Market, Museum and Richmond

Salamanca Market is huge, in fact it would be the biggest market we have ever been to. It stretches for what seems like 500 meters with at least 300 stalls. Lots of hand made items, from wood to glass with food and drink in between.

 We started early and were going through the stalls well before 9am.

After looking a little around the area after the markets and then onto the docks area, it was only a short stroll to see the recreation of Mawsons Hut.  This is an exact replica in size, materials and the men's artefacts. Initially there is a bit of reading from signs and this gave us a great refresher on Mawson's story.  Then entering into the internal room of the hut we saw (a replica) of where the men endured two winters.

Across the road from the hut is the TMAG (Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery) where we skipped through the art gallery, but found great interest in the Tasmanian Museum.  The museum consists of three levels and each one covers a specific period. Top level Aboriginals at the period of European settlement. Level 2 European and convict history, and ground flora and fauna and how it was recorded during European settlement.

After lunch of fresh from the sea fish and chips back at the harbour, it was off to Mount Nelson location of a semaphore station and great views of the Derwent and Hobart surrounds.

Finishing the day we headed out to Richmond and explored the Church, the Old Gaol and a replica of Old Hobart Town.

Port Arthur

As we had both been to Port Arthur in the past, we knew what were were in for but still wanted to go back to see just a little more. The haunting remains of the
penitentiary, the vast open areas and the remaining homes that have survived throughout the years.

The other item we both hadn't seen but weren't going to miss, was the cruise and tour of Isle of the Dead.

 The operators of the site have a dual hull catamaran that took us out onto the harbour for a cruise including commentary and then allowed us to disembark for our tour of the island.

 Our guide was a wealth of information and provided a very detailed account of the happenings on the island.  We learn't convicts went originally allowed tombstones of any kind and how free people were buried on the higher side of the island, with their tombstones and their backs to the penitentiary.

After the tour we finished our cruise with a Tasmanian Scallop Pie, well I tried one and finished it, but Katie stuck to the lamington and coffee.  The pie was just like a curry pie, but without chicken or beef.  It was very strong, fairly tasty, but not something I would try again.

The afternoon was spent looking around the site and then returning back to Hobart.

We did stop off at a museum on the way.  As it was only $3 entry we weren't disappointed, but the photos explain themselves.

Females, freezing mountain and fascinating museum

Cascade Female Factory, the place where many female convicts were sent when they arrived in Hobart, is just south of Hobart and provided us with an insight to one particular woman's arrival. We attended the 11AM performance of Her Story and were impressed.
The site does not have any of the original buildings but has marked areas impressed on the ground showing the locations of walls. With the performance the walls appeared to come up from the ground and we were taken to the past.

Afterwards, we drove to the top of Mount Wellington to see the view from the top.  But as we drove up and up the cloud rolled in, the rain come down, then the sleet, and at the very top, snow!

It was cold, and for some stupid reason we ran across the car park to the enclosed viewing area to look out at the.... clouds!  We read all the boards and signs in the building and then scooted to the other building in the freezing temperatures. Thinking the other building would have more info we entered, to find it was a toilet block.

After descending back down the mountain we were off to M.O.N.A. and found it a bizarre mix of very old to very modern art.  In the same area there were Egyptian mummies and some art only created as it would seem weeks ago, There was even a wall representing a female body part,using plaster moulds, I won't go into detail, but from memory there were over 70 different ones mounted on the wall at head height.

 

The afternoon was spent with a little relaxation and of course laundry.

Tomorrow... more convicts.

The Midland Way

One of the worst lookouts we have ever been to would have to be on High Street, Launceston.  We drove past on Tuesday and made a point we would return on departure to see the city one last time. Well we should have taken some photos, but as we were so disappointed neither of us drew a shot.


The tower was around 15 meters high and by design perfect for a lookout, but over the years the trees have grown, and grown in turn blocking pretty much all the view.

We departed Launceston but only a little way before our first stop, Franklin House. In fact we were still in Launceston in the area of Youngtown.

Katie, being teacher in the schoolhouse.

We received a private tour by one of the delightful National Trust volunteers, providing a wealth of information and insight to the history of the building and grounds.

Having toured the building we indulged in a home made Devonshire Tea, delightfully presented and made by the volunteers.  It was also while chatting to them we were given details about the best Vanilla Slice in Ross and Callington Flour Mill in Oatlands.

We stopped by in Ross and selected one Vanilla Slice and placed it in the Engle for later and whilst in town also visited the site of the Female Factory and 42 Parallel.

Further along the road and we were in Oatlands and as recommended we stopped off at the Callington Flour Mill but realised $15 each was a bit too much for us to pay for a tour.  Photos from the outside were good enough.

Our last attraction for the day was a quick stop at Cadbury, and after a presentation we made a couple of purchases.  Point of note, it is closed over Easter and the days before are flat out with all of Hobart dropping in to make some Easter egg purchases.