Swansea, Tasmania.Swansea, swansea tasmania, jetstar, jet star, virgin, virgin blue, webjet, webjet australia, flight centre australia, flight centre, flight center, hotels.com, expedia, travelocity, Swansea, swansea tasmania, jetstar, jet star, virgin, virgin blue, webjet, webjet australia, flight centre australia, flight centre, flight center, hotels.com, expedia, travelocity, Swansea, swansea tasmania, jetstar, jet star, virgin, virgin blue, webjet, webjet australia, flight centre australia, flight centre, flight center, hotels.com, expedia, travelocity Swansea, Tasmania, is about 90-minutes’ drive (134 kilometres/83.7 miles) from Hobart and approximately the same driving distance from Launceston.
Swansea, originally known as Great Swanport, was first explored by a Captain Cox in 1798 and was settled in 1827 as a garrison and a convict station. By 1830 there were 150 free residents and 170 convicts and assigned servants. The most common access from Hobart at this time was via Campbell Town but between 1835-45 convicts worked on a road north through the mountains to Avoca and on a road south to Hobart. In 1831 the post office was established and in the late 1830s a number of substantial buildings - Morris's Store, Schouten House, the Black Swan Inn - were all built showing an increasing prosperity. The town continued to grow and eventually became the most important service centre on the lower eastern coast of Tasmania and, in recent times, it has proved to be a popular holiday destination.
The historic township of Swansea is ideal for fishing, swimming and diving, or relaxing on the beach overlooking Great Oyster Bay and the beautiful Freycinet National Park and, as mentioned above, is home to some fascinating historic buildings. Take a self-guided historic walk of Swansea past Schouten House, Meredith House and Morris's General Store. You can learn about leather staining at the Swansea Bark Mill and Tavern and look out for the quirky profile of Spiky Bridge, just outside town. Sample Swansea's fresh harvests from land and sea, part of the east coast experience. Enjoy wine-tasting at the Wine and Wool Centre, then indulge in some of the area's other local produce: oysters, walnuts, olives and, of course, fish. Things to see: Swansea Bark Mill and East Coast Museum: Located at 96 Tasman Highway the Swansea Bark Mill and East Coast Museum was built by the Morey family in the 1880s. This historic machinery plant originally processed black wattle bark which was the basic ingredient used for tanning leather. It is possible to see the machinery working today. The East Coast Museum, which is attached, has extensive displays recording the early history of the district and is open from 9.00 a.m. - 5.00 p.m. Contact (03) 6257 8382 for more information. Council Chambers: Located in Noyes Street the Council Chambers building was constructed by James Hurst in 1860. It is characterised by a lean-to verandah, a hipped iron roof, arched windows and the foundations and main walls are constructed from painted rubble with brick quoins and opening surrounds. There is some evidence that the materials used to construct the Council Chambers came, in part, from the military outpost at Waterloo Point.
Schouten House was built by a Mr Champion of Hobart Town in 1845 as a wedding gift to his daughter Theresa. It became known as the Swansea Hotel and the southern wing was used as a brewery. When Theresa died in 1855 it was sold and became a Grammar School and by 1860 it had become a private residence.
Now known as Oyster Bay Guest House and located at 10 Franklin Street, Resthaven was built in 1841 and operated initially as the Black Swan Inn. In 1870 it became a store and then became a private residence which was occupied by a number of different doctors. Meredith House: Now an attractive 'colonial accommodation' destination, Meredith House is located at Noyes Street. The land was originally owned by Charles Meredith, husband of noted colonial artist and poet, Louisa Anne Meredith, and was subsequently purchased by J.A. Graham who had the current two-storey Georgian House built in 1853. It was variously known as Laughton House and in the 1930s it was called “Canberra.” At one time it was used as school. All Saints Church: All Saints Church on the corner of Noyes and Wellington Streets was completed in 1871. It is a Gothic church, designed by H. Hunter and is constructed of roughly coursed fieldstone, it has dressed sandstone trimmings to buttresses and gable copings.
Located 7.5 km south of Swansea, Spiky Bridge is a convict bridge which was built in 1843. It was constructed from fieldstones which were laid without mortar or cement. The parapet features fieldstones laid vertically which gives the bridge a spiky appearance. It has been claimed that the spikes were designed to prevent cattle falling over the sides. Swansea enjoys temperate weather all year round, with an average maximum of 22 degrees Celsius (71.6 degrees Fahrenheit) in January and 14 degrees Celsius (57 degrees Fahrenheit) in June. If you’re into history then you must visit Swansea on your next trip to Tasmania……enjoy,
John.
Swansea, swansea tasmania, jetstar, jet star, virgin, virgin blue, webjet, webjet australia, flight centre australia, flight centre, flight center, hotels.com, expedia, travelocity, Swansea, swansea tasmania, jetstar, jet star, virgin, virgin blue, webjet, webjet australia, flight centre australia, flight centre, flight center, hotels.com, expedia, travelocity, Swansea, swansea tasmania, jetstar, jet star, virgin, virgin blue, webjet, webjet australia, flight centre australia, flight centre, flight center, hotels.com, expedia, travelocity Discount Flights | Discount Hotels | Discount Car Hire | Discount Cruises | Discount Hostels Discount Shopping | Discount Travel | Special Travel Deals | Discount Attractions Our RSS feed will be updated periodically with all the latest travel deals and special offers. Please subscribe by clicking the button to the left (XML/RSS) to receive notice of these updates without any risk or obligation. PLEASE NOTE: If you don't know what an RSS feed is just click this link. Click here to return from Swansea to The Discount Travel Guide home page.
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What’s special about Swansea?
Schouten House: 
Spiky Bridge: