Campbell Town - Australia's First Telephone Connection and The Transit of Venus observation

Campbell Town

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Briggs and Valentine

Alfred Barrett Biggs (1825-1900), teacher, bank officer, astronomer and inventor, was born on 10 April 1825 in London, moving to Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) in 1833.

In 1872, he moved to Campbell Town, where he taught in the public school and befriended Dr William Valentine, of The Grange, in Campbell Town.

Both men were fascinated by astronomy, and in 1874 a rare astronomical event occurred: the transit of Venus. Valentine had invited an American expedition to view the transit from his home. Biggs assisted with the observations, and the Americans gave him a building they had used in making their observations.

In 1877 Biggs learned of the invention of the telephone. He then constructed a pair of telephones and had them connected between Launceston and Campbell Town, successfully transmitting sounds between the two locations. It has been claimed that this was the first telephone connection in Australia.

In 1874, with well-known astronomer, Dr. William Valentine, he prepared the equipment for the team of US astronomers who observed the transit of Venus from Campbell Town. Biggs made the lenses for his telescope and ended up as Government Astronomer

The telephone equipment, modelled on designs by Alexander Graham Bell, is now housed in the Queen Victoria Museum in Launceston.

The Grange - Campbell Town

The Transit of Venus Sundial

In the park in front of The Grange is an unusual monument, the Transit of Venus sundial. It was designed from old agricultural machinery found around the town by Anthony Sprent.
It commemorates the Transit of Venus which took place in 1874 and was designed for the transit which occurred on 8 June, 2004.

Campbell Town was one of the early coaching stops and is the centre of the fine wool and sheep-farming region.

 

Campbell Town, located on the banks of the Elizabeth River, is approximately 69 kilometres from Launceston and 133 kilometres from Hobart.

It was an early coaching stop and had a population of 781 (2011 census).

Governor Lachlan Macquarie named the town after his wife's family while visiting in 1821. 

Campbell Town was one of nine police districts established by Governor Arthur in 1827, each with a stipendiary magistrate, a contingent of troops, a doctor, a postmaster, and a lecturer or catechist.

The causeway over the Elizabeth River was removed when the current bridge was erected in 1837, and a brewery near the stream was established to supply the three hotels.

 

A flour mill was also built to supply the hamlet, even though some of the inhabitants had been grinding their own grain for years prior to this using stone rollers and water wheels.
 
The larger estates employed carpenters, blacksmiths, nail technicians, and every other tradesman required for independence, making them essentially self-sufficient.
 
Meehan had built out the township proper, as Gov. Macquarie had instructed, with a common area and streets spanning an approximate distance of three miles in length and one mile in width.

 

Nearly every bushranger recorded in Tasmanian history seems to have robbed, murdered or burned his way through the Campbell Town district at one time or another in his career.

 

Campbell Town Free Overnight Caravan Stop Blackburn Park 

Campbell Town, Tasmania free overnight caravan stop, Blackburn Park.

 

Stay for up to 2 nights free of charge suitable for fully self-contained rigs such as motorhomes, camper vans, camper trailers, buses and Winnebago.

Attractive grassed area next to Elizabeth River, close to all services and amenities.

You must obtain a permit to stay overnight. Permits are FREE for up to 48 hours and are available 24/7 via a form on the https://www.northernmidlands.tas.gov.au/community/facilities/rv-friendly-towns#camping-permits website, with your permit number emailed to you immediately. 

 

 

 

 

The Red Bridge

 

 Video by: Australian Geographic

 

Built by convicts in 1838, The Red Bridge crosses the Elizabeth River at Campbell Town and is the oldest surviving brick arch bridge in Australia,

The bridge contains three arch spans of 7.6 m (25 ft) each and holds two lanes of traffic as well as pedestrian walkways., carrying over two million vehicles per year.

It was constructed of 1,250,000 handmade bricks on dry land, and after its completion the river was diverted to flow under the bridge. It has been registered on the Register of the National Estate since 1978.

 

The best vantage points for photography are from the adjacent foot bridge or at the foot of the stone steps on the North West corner.

A large sign at the site tells the history of the bridge.

A small park at the northern end of the bridge features a number of interesting pieces of chain-saw art.

 

 

In addition to the wonderful Red Bridge, there is also:

• The Convict Brick Trail
  In a commemoration of our convict history, each brick is engraved with the names and a few personal details of convicts transported to Australia and Norfolk Island.
  
  
• The Catholic Church
  In King St., east of the main street.
  
  
• ST Luke's Church
  Built in 1835 is one of the oldest in Australia and is on the northern edge of the town.
  
  
• Harold Gatty Memorial
  A memorial to the first man to fly around the world, in 1931, is on the northern edge of the town.
  
  
• Old Water Wheel
  On Franklin St., just south of the Elizabeth River.
  
  
• Grange
  A gentleman's house built in 1847 is just south of Valentine Park, which is in the centre of the town.
  
  The Grange was built in about 1847 for Dr. William Valentine and was designed by James Blackburn.
  
  Dr. Valentine was interested in all things scientific and in 1874 his friend, Alfred Biggs, a schoolmaster, made a pair of telephones from the drawings of Alexander Graham Bell, with which the first telephone conversation in the Southern Hemisphere was conducted - between Campbell Town and Launceston.
  
  In 1875 the Grange played host to an American expedition formed to observe the transit of Venus.
  
  The observatory building resides in the garden and the telescope casings are now gate-posts, facing the highway, while the telephones are housed in the Queen Victoria Museum in Launceston.
  
  
• Fox Hunter's Return
  Built in 1838 the Fox Hunter's Return is rated as the best preserved of this early Colonial style in Australia and now boasts a second-hand bookshop in the basement.

 

Toilet Facilities
Valentine's Park, Commonwealth Lane, Campbell Town - Open 24 hours

 

Doctor/Medical Centre

Campbell Town Surgery, 70 High St., Campbell Town, - ph. (03) 6381 1133

 

Police Station
105 High Street, Campbell Town - non-emergency, ph. 131 444

 

 

Campbell Town St Michael's Catholic
Mason / Forster Streets - Off Midland Highway (North of Town)

 

Campbell Town Anglican Cemetery
Church St, Campbell Town

 

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