Blackburn Park RV Stop, Campbell Town (sightseeing)

Slept in till 8am, forgot to look at the temp before I turned on the heater. At 9am I checked the outside temp and it was only 4 degrees!! The sky has cleared and is lovely and blue.

Packed up for a long drive – 1 km to the other side of the Elizabeth River and the other RV Park we saw yesterday. Pretty outlook with the trees changing colour. Glad we saw them before they dropped all their leaves and look like dead trees.

Made a cuppa and tried out our new chairs. Very comfortable. The local chook and ducks became friendly very quickly.

Chatted with some other vanners from Tassie then headed off to explore. Walked out onto the footbridge which was where the first bridge and causeway was built in 1822. The Red Bridge is amazing. Makes a great photo too. The bridge built in 1937-38 by convicts was built over dry land then they diverted the Elizabeth River to then flow under it. Amazing feat.

It is the oldest bridge on the National Highway.

Nearly a perfect mirror image except the ducks decided to get in the water.

Zoomed in on the engraving in the centre of the bridge.

Blue stone was used as well.

In the park beside the bridge and near the road (which is the main highway and it goes straight through town) are some more wonderful carvings by Mr Eddie Freeman of Ross in 2010. The first one shows the many different animals found along and in the Elizabeth River.

Not sure there are any devils around here though.

Info about the town’s water supply.

The next tree depicted special events that have happened here. Governor Macquarie and his wife, Elizabeth who the river was named after and the town too, Campbell was her maiden name. Slightly below them is Martin Cash, a bushranger. Seated near the telescope looking eastwards is Dr William Valentine, who was responsible for the US Naval observatory team who view the Transit of Venus here in 1874. The carvings of the aeroplane and globe, honour local born Harold Gatty, who in 1931 circumnavigated the earth by air in the “Winnie Mae”. The sheep and wool bales represent Campbell Town Show, the longest running annual show in Australia. (Tassie is full of all the firsts for a lot of things.)

The last one depicts the British solider guarding a convict labourer during the construction of the Red Bridge.

The information board about the bridge. Amazing to think of the work involved in making all the bricks and the carting of the other stone from Ross.

Another view of the bridge and the convict/government markings along the top.

In the centre of the bridge on the roadsides are the distance markers from Launceston and Hobart.

Crossed the road and looking downstream towards the swimming pool area.

The other side of the bridge and the info panel.

Walked further down the river for another view. Zoomed in on another carved panel.

Across the road is the Fox Hunters Return which was built by convict labour (c1833). It originally faced Bridge St which was the main street and the spacious cellars there housed the convicts when they were working on the bridge. The front part was built when the road was changed to go over the new bridge. It is one of the finest Georgian facades in Australia.

The Campbell Town Convict Brick Trail starts here and continues all the way up the road. The bricks show the convict, age, ship name and arrival date, crime & length of sentence and a comments line. Very interesting.

Found Stephen Foster, twice – and only one Underwood. No other names of our friends stood out!! James Doyle is the name of one of my ancestors but this one isn’t mine – I only have one convict, John Fogg and he went directly to Moreton Bay in 1850.

Followed the historical homes trail reading the info about them as we went. It was a beautiful day which was so nice after the gloomy few days in Oatlands. Solomons Store (1830s).

The apple tree is laden but one lady tried one and it wasn’t very nice.

Wesleyan Chapel (1846).

Lower Bridge Street housed the watch house, barracks and officers’ quarters.

On the site of the bowling green was the first proper Gaol (1828).

At the other end of the block from the Fox Hunters Return is the site of the original hotel.

Walked over the footbridge that led to the site of the old chinese gardens. Great view back to the bridge.

Then with the big truck going over it. No major work has ever been needed on this bridge and with all the trucks and cars that pass over it now, a few of our modern engineers should be studying it to make their modern bridges stronger!!

Headed back to the bridge to walk up the other side of the road – view back to our van.

The Brickhill Memorial Church is now privately owned – would be a different type of home!! Another first for Tassie – first recorded broadcast – the church service was wired to the house next door as he was too sick to attend the service.

The Campbell Town Inn was constructed in 1840 for Gavin Hogg by well-known builder Hugh Kean. It features the original flagstone floor, heritage-listed sandstone staircase and open fire-places.

Stopped at Valentine Park where there was a huge log. It came from Evercreech.

Found the sundial and it works perfectly. Even gives the date.

I turned the wheel while Steve read the instructions.

Kitty came over for a scratch. Chatted with another couple who are camped near us, Ian and Cherie from Brisbane. Will join them for a drink later.

Another rock with plaque for another local.

The Grange (1847) – now that would be a fantastic home though I would need a housekeeper!! Owned by Dr William who arranged to have the Naval Astronomers come to Campbell Town to look at the Transit of Venus. They were originally going to see it in Hobart but he encouraged them to come and it was the best decision as Hobart was cloudy and they had a perfect view from here in the park.

Interesting chimney shapes.

Interesting information about Eliza Furlong and how she sought sheep and is the mother of the sheep industry which is very big around here.

Jon rang to say he had serviced Ian Wong’s wok stove and now declares he can call himself a gasfitter after doing it. Ian was very happy. Back to the van for lunch then Steve regreased the legs on the van so I went for walk along the river. It didn’t go too far so I headed back up past the Catholic Church. The back then the front of St Michaels. Tried the door but it was locked. Looks like some night lead lighting too.

Walked back through town to the bridge and crossed over to check out the old river path. A fluffy chook was hanging with the ducks on this side.

Old river path.

The sun makes the trees glow. We just made it to see some colour in the leaves as the other trees have lost all their leaves.

Grabbed our chairs, drink and nibbles and went over to Ian and Cherie’s can. Ian had his fireplace going and we brought some of our timber as at 4.30 it is cold already. Had a great afternoon chatting as we huddled around the fire. Checked the temperature when we got back to the van at 8pm and it was -0.2 degrees – wow, didn’t realise how good the fire was!! Cranked up the heater and enjoyed the stew I had prepared earlier in the Ecopot.