Wool Centre

I visited the Tasmanian Wool Centre at Ross recently and was struck by how much there is to see and do inside this lovely old sandstone building. Of course, as you might expect there's everthing imaginable about wool and sheep - even a film about the history of shearing - should you want to learn how to shear a sheep during the course of your life!

I loved the big, colourful modern tapestry by John Coburn - naturally all made from superfine wool. And one could spend hours browsing among the woolly articles for sale - the very best, not to mention the warmest available.

But one of the most interesting things of all, I thought, was a small museum telling a more general history of Ross and its district. I had no idea for example that Ross started out as a garrison town and that there were so many connections with the history of convicts in the early years of the development of the region.

The surrounding enormous sheep stations, with their beautiful and historic homesteads, were built, not only "on the sheep's back" but actually with the hard labour of convicts.

There's a film telling about the beautiful sandstone architecture and something about the families who have made this lovely little village the charming place it is today.

I was intrigued to note that it's possible to book a tour of the village and have one of the trained guides give a more detailed insight into its history.

Of course I've often been to Ross, sometimes stopping or a coffee or a light lunch usually on the way to somewhere else. But now I've discovered that there's much more to Ross than immediately meets the eye - though what meets the eye has always looked highly attractive!