Why Does Ross Have a Waterloo Street?

Most visitors notice the Ross Bridge. Some notice the sandstone buildings. Few stop to wonder about the street signs.

Yet hidden among the village streets are clues to a remarkable chapter of history. Names such as Waterloo, Wellington, Badajos, Nivelle and Portugal all have links to the Napoleonic Wars, a series of conflicts fought across Europe between 1803 and 1815.

So how did the name of a battle fought in Spain end up on a street in a small Tasmanian village?

The answer lies in Ross’s early military history.

In the 1820s, a military garrison was established at the ford of the Macquarie River, and Ross soon became an important military and administrative centre in the young colony. Soldiers stationed here helped protect travellers, oversee convict labour and support the development of the district. Some of these men were veterans of the Napoleonic Wars. One was Philip Maher of the 51st Regiment of Foot, who later served as Barrack Sergeant at Ross. His headstone in the old Ross burial ground records that he served during the Peninsular Campaign and at Waterloo, providing a direct link between the village and the events commemorated in its street names.

Waterloo Street recalls the famous 1815 battle that ended Napoleon’s rule, while Wellington Street honours the Duke of Wellington, commander of the British forces. Badajos Street takes its name from the Siege of Badajoz in Spain, and Nivelle Street refers to the Battle of the Nivelle fought in 1813 near the French-Spanish border. Even Portugal Street reflects the Peninsular campaigns fought across Portugal and Spain.

Today, these names are part of everyday life in Ross. They appear on street signs, often unnoticed by passing visitors. Yet they are reminders that this quiet Midlands village was once connected to events unfolding on the other side of the world.

The next time you stroll through Ross, take a moment to look beyond the buildings. The history of the village isn’t only found in its bridges and cottages. In this case, it’s written on the street signs.