Richmond Bridge, Tasmania

The Richmond Bridge, built in 1823, is the oldest bridge in Australia still in use. It's also made from sandstone hauled to the site by convicts using hand-carts. The foundation stone was laid on 11 December 1823 and took three years to complete.

In 2005, the bridge was recognised as an outstanding historic place and added to the Australian National Heritage List.

Richmond Gaol, Tasmania

From the mid 1820's there was a building frenzy in Richmond which required large numbers of convict laborours so the Richmond Gaol was built to house them. Like most of the town's beautiful old buildings, it was built out of local sandstone from a nearby quarry at Butcher's Hill.

Ann Forest was transported for seven years for larceny. She was assigned to work as a servant for Cornthwaite Hector. In 1839 Ann spent 14 days in one of these cells sentenced to solitary confinement on bread and water for insolence and disobedience. She refused to return to more ill-treatment from her master and earned a repeat sentence. After a third stint in solitary for absence without leave, Ann was returned to the Government for re-assignment.

Female convicts were often badly treated by their masters - many women commited further offences to escape from them.

Richmond Gaol

The Yard

Cells were 2.13m x 1 metre wide

Man trap used for tresspassers and poachers

Swansea, Tasmania

Great Oyster Bay

Swansea, is a small seaside town in the centre of Tasmania's east coast, on the northwest shore of Great Oyster Bay.

Loointitetermairrelehoiner is the Aboriginal name of the local tribe who roamed this part of Tasmania's east coast before Europeans arrived in the 1820's.

In 1850 the sad story of Thomas and Mary Ann Large is documented here. Returning to Swansea on holiday with their 6 children aboard the Resolution, suddenly disaster struck and the ship sank. At the inquest, Thomas Large made the following statement:

"The vessel all this time kept turning on its side and the sea washing right over us, the children then became very weak and we kept hold of them as long as we could with one hand as we were obliged to hold on ourselves with the other until the sea washed them away from the different persons who had hold of them."

All 6 children perished and are buried here in the cemetry at Swansea.

Tasmanian Devil

The Tasmanian Devil could soon become extinct, just like the Tasmanian Tiger. An infectious cancer has reduced their numbers to almost zero. It's a cruel disease, slowly developing into large tumours on the face and neck which makes it difficult for the animal to eat and they die a slow death from starvation within 3 months.

The Tasmanian Devil was named by the early European settlers, who were haunted at night by the sound of its spine-chilling screeches and demonic growls.

They eat any meat that is available, this includes insects, birds and beached fish. But their favourites are possums, wallabies and wombats.

Not a pretty or cute animal, it has the most ungainly gait when it moves, its back end looks almost deformed. Steps are being taken to ensure that the Devil doesn't follow the Tasmanian Tiger into extinction.

You can see the Devil at East Coast Nature World, Bicheno.

Lagoons Beach, Tasmania

There is free camping thirty kilometres north of Bicheno at Lagoons Beach Coastal Reserve. You can stay here for up to 4 weeks. Lots of room to get away on your own.

Freycinet National Park, Tasmania

Sleepy Bay

In 1793, Louis de Freycinet joined the French navy and took part in several engagements against the British. The French ships Naturaliste and Geographe set out to navigate the south and south-west coasts of Australia. However, much of the ground had already been covered by Englishman Matthew Flinders but nevertheless the French took credit for their discoveries and renamed places already documented by the Englishman.

Freycinet National Park still bears his name today.

Coles Bay, Tasmania

Clouds on the mountain

Coles Bay

Coles Bay is a tiny hamlet just outside the Frechinet National Park. There is a pub, a bakery, a supermarket, a service station and that's about it and lots of holiday accommodation.

You can take a 4 hour cruise from here to Wineglass Bay.

Bicheno, Tasmania

Rocky mound behind the front street

View from the Pub

Sheep and water views

The township with Diamond Island in the background



Rocky hill behind the shops

More rocks behind the church

Bicheno is a pretty little fishing town of 640 people, nestled at the base of interesting rock formations and surrounded with beautiful beaches. The local butcher had wallaby sausages in his window and they were also on the menu at the pub today, something I have never seen before and never likely to try.

We are staying at Bicheno East Coast Holiday Park. The sites are a generous size and grassy but they are charging $30 a night instead of the average $20 to $25 we've been paying so far. There is a free camp at Lagoons Beach about 20 kms north of Bicheno.

Wauba Debar's Grave, Bicheno, Tasmania

Wauba Debar (1792 -1832) was a teenage Aboriginal girl when she and other young women were kidnapped by sealers and whalers for sex partners during the European colonisation of Tasmania.

The union with her husband must have been a happy one because she risked her life to save him. A very strong swimmer, she swam one kilometer out to sea during a raging storm and brought first her husband, then another sealer safely to shore after their ship was wrecked.

Local settlers raised funds in 1855 to erect the headstone on her grave in recognition of her bravery.

It overlooks Waubs Bay and Warbs Harbour both which were named after her, and is listed on the Tasmanian Heritage list.

Douglas Aspley National Park, Tasmania

Just 10 kms from Bicheno is Douglas Apsley National Park. A short walk from the car park brings you to the crystal clear water of Apsley River water hole. A few brave souls went in for a swim today but the water was very cold and one young man said his feet were going numb so he got straight out. Lovely spot to sit and think.

Sunrise at Bay of Fires, Tasmania

This fisherman caught a good size salmon here this morning. He has a freezer full of flathead and salmon.

Bay of Fires, Tasmania

View in front of the caravan

The Bay of Fires is situated between Eddystone Point and Binalong Bay on the east coast and is one of Tasmania's most popular tourist destinations. It has everything - stunning turquoise water, red rocks and pure white sand.

And we are camped just behind the beach on the waterfront - for free. It's our first 'free camp' experience. Dennis has the new generator on a lead a long way away from us and our nearest neighbours and you can hardly hear it. There are about 3 motor homes, 1 fifth wheeler, 4 caravans and one big bus here where we are now on our first night but there are available camp sites all along the beach front, so there's enough room for everyone.

There are toilets here but no showers and you have to bring your own water. We have a shower and toilet in the van.

So it's time to chill out, read a good book, do a bit of fishing and enjoy the beautiful mild sunny days on these beautiful beaches of the Bay of Fires