While I’m staying with my sister, Marion, Campbell Town is my ‘local’ town. It’s 35kms down the road and the closest place to buy a loaf of a bread or a newspaper. It also has some great little coffee shops that are worth a visit- and an interesting history.
The Red Bridge, which crosses the Elizabeth River, was built by convicts in 1838.
………. the famous Red Bridge. Built by convicts in the 1830s, it’s said to contain one million bricks and these days carries more than two million vehicles each year.
It’s not what you expect an old bridge in Tasmania to look like, being made of red bricks rather than the beautiful stone of say Ross or Richmond.
Adjoining the Red Bridge is Blackburn Park, which features some fabulous chain saw sculptures.
Blackburn Park is right on the edge of town and also offers a 48 hour free camp stopover just over the foot bridge.
Campbell Town is also known for its Convict Brick Trail, where families with a convict ancestor sponsored a brick to remember their history. Here’s our brick for Mary Lettice, an ancestor on my mother’s side of the family, who was transported on the Mary Anne in 1841. Her crime and punishment? Larceny – 7 years!
Our ancestor, Mary Lettice
If you think Mary did it tough, what about some of these that I discovered…
I’ve fallen asleep at the post so often I would have got life!
Being such an historic settlement there are also many lovely old buildings in Campbell Town. The Anglican Church, built in 1835, is quite magnificent, but it’s the little school house in the church grounds that I loved.
This church, which is now a private property, welcomes you to Campbell Town when travelling from Launceston.
And here’s another couple of historic buildings in the main street.
The Foxhunters Return
One of the many old cottages to discover
Campbell Town has historically been a stop over on the journey from Hobart to Launceston but with a 48 hour free camp on the edge of town and a 24 hour free camp in King Street there’s no reason why you can’t stop a little longer and enjoy what this pretty little Northern Midlands town has to offer.
Free Camps, Campbell Town, Tasmania
The Snail Trail 
July 25, 2016 at 10:16 am
A lovely post. I’ve passed through there more times than I can remember and always wished for time to explore. There used to be a really good butcher selling roo burgers on the western side of the highway. Enjoy you stay in beautiful Tassie.
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August 13, 2016 at 3:15 pm
thank you – and the butcher is still there!
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August 19, 2018 at 11:57 am
Hi Rosemary
How freaky I am researching Mary Lettice for my brother in law who is related through her daughter Margaret
The brick is great and I will show it to Max
Regards
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