Richmond is a town in Tasmania about 25 km north-east of Hobart, in the Coal River region, between the Midland Highway and Tasman Highway. Richmond has a population of approximately 900.
Richmond's most famous landmark is the Richmond Bridge, built in 1823 to 1825, around the time of the town's first settlement. It is Australia's oldest bridge still in use. St John's Catholic church was built in 1836, and is considered the oldest Roman Catholic church in Australia.
In the 1820s, Richmond became one of Lieutenant-Governor Arthur's police districts; the gaol, the court house, the barracks and a watch house were erected. Richmond continued to grow, largely because of its importance as a convict station and a military post.
The town was initially part of the route between Hobart and Port Arthur until the Sorell Causeway was constructed in 1872. Richmond's position on the route to the East Coast and the Tasman Peninsula made it a natural overnight stopping place. By the 1830s, several roads led into and out of the town.
Richmond has been preserved as it was in the 1800's with many of the original sandstone structures still standing. This time we visited Richmond twice: the first one to enjoy the scrumptious pies at the famous Richmond Bakery and the second time to show the place to our friends Lena and Cagi.
Bruny Island was originally inhabited by the Aborigines until European arrival, although there is still a large community of people who identify as Aboriginal. Abel Tasman tried to land in the vicinity of Adventure Bay in November 1642.
In 1773 Tobias Furneaux was the first recorded European to land on the island at Adventure Bay (named after his ship). Adventure Bay is an area of national historic significance for a number of reasons; pre-European occupation, major stopping-place for early explorers (Cook, Bligh, d'Entrecasteaux, Tobin, Furneaux), first specimen of Eucalypt in world collected here in 1777, planting of first European trees on Australian soil,
Four years later on 26 January 1777 James Cook's two ships, the Resolution and Discovery stayed in the bay area for two days. Cook carved his initials in a tree that was destroyed in a 1905 bushfire and is now commemorated by a plaque. In 1788 and again in 1792 (with Matthew Flinders) William Bligh stayed in the Adventure Bay area.
The island itself however is named after the French explorer Bruni d'Entrecasteaux who explored the Channel region and discovered it to be an island in 1792. It was known as Bruni Island until 1918, when the spelling was changed to Bruny.
Our friend David Conceição lives in Adventure Bay and it is a compulsory visit every time we go to Tassie. I started David in the art of diving when I arrived in Australia.
Peppermint Bay Cruise , a Xmas gift from our daughters , leaves from the tourist hub of Sullivan's Cove in Hobart, takes in the harbour, the River Derwent, and the magnificent waters of the d'Entrecasteaux Channel, on its way to Peppermint Bay. The trip to Peppermint Bay takes approximately two hours on board of a 23 metre catamaran, stopping along the way to enjoy some of the amasing sights of the Tasmania coastline. Near Peppermint Bay, the catamaran stops at the Tinderbox Marine Reserva and the crew lowers a 'Spy Ball' camera, and we could see what life is like underwater without getting wet.
On arrival at the picturesque Peppermint Bay, a scrumptious 3 course lunch is served utilising Tasmania's famous fresh produce sourced from local farmers and fishermen. The siting arrangement, in long tables for 4 couples stimulate the interaction with others and friendly and efficient service make the cruise an experience not easily forgotten.
After the lunch we had half an hour to visit the village of Woodbridge, population 217. As we boarded the catamaram to return to Hobart, the weather turned nasty and we were called to rescue a group of tourists of one of the speed boats that visit Adventure Bay. The sea was too rought and the boat operator decided to ensure people would arrive at their hotels safe and dry.
Tahuna Airwalk is one of the "must visit" places in the south of Tasmania. We combined the visit to Tahuna Airwalk with a trip along the Huon Valley and Southport, the southern most place you can drive in Tasmania.
On our way to Tahuna we stopped at a cherry farm near Huonville and filled the car with some of the best cherries we ever had. From Huonvile we stopped at the Forest and Heritage Centre in Geeveston where we purchased the permits for the Tahuna Airwalk. From Geeveston to the Airwalk we drove through 30 km of impressive wet eucalypt and pine forrest. The Tahune forest is a great example of how forest industry can exist and at the same time enjoy healthy environment. This forest have been logged since the earlier settlement of Tasmania and from 1960's clearfelled (large scale logging). The photos on this section give you an idea how misled we can be if we are to listen only to the apocalyptic claims of the enemies of the forest industry
Hobartis the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony, Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney, New South Wales. In 2011, the city had a population of approximately 220,000. The first settlement began in 1803 as a penal colony at Risdon Cove on the eastern shores of the Derwent River, amid British concerns over the presence of French explorers. In 1804 it was moved to a better location at the present site of Hobart at Sulivan Cove.
Rita and her family live now in Kingston Beach, a suburb of Hobart and every second year we spend Xmas and New Year there. During the Xmas period Hobart transforms itself from a quiet city to a busy destination for people from all over the world due to the internationally famous Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race and the Taste of Tasmania Food Festival.
