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Church Street,
Ross, Tasmania 7209
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Ross Village
Tasmania’s finest heritage village.
The Ross Bridge, completed in 1836
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Magnificent Streetscape
Nestled on the banks of the Macquarie River,
Ross, first settled in 1812, is one of Australia's most original
convict-built stone villages. Many of the original sandstone
buildings in this attractive village have been proudly restored
and preserved for future generations.
As you wander the tree-lined streets of this enchanting village
you will be transported back to a time long gone, but not forgotten.
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The bridge at Ross, possibly the most beautiful
of its kind left in the world today, was built by convict stonemasons.
Completed in 1836, the bridge was designed to carry wagons
and coaches across the Macquarie River, yet it bears today's
traffic
with ease. The Ross Bridge is Australia's third oldest.
To come
upon the bridge for the first time, and the astonishing sculptures
on it's arches, acknowledged
to be the
work of convicted highwayman Daniel Herbert, is an experience
of delight and wonder. There are 186 carvings in all, consisting
of
abstractions of shapes - animals, birds, insects, plants, Celtic
God and Goddesses, and heads of friends and foe, including the
Governor of day, George Arthur. The fine craftsmanship of the
Ross Bridge is a unique colonial legacy, cast in locally quarried
sandstone.
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"Temptation"
The Man O' Ross Hotel was established
by William Saddler
in 1835.
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"Recreation"
The Town Hall accounted for
much of the township's pleasure.
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"Salvation"
The Roman Catholic Church was
converted from a store in the early 1900s.
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"Damnation"
Here stood the Town Gaol now
an elegant colonial home.
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Female Factory Site
What is known as the Ross Female Convict Station
Historic Site was occupied as a convict station between 1833 and
1855. This included
male work and chain gangs, a road station, hiring depot and probation
station. It operated as a probation station for female convicts
and their babies between 1847 and 1854 (hence being known as the
Ross Female Factory Site).
The
women
were trained in the art of domestic services and hired out to
the surrounding properties as domestic help or worked in the central
laundry. The restored Overseer's Cottage on the Female Factory
Site is open daily. Visitors can learn about life of the convict
women and view a detailed model of the Factory Site.
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Daniel Herbert's grave
The Original Burial Ground is the resting place
for a number of the Redcoats who were responsible for maintaining
law and order
during the settlement period.
Some of the graves are elaborately
decorated by Colbeck and Herbert who were responsible for the
unique carvings on the Ross Bridge. Daniel Herbert's grave
is here, marked by his carving of a "table top" tombstone. The tombstone
was originally designed for his son who died in infancy in 1846.
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Departures & Arrivals
An installation board with four images of Departures
and Arrivals taken when the 900 christening bonnets
were installed on-site at the Ross Female Factory in April
2004 is now placed in the Commandant's Cottage, Female Factory
Site,
Ross. A large glass cabinet containing some of the calico bonnets
are on display as a permanent feature to accompany the installation.
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900 calico christening bonnets is a Tasmanian Bi-centennial 2004
Project and speaks of the babies lost to convict women in the Female
Factory System. Many women throughout Tasmania, Victoria, NSW,
ACT and South Australia have made bonnets as a commemorative gesture
to the memory of these babies and their mothers.
Artist: Christina Henri |
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Part of the Museum display. |
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