Campbell Town - Midlands , Tasmania.
Originally a garrison town and coach stop on the route linking the two main settlements of Hobart and Launceston, Campbell Town, named after Elizabeth Campbell the wife of Governor Lachlan Macquarie, was established in the early 1800’s.
Known as the ”Historic Heart of Tasmania” Campbell Towns heritage includes some great examples of early colonial architecture.
The Grange for example was home to Doctor William Valentine and designed by the convict architect James Blackburn in the late 1840’s.
The Foxhunters Return, built in 1830 as a coaching inn, is now a four-and-a-half star B&B and the Campbell Town Inn, which first opened its doors in 1840 and was known as the Beehive, gave a clear indication of the towns standing in the colony with its solid construction and presence.
Campbell Town Railway Station was the site of the first telephone call made in the southern hemisphere and the show-grounds are home to the oldest continuous agricultural show in Australia having run since 1838 and riding on the back of fine Merino wool.
The first Saxon Merino sheep were introduced into the district as early as 1823 and by the 1830’s had established Campbell Town as the centre of a rapidly growing fine wool industry.
But the town’s most famous son has nothing to do with its colonial history or rural industries.
In 1931 Harold Gatty and American Wiley Post completed the first aerial circumnavigation of the world. Two years earlier Gatty had been the navigator for a record breaking 19 hour non-stop flight between Los Angeles and New York with pilot Roscoe Turner.
This Tassie Local snapshot was produced by Footloose Photographic & Media Solutions
Things to see around - Campell Town
Campell Town - Midlands, Tasmania
