Just north of Hobart in Tasmania is the elegant sandstone Richmond Bridge. Built by convict labour between 1823 and 1825, it is Australia's oldest existing bridge. The tiny village of Richmond is a treasure trove of early-1800s buildings including Australia's oldest gaol (which housed the convicts who built the bridge) and Australia's oldest catholic church.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
The Oldest Bridge in Australia (Richmond, Tasmania)
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11 comments:
I've always enjoyed the various designs of bridges, and seeing this one is pretty neat!
Looks like it belongs in a fairy tale, but built by convicts? Maybe not. Lovely though.
I love the little villages where you can roam and discover things like this old bridge. I so wanted to make it Tasmania when I was in Australia, but ran out of time. Now I have a another good reason to return!
Looks like it's in really good shape yet - must have had some work done on it!
Now I hope someday you'll show us the rest of the town - sounds lovely!
Hey i am a student of architect and it is very useful from my point of view.Thanks for sharing such post here.
@Shannon: I love the old bridges too. The early convict built bridges in Australia have some wonderful designs.
@footsteps: Tasmania was a very harsh place for the convicts (it was for the worst of them) but a great job on this famous little bridge that looks like it will last many hundreds of years yet.
@Sherry: An article on Richmond is a good idea. The gaol is interesting and the small village has kept much of its heritage intact very well.
@max: Pleasure.
It is beautiful. The bridge and the area round it seems a bit mystical one.
I like it!
Do you think that Richmond Tasmania could be named after Richmond, Surrey where I grew up in the same way as Richmond Virginia was - the bridges are very alike?
http://www.heatheronhertravels.com/down-by-the-river-in-richmond/
@heather: The bridges look very similar. I had a quick check but couldn't find the heritage of the name in Tasmania, but many places in earlier Australia were names after English towns, rpoperties and people.
The first stone of the Richmond Bridge was laid December 11, 1823 and construction continued convict labor until completion in 1825. The bridge was originally named after the Pont Royal Bigge Commissioner John Thomas Bigge, who recognized the need for the bridge in 1820. Thank you for your interest.
@interesting facts: Thank you for the added detail. It is a wonderful bridge nearing its 200 years.
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