The township of Richmond was named in 1824
Richmond, which is located around 25 kilometres northeast of Hobart and 174 kilometres southeast of Launceston, has a population of 1,610 people (2011 census).
Nestled in the Coal River Valley, between the Midland Highway and Tasman Highway, this classified historic town is famous for its Georgian architecture and contains Australia’s oldest freestone road bridge, the oldest Roman Catholic Church, and the best preserved convict gaol.
Richmond, one of the most visited places in Tasmania, is a significant historic town with many fine examples of the state's brutal convict past and stunning historic buildings that are now home to museums, galleries, tea shops, artisan boutiques, and antique stores.
The town is as magnificent today as it was in the 1820s, when it served as an important military staging point and convict camp connecting Hobart to Port Arthur.
Richmond Village Attractions by: VideoTasmania
48 Middle Tea Tree Road
Richmond, Tasmania 7025
(03) 6260 2192
Visit the Website
The Richmond Caravan & Cabin Park has a variety of accommodations. It includes cabins, campsites, and both powered and unpowered sites. Park facilities include a campers' kitchen, gas barbecue, half-size tennis court, games room, playground and In the summer, a solar-heated indoor swimming pool.
Cabins are available with private facilities. All cabins include tea and coffee-making facilities, televisions, cooking amenities, heaters, and electric blankets.
- Old Hobart Town
Tasmania's original historical model village, which accurately replicates in miniature the life and history of Hobart in 1820.
Located in the main street of Richmond, this attraction has been built from original plans (over three years) and set out in streets.
As visitors walk the streets of old Hobart, the informative signage really captures interest and makes for a unique and fascinating tour. Visit the Website - Pooseum
The award-winning Pooseum, located at 22 Bridge Street in Richmond, is Australia's only quirky science museum dedicated to all things poo. You'll discover more about poo than you ever imagined! See Website. - Richmond Gaol In Bathurst Street, built in 1825, with displays of convicts and the penal system. Visit the Website
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Richmond Bridge
Built by convict chain gangs in 1823. -
Grannie Rhodes, Cottage
An authentic 1830s cottage with daily performances of “Turn the Key of Time” – true stories about life in the 19th century. -
the Richmond Maze
Get lost in a tangle of pathways and dead ends, in either of the two mazes and look for the surprise centre before relaxing with a hot pot of tea or light meal in the tearooms or gardens. Fun for all ages, with wheel-chair access.
Visit the Website -
Heritage Buildings
Including St John’s Church (1837), St Luke’s Anglican Church (1838), Richmond Primary School (1834/5), Richmond Arms Hotel (1888), Court House (1825). -
ZooDoo Wildlife Park
with its Large collection of native, agricultural and exotic animals, including tigers, lions and international wildlife - Visit the Website , or - A tour Of The village
with Richmond Horse-drawn Coaches. Visit the Facebook Page
Tourist Information Centre
Old Hobart Town Model Village, 21A Bridge St, Richmond.
Emergencies
Police, ambulance and fire dial 000
Toilet Facilities
Franklin Street - Open 24 hours
Bathurst Street - Open 24 hours
Doctor/Medical Centre
Richmond Medical Centre, 23 Bathurst St, Richmond - (03) 6260 2169
Police Station
1 Forth Street, Richmond - non-emergency Ph: 131 444
In 1824, the township of Richmond was named, following a complex land deal with David Lord, where ninety acres of his Richmond Park estate were exchanged for 1400 acres adjacent to his property.
Added to in the 1830s, Richmond Gaol was built in 1825 as part of Governor Arthur's system of police districts and was last used as a gaol in 1928 - it is open daily for inspection.
One of its infamous inmates was convict, Ikey Solomon, said to be the model for Dickens' Fagin.
Justice seemed a bit random in the colony, as, in 1859, on 27 November, near Richmond, a crippled cowherd called John Dowling had his throat cut, skull broken, and some of his fingers cut off, presumably while struggling with his murderer.
The police arrested John Nash, who had a history of violence, and lived a few miles out of Richmond.
In court, the story unfolded that Dowling came with two men to Richmond’s Bridge Inn and paid for a glass of ale with a pound note.
Nash was sitting on a couch nearby.
Later a clergyman found Dowling’s body, still warm, with Nash not far away with traces of blood on his trousers and shirt.
Evidence was given that a notched knife, found on Nash’s person and with blood on it, could have inflicted Dowling’s wounds.
Nash argued that he had bought the knife from a Mr Scott, and the trousers, complete with bloodstains, from a fellow-prisoner at Port Arthur, but the evidence seemed overwhelming, and a sentence of death was imposed.
Then it was found that Nash had indeed bought the knife from Scott after the murder had been committed, but the Chief Justice felt the sentence should be carried out since ‘there is no moral doubt of his guilt’.
Nash was executed, still protesting his innocence.
A description of Richmond c 1852
drawn from The History of Tasmania - Volume II (of 2) by John West.
Richmond [is] a town at the mouth of the Coal River, in the parish of Ulva and county of Monmouth, 15 miles (24 km) from Hobart, and 100 miles (161 km) from Launceston.
It contains an episcopal and a Catholic Church, a congregational chapel, a police office, post station, a gaol, and courthouse, and several inns.
It has a resident police magistrate, and the population of the town and district, which consists of farms, is 3,144, and the number of houses 545, nearly half of which are of stone or brick.
The Coal River, which here falls into the bay of Pittwater, is crossed at the town by an excellent stone bridge of six arches.
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