Hadspen

Along the fifty kilometre stretch between Launceston and Deloraine there are five towns, Hadspen, Carrick, Hagley, Westbury and Exton. Each town originated a coach stop on the road west, or so we were told. I don’t know if that’s true, but this is the old coaching inn at Hadspen.

Red Feather Inn
The Red Feather inn, built in the 1840s. At the time I took this photo, November 2006, it looks like it has fallen out of use, but according to the website it was refurbished and reopened late in 2008.

I’ve seen a couple of mentions that Hadspen was “established” in 1820, but I haven’t found anything that says where that date comes from. Possibly something associated with Entally, which was built the previous year. Most of the buildings in the town date from the 20th century, except for this stretch of street.

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Deloraine & Alveston

Fifty kilometres along the Bass Highay, almost directly west of Launceston, is Deloraine. Here the highway turns north and heads up to the north west coast.

I have to admit, I don’t know much about the history of the Deloraine (which might not seem that unusual except um…) other than somewhere back in the dark ages, one of the governors, I’m thinking Sorell, said, “We need more agricultural land. Go west and see what you can find.” What they found was a land of brown soil and good rainfall, that is very good for growing potatoes and other vegetables, and poppies it seems. Also dairy cows and fat lambs.

Railway
In 1870-71, the first railway line on island was put through from Launceston to Deloraine. The following decade the line was extended up to Devonport, up on the coast. (This bridge is from the 1880s.) Judging by the amount of late Victorian architecture, the town obviously benefited from the railway. There are still a lot of the older boxy Georgian buildings here though.

A few years back, the highway was redone and the towns along this part all by-passed. It doesn’t seem to have hurt the town though. The main road always seems to be busy, lots of cars and lots of people, and quite a bit of tourist orientated businesses. At least on one side of the river.

The main road that used to be the highway rans through the town, crosses the river and then runs through the main shopping area.

First part
This side of the river, there was the small town of Alveston. Possibly older than Deloraine, but it has now been absorbed. There are a number of buildings still remaining from that area though, including shops and the Plough Inn.

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Beaconsfield

Beaconsfield
Gold was discovered at Brandy Creek in the 1870s, and it wasn’t long before a substantial town, renamed to Beaconsfield, grew up. It was said to one of the biggest in the state at one stage. According to Town With a History, by Coultman Smith, in 1899, the population was “2,699, with 7 hotels, eight boarding houses, five bakers, four blacksmiths, two doctors, two watchmakers, a solicitor, a tailor, 15 general stores, six greengrocers, five drapers, a state school, and four private schools.”

Beaconsfield
The mine closed in 1914 and the town soon faded away.

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Exeter

Exeter is about halfway along the West Tamar Highway, in away from the river. It provides services for the surrounding area and smaller towns.

A few quick photos, including the obligatory dog on the back of a ute outside the shops.

Exeter
Exeter

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