Cleveland Union Chapel

Cleveland was once an important coaching station and convict road station. The convict station was built in 1839 as a serving station to repair road and could accommodate 100 prisoners at a time. After 1842 it became a hiring depot for labour and by 1847 there were 23 convicts billeted there on a regular basis.

Cleveland was originally planned as a large town. Plans were drawn up and streets laid out and named but a lack of a constant supply of clean drinking water put a stop to the idea. The plans of the town can be seen at the St Andrews Inn. Between the 1850s and 1870s, there were two main coaching inns in Cleveland, St Andrews Inn and The Bald Stag Inn.

By the early 1850s, there was a need for a local church in the town. By 1855, James and David Gibson had constructed a neat little brick church that originally measured only 22 ft 6 inches by 17 ft.

An unusual feature of the building was that it only had windows down one side of the building. The building was originally used by the Presbyterian faith as their centre of worship. The building was eventually lengthened to 31 ft long. It was later used by the Anglican Church as its local centre and according to the signs at the site, they continue to use the chapel for services. Press reports from the period show that in January 1869, a juvenile bazaar was held at the Esk Vale woolsheds in order to raise funds for repairs to be undertaken on the little church.

The building is set back from the Midland Highway and appears to be in the middle of a paddock. However, it is easily visible and accessible from the roadway. With its small graveyard in front of it, and surrounded by a small wire fence and a small entry gate, the chapel is easily accessible and you can walk around the graveyard and the front of the building and get up close.

Information Source: Information Signs posted around the site by Cleveland Progress Association.

Black Snake Inn

European settlers began to settle along the Derwent River, after settlements were established at Risdon and Sullivan's Cove in 1803. When the penal station at Norfolk Island closed in 1807, Daniel Stanfield established himself at Green Point (Bridgewater) shortly afterwards. By 1820 the west bank of the Derwent River was lined by farms. By 1816, Black Snake was a substantial settlement with a constable, pound, hotel and ferry. A few years later there was a small school with 23 pupils.

At this time there were two main crossing points on the Derwent River, from Roseneath (Austin's Ferry) to Herdsman's Cove and Old Beach, and from Black Snake to Herdsman's Cove and Green Point. Travel by ferry was sometimes dangerous and often inconvenient, being dependent on the river current and prevailing wind. The crossing was also unreliable because ferrymen were notorious for delaying their departure to ensure increased business for the adjacent inns. The Black Snake ferry was operated by Richard Burroughs (or Burrows) from his public house and his service complemented James Austin's more frequently used punt at Roseneath, while also plying a river trade to Hobart and possibly New Norfolk.

In 1818-19 a much awaited road was constructed between Hobart and New Norfolk. The road ran along the foreshore around Black Snake and was widely criticized for its inadequate bridges, raised stumps and poor drainage which meant that it was often impassable in winter. Despite its shortcomings, the road assisted the development of the district and the success of the local public house. Between 1819 and 1825 the diary of Reverend "Bobby" Knopwood noted frequent visits to the Black Snake Inn which was often referred to as the "half way" house. A plan of the Inn, probably dating from 1826 shows two double fronted buildings. The plan also shows a hut by the Derwent River, possibly associated with the ferry crossing. All early drawings of the Black Snake Inn show structures with a flag pole and flag fronting the River.

Governor Arthur's Land Commissioners visited the Black Snake Inn in 1826, remarking that its licensee, Presnell, was in the "true Style of a selfish Settler" giving all who passed "all the trouble in his power". They suggested that a Government ferry or bridge was essential. Presnell's neighbors complained to the Governor in 1830 about his blocking the road and therefore their access to services. During the 1820s, pictorial images of the Black Snake Inn show a crude double fronted structure.

By 1830, the Inn was a popular stopover and important staging point on the routes to New Norfolk and Launceston. A ferry carried passengers across the Derwent River to Green Point. By 1833, the Inn was acquired by George Robinson. By August he had built a "new house' at Black Snake and advertised the lease for the old inn premises as a possible store. His new Inn was drawn by Louisa Meredith, probably in the mid 1840s and the structure depicted is almost certainly the building known as the Black Snake Inn today, showing the same form.

In 1835, when the Bridgewater Causeway was under construction, Robinson offered the Black Snake Inn for lease. He described the Inn as "that most desirable Establishment ... with all its lucrative advantages from the Coaches and Ferry. The Inn itself is a spacious Stone Building with every convenience, comprising 15 rooms, namely - 3 large parlors, 2 well-finished sitting rooms, 6 up-stair rooms, 4 of which are neatly finished. The kitchen contains a large oven and a bed-room with store-room attached. The stables are large and commodious with coach-house, piggery, fowl-house; also a large garden well-stocked with fruit trees of the choicest kinds. The Inn has been newly stuccoed, and is pleasantly situated on a rise about 40 yards from the Derwent, with a carriage drive in front ... The Ferry crosses to Green Point and its closeness to the great undertaking at Bridgewater, now nearly complete, ensures it constant traffic. ... It is not more than 600 yards from the Bridgewater Causeway, and is rapidly increasing in business, the traffic between New Norfolk and Hobart Town constantly passing the door, which will be increased when the Bridge is opened by that from Launceston and all other parts of the country". The Causeway was completed in 1836 but it was used mainly for carts and pedestrians. The first bridge linking with the Causeway and completing the crossing was completed in 1849.

The Inn's license was held until 1856 and four years later the Inn was still a coaching stop, where coaches plying the route from Hobart to New Norfolk changed their horses. Subsequently, the Black Snake became a private residence. In the late 1930s, it was purchased by Keith Dickenson who provided some accommodation for workers during construction of the new bridge across the Derwent River. He also sold fruit from his orchard at roadside stalls, and as demand increased, he began to stock a small range of refreshments for passing cyclists and motorists.

The Black Snake Inn is significant for its association with Derwent River ferry and road crossings. The Inn is reported as the second ferry inn on the site and some of its fabric may date from as early as 1833. It is significant for its initial function as a ferry inn accommodating passengers using the commercial ferry services run by the Inn's operator. In addition, the Inn is significant for providing accommodation for travelers on the Main Road between Hobart Town and New Norfolk, and those using the Bridgewater Causeway. The Inn survives as an important element showing the construction and evolution of public and commercial river crossing infrastructure since the 1830s.

The Black Snake Inn is a fine example of a Victorian Rustic Gothic building. It survives in good condition and its structure retains evidence of internal fittings and finishes and is a rare example of a ferry inn constructed adjacent to a jetty, to accommodate ferry service passengers across the Derwent. The Black Snake Inn is a picturesque building and is a landmark on the Derwent River.

Information Source: Australian Heritage Database

Lady Franklin Gallery

The Lady Franklin Gallery is a classically inspired building in Lenah Valley which was built in 1842 as an art and historical museum. It was the creation of Lady Jane Franklin, the wife of the Governor Sir John Franklin who, when they arrived in Hobart in 1837, was shocked at the lack of cultural institutions in the area and the indifference of the early colonists.

While Sir John concerned himself with educational matters within the colony, Lady Franklin addressed the issue of community cultural needs. This exceptionally resourceful and talented woman envisaged the erection of a classically inspired building to be an art and historical museum and for it to act as a focal point for the cultural requirements and inspirations of an enlightened community she hoped would eventuate in the new colony.

With fond memories of the museums and galleries of her European tours, she wrote to her sister in England asking her to “procure a pretty little design for me” and described her plans to furnish the building with sculptures, books and pictures. It is not known whether any such design was ever obtained from England and colonial records do not attribute the design to any particular person. There is speculation that Colonial Architect, W. Polden Kay or even the renowned architect, James Blackburn may have influenced the design but most believe that the Lady herself determined the final design, described by some as “like a tiny Greek Temple, like a miniature Parthenon”.

Lady Jane purchased 10 acres in the area known as Kangaroo Valley as a dedicated site for the building that she named “Lower Ancanthe”. She then purchased a further 400 acres, the proceeds from the sale or rental of, would help to finance & maintain this art & historical museum. When the Franklins left in 1843, all the land, buildings and contents were transferred upon trust to the Bishop of Tasmania on the proviso “that as soon as there shall be in the colony, any college or university to which the Bishop could transfer the property, that the transfer would be undertaken”. In 1846, Christ College, which Sir John had been keen to see established, was formed and the Bishop duly approved the transfer of the property to the church institution.

Over the following years, the church sold off plots of the land and by 1920, had sold so much of the land that the building stood derelict on a weed infested plot of miserable size. It was quoted some time later that “it stood neglected, its contents gone and it was said to be the first proposed art gallery used as a cow shed and apple store”

Public criticism of the neglect caused an act of parliament to be passed that transferred the building and remainder of the land to the citizens of Hobart. This was not actually executed until 1936 and the apathy persisted with no one willing to re-open the building for its original intended purpose. The building was used as a storehouse for city records etc.

In 1948, the Art Society of Tasmania approached the Hobart Council with a proposal to open the gallery, giving the society ongoing possession of the building with the duty of improving and maintaining the interior, if the council would maintain the grounds and the State Government would provide a small annual grant of assistance. This arrangement prevails to this day with the Art Society being the gallery operator for the past 55 years. The society conducts art classes, workshops, exhibitions and has built up an impressive art library. The gallery is open to the public each weekend.

The historic building is now referred to as “The Lady Franklin Gallery” as the original contents of the museum are no longer housed there. The exterior is in immaculate condition, with the interior sympathetically restored (the flooring comprise the original floorboards) with only a few modern embellishments. In its wonderful setting, the “Tiny Temple of Ancanthe” of Lady Jane Franklin’s imagination lives on!

Information Source: Information Sheet from Lady Franklin Gallery

Tasmanian Art Society website: www.artstas.com.au

Hobart Gunpowder Magazine

A beautiful and very well preserved example of a "state-of-the-art" gunpowder magazine, a fine example of convict craftsmanship.
It’s the only example left in Tasmania of a properly designed and built Gunpowder house, first put into use in 1851. The structure was beautifully built by convict labour and is in near perfect condition, except for a damaged front entrance, which can easily be repaired.

The Gunpowder house was designed with all the technical and chemical knowledge of the storage and treatment of gunpowder known in the 1840's. Structurally, it’s a superb example of military architecture. Built of sandstone with a slate roof with brick interior and brick vaulted ceilings. The Domain powder magazine, was first built as a double roofed, solid sandstone building, with "vaulted" inner brick ceilings, by the Royal Engineers in 1850-51 and was capable of storing 1600 whole barrels of powder. In 1857 another totally separate bay was added. It remained as Hobart’s main gunpowder storage until 1970.

To overcome the danger from sparks, the only metals used are copper (doors and grills), bronze and brass. In some areas, the floorboards are pegged with wooden dowel. Ventilation is indirect to prevent sparks from bushfires entering the magazine. Two copper conducting rods called "Franklin Rods", (after their inventor, Dr Benjamin Franklin,) protect the building from lightning strikes. These rods run down to two separate water reservoirs to provide safe earthing, a method that was the subject of the first world-wide patent. The small building in the eastern wall is the old ‘shifting house’ in which casks were opened and gunpowder exchanged.

There was a "gunpowder" jetty associated with the magazine for taking deliveries of gunpowder. The jetty was demolished some time after 1970 and all that remains are the stone abutments at the waters edge beyond the slipways towards Government House.

Unfortunately, the site is currently closed and fenced off by the Hobart Council and is not available to be inspected inside. However, you can still walk around the external fence which I did and was able to take the photographs you see here. Hopefully the council will see fit to fully restore and open the site on a regular basis as a tourist attraction in the near future. It's a wonderful piece of colonial and convict history right in the heart of Hobart's Domain precinct.