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Richmond is one of
the oldest of Tasmanian
towns. It is most famous
for its bridge, built
in 1823, the oldest stone
bridge remaining in Australia.
However, there are other
attractions as well.
The town also has the
oldest surviving gaol
in the country, built
in 1825 and open daily
from 9:00 until 17:00,
at a cost of $4. It has
its original Courthouse,
public buildings and
churches. St. Luke’s
Church was started in
1834, while St. John’s
Church, started in 1836,
claims to be the oldest
Catholic church in the
country. All are interesting
buildings.
There are rides available
in a horse-drawn carriage.
There are art galleries
and shops full of antiques
and craft products. There
are cafés, old-time
bakeries, restaurants,
and homely bed and breakfast
accommodation. A guided
historical walk is offered
daily in summer at 11:00.
Amongst
the more modern attractions,
there is a maze (8:30
until 17:00, admission
$5) and there is the
Old Hobart Town Model
Old Hobart Town Historical
Model Village, based
on historical records
of how Hobart looked
in the 1820s. This
Model Village, which
took three years to construct,
has sixty buildings and 400 figurines. Bridge Street, Richmond.
There
is also Zoo Doo Fun
Park, although this is
six kilometres outside
the town. Here one can
find alpacas, llamas,
buffalo and camels, as
well as miniature pony
races, with jockeys,
of a type. There are
also an indoor working
model village and a merry-go-round.
Zoo Doo is open daily
from 9:00 until 17:00
and admission
fee.
Accommodation is
readily available in
Richmond, but the town
is only 24 kilometres
from Hobart, so can
easily be seen as a day
trip. Most of the longer-distance
buses do not pass through
Richmond, but the Richmond
Tourist Bus will pick
you up within the Hobart
city area on request
by telephoning 0408-341-804.
This bus leaves at
9:15 and 12:15, returning
from Richmond at 13:00
and 16:00.
Much better
value though is Hobart
Coaches, which has
one available return
service per day. A bus
departs from Stop D at
the top of Elizabeth
Street in Hobart at 9:15
on weekdays (8:50 on
the first Wednesday of
each month) and arrives
in Richmond at 9:35.
It returns from Richmond
at 16:55.
Click
here for a Richmond
map.
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