A gorge, a bridge and two old houses.

The first part of the morning was taken with a cruise on the Tamar and South Esk rivers. The Tamar isn't actually a river, it is an estuary of the two Esk rivers.
I have to say it was not the most informative trip we have been on, however it was great to see the Cataract Gorge from the water, and an old bridge spanning it.






Half of the bridge was made in Glasgow and brought out here in parts, to be reconstructed like a Meccano set. The other half was made locally much later after the city fathers realised that one lane was insufficient, and the two placed side by side. It was good that they had actually matched the original.

Launceston and the surrounding area was settled very early in the European settlement of Australia, so there are a number of quite old houses around the city. One such is Clarendon, a Georgian house built in 1838 by James Cox. He prospered at a time when northern Tasmania was the food bowl for Australia, exporting large quantities of grain not only to New South Wales but also India, Mauritius and South Africa.
He was also involved in the fine wool industry, using convict labour initially to assist his business. However he was also very much involved in the anti- transportation movement and later employed free men..Six generations of the family lived and worked there, but the house is now owned by the National Trust, and very well kept after many years of neglect when the family died out.

Close by is another old house and farm, Woolmers. The Archers of Hertford in Hertfordshire were originally millers, but William Archer senior was always on the lookout for new opportunities, as were his sons. Thomas Archer, his son, emigrated herein 1812 to take up a job in the Army commissariat, and after a few years was granted 600 acres of land, on which he built Woolmers in 1819. Retiring from the army to take up farming full time, aquiring more land until he had around 12000 acres, on which he ran 25000 fine merino sheep. The house was extended in 1840, adding the fine frontage that now exists.

Many of the furnishings within the house are original, with one piece actually having been made by convicts
We were fortunate to have been shown around by a member of the Archer family, a nephew of the last direct descendant of  Thomas Archer and owner of the estate, who died a bachelor in 1996. He left it to the Woolmers Trust, who still run it, supporting the estate from produce and letting the farm cottage to tourists.
With a wonderful view across the Macquarie river to the mountains beyond, who would not want to stay in such beautiful surroundings?
Photography within either building was not allowed for insurance reasons, but we will carry fond memories of them both.

Woolmers also has the national rose garden in its grounds, which opened in 2001 in part of an old orchard. Attracting funding from government and private donors, the aim is to provide visitors with a history of the rose, and provide training and job opportunities for young Tasmanians.
All in all, a good day for us on our last day before we go to Devonport to catch the ferry back to Melbourne tomorrow.