Campbell Town Information
Campbell Town in Tasmania is a small town with a population of about 900 people. It is the only major rest stop on the Midland Highway when travelling from Hobart to Launceston. Campbell Town was established in 1821 and is predominatley sheep farming.
The most famous tourist attraction is the convict built Red Bridge, which is one of the oldest bridges on the National Highway. The Bridge was designed by James Blackburn and created in 1838 using penal labour. It is the oldest surviving brick arched bridge in Australia and used 1.25 million hand made bricks.
The Black bridge is also a worthwhile discovery. Made of bluestone the bridge carries the railway in town.
Another great attraction is Elizabeth River, which carries some interesting history. The Aboriginal People know Elizabeth River as Parndokerner Liapinder meaning “water flowing from the East”. The River was important for the Aboriginal people for hunting kangaroos and wallabies. The River still holds some very interesting and rare wildlife like the plant species the Midlands Mimosa which is a dense straggly and prickly shrub 2.4 meters high with honey perfumed yellow flowers.
While in Campbell Town visit the Heritage Highway Museum and Visitor Information Centre. The visitor centre displays some history of the Midlands in a Working Courthouse in the centre of town. Heritage walk brochures are available or you can choose the guided bus tour.
Campbell Town also features the famous convict brick trail. Celebrating convict history you will find bricks, which are engraved with convict names and personal details throughout town.
If staying in Campbell Town it is well worth visiting Lake Leake, which was built in 1880 for permanent water supply to Campbell Town. Located half way between Campbell Town and Swansea the man made lake features excellent trout fishing.
Campbell Town TAS information & tourist attractions are brought to you by W2A. Holiday here Campbell Town Accommodation
