| Foxhunters Return - More than 175 Years of History to Enjoy |
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Foxhunters Return is the second coaching inn in Campbell Town to bear the Foxhunters name - the first, Foxhunters Retreat, operated on Bridge Street near Campbell Town's original stone and wooden bridge. However when the authorities decided on a grander replacement, publican William Broad seized the opportunity and purchased land behind his inn that fronted High Street the site of the new crossing. Irish master stonemason, Hugh Kean, is credited with building the new Foxhunters in stages over 7 years, finishing the elegant Georgian sandstone facade of the central building in 1840. |
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For decades Foxhunters Return was a focal point for travellers venturing between Tasmania's two major towns - Hobart and Launceston. Under several owners, including builder Hugh Kean, and under several names Foxhunters provided shelter and refreshments to weary travellers whilst tending to their horses. |
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The coming of the railway in the late 1800's saw Foxhunters fall into gradual decline. Serving for a period of the 1890's as military outpost for the Campbell Town detachment of the Auxiliary forces, it was later divided into apartments. Purchased by the Mercer family in 1927 it then began an extended period as a private residence. By 1975 it's decline was such that the then Campbell Town Council proposed buying it for $10,000 and sought Federal assistance to restore it to it's former glory. While no rescue funds were forthcoming from Canberra the potential loss of Foxhunters was enough to inspire subsequent owners to mount a major restoration that would see the Georgian coaching inn once again be renowned for its hospitality.
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| The Red Bridge |
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Built with a convict workforce housed each night in the cellars underneath Foxhunters Return, Campbell Town's Red Bridge is now Australia's oldest bridge still serving on a major transport route. Constructed to replace the town's earlier flood prone bridge, its foundation stone was laid by Lieutenant Governor Arthur on October 21st, 1836 with construction begun in earnest in mid 1837 under the guidance of Captain Frederick Forth of the 21st Royal North British Fusiliers. Unusually the convicts used were paid for by a vote of money from the Legislative Council set at six pence per day for each man. With a convict workforce of up to 220 men at its peak, the Red Bridge was completed in just 16 months being officially opened in July 1938.
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Said to be designed by Evered James Blackburn, a convict himself who would later make a name for himself as an architect in Melbourne, the Red Bridge was constructed from some 1,250,000 hand-made bricks fired in 6 nearby kilns. Built over dry land, the Elizabeth River was diverted to flow under it upon its completion. Although designed and built in the era of horse and cart Australia's only surviving convict built brick arch bridge now carries more than 2 million vehicles annually over the Elizabeth River.
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| Campbell Town |
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The history of Campbell Town begins in 1807, barely 4 years after the permanent white settlement of then Van Diemens Land, when James Meehan was dispatched from Sydney to survey a road between Launceston and Hobart. Passing along Meehan's route through the Midlands in December 1811, New South Wales' Governor Lachlan Macquarie renamed Relief Creek the Elizabeth River in honour of his wife. Some ten years later on another journey through Van Diemen's Land, Governor Macquarie selected an area to the north of the river as a site for a garrison town which he named Campbell Town, once again in a tribute to his wife whose maiden name was Campbell. |
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1822 saw the construction of the town's first bridge, a small stone bridge and causeway which is now recognized as Tasmania's oldest bridge still in existence. It's stone abutments today still support a timber bridge which qualifies it as the oldest bridge in Australia still in use - the Richmond Bridge was not opened until early 1825. |
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Campbell Town has had something of a revival in recent years, serving as the only major stopping point on the Heritage Highway between Hobart and Launceston as well as continuing to serve as an important rural services centre for the northern Midlands region.
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Colonial heritage accommodation in central Tasmania. The Midland Highway (Heritage Highway), Campbell Town Tasmania
