Oatlands, Tasmania

There is a lot of history in Oatlands, Tasmania, Australia and the town with Australia's largest collection of sandstone Georgian buildings.  There are 150 of them, mostly convict built, including 87 along the main street.

Oatlands is named after the English town in Surrey.

The most prominent building in the town is Callington Mill, Australia's third oldest windmill (1837) and the centrepiece of the Callington Mill Distillery.

Oatlands developed around a military precinct in the late 1820's and it's impressive courthouse was the only Supreme Court in regional Tasmania, which meant it could deliver death sentences. Eighteen convicts were executed inside the town's large gaol, and the walls and archway are still standing.

Callington Mill the second photo taken the other day, the top one taken a few years ago.

The house (was the hospital many years ago) where I was born, in the right hand back corner was the room according to my late mother.

Below are some of the houses and centre's related to the council these days.

Interesting how the homes are built next to the footpath, out the front door onto it.

The Police Station above, the Chemist shop below.

On the map Oatlands is above Hobart with the red marking around the area.

Kentish Hotel, Oatlands, Tasmania

Oatlands is 166km from Launceston and takes about 1 hour and 14 minutes if you get a good run as in driving.  Husband and I went there the other day for lunch, made up our minds and off we went.  Oatlands is in the country just off the highway to Hobart down south and Launceston to the north.  Oatlands is the most intact Georgian town in Australia and it's the town where I was born but never lived there.

The Hotel we went to for lunch is the only one there, called the Oatlands Hotel once, now called The Kentish Hotel and is a heritage listed country pub, was built in 1832 and is considered a community hub, offering a bar, restaurant, cafe, and accommodation. 

The first photo is of the Hotel which has been made a little more modern on the inside. It's been given a coat of paint on the outside.  

2nd photo is part of Lake Dulverton where we once used to stay overnight in the caravan, sometimes. 

3rd photo is of the dining room and cafe.

There will be more photos in another post of the buildings.

Oatlands on the map has the red dots around it and is above Hobart.

A view of Lake Dulverton, Oatlands.

All the photos are taken at Lake Dulverton in Oatlands and this was our view from the caravan and also when we sat outside. Some of the photos are zoomed in all the way without a tripod.

Amazing, the day we left Lake Dulverton Margaret Attwood the author of The Handmaid's Tale a TV Series, and of course other books, Margaret popped out of a car as we drove off.  Margaret had been in the Hobart area for a few days attending some convention for authors.

Coot and below two plovers.

The Black Swans

The Swans on Lake Dulverton in the town of Oatlands in the midlands of Tasmania.

Was born in Oatlands and moved to Hobart when 7 months old when my late dad joined the Police Force.

On the 1st of March we went from Launceston here in Tasmania my home State for a holiday travelling to some areas of the Island when we had never heard of Covid-19. During this time from the blog High Riser Andrew and his partner were travelling the Island too, we were always in different places at different times which was unfortunate because we never got that chance to meet.

Took our caravan and camped for the first night by Lake Dulverton arriving just after lunch, set everything up and sat on the seat provided and watched the Black Swans.

Amazing creatures to observe.

*Click on the images to see larger view.*

Having a squabble.

Sleeping.

Some younger ones.

These two were eyeing up each other.

Lake Dulverton, Oatlands, Tasmania.

Lake Dulverton is a large shallow lake/lagoon associated with the town of Oatlands in Southern Midlands of Tasmania. The lake has an uneven shoreline with many low sandstone cliffs and overhangs.

The only island in the lake, Mary's Island, is a small sandstone rock roughly 80 m long with nothing more than a few cedars growing on it. The lake dried up in 1993 and remained dry for years until heavy rains in August, 2010, filled the lake to near full supply level. During this dry period, 2 levees were built across the lake dividing it into 3 sections. Only the smallest section near the Callington Mill was able to remain full.

Often we stop at Oatlands which is now off the Highway when coming home from Hobart.  I have an Auntie who lives in this Historic Town, she is 95 and in fairly good health, she if rather deaf, which leads me to tell this.

Last year my husband and I called on our way home from Hobart, rang her doorbell many times with no answer.  We could see her inside through the blinds watching and listening to a very loud TV. So  phoned her from my mobile and she heard the ring, picked up the phone and said 'Hello', of course I told her I was at her door...she couldn't stop laughing. So each time we call, I phone her first so then she has the door open to welcome us in.

Topiary Animals at Dulverton Lake side, then the lake itself.

 

Callington Mill

Passed through the town of Oatlands at the weekend and took a photo of the Callington Mill which is in the town of Oatlands, Tasmania, Australia. 

The Mill was built in 1836 by John Vincent who didn't have much success with his flour mill, tried to sell it but ended up handing it to his son John Jubilee Vincent in 1840.  By 1850 the mill had been sold to Thomas Jillett who established a steam mill whereby production increased. By 1862 the flour mill was two storey driven with steam and wind plus other various buildings.

The mill continued to operate until 1892. In 1909 a storm blew the sails away and in 1912 it was gutted by fire.

Callington Mill restoration was completed in late 2010 and commenced operation on the 3rd October 2010.
It is a fully operational wind driven flour mill, once again grinding flour.