In Hobart this week I attended a special dinner at Parliament House to celebrate the inscription of the five Tasmanian World Heritage Convict Sites (and very nice the dinner was too).
Speeches and chats covered many related topics, one of which was the matter of road signs pointing visitors to the various sites, but particularly to Woolmers and Brickendon Estates.
Signs are always difficult things to get exactly right and there seem always to be objections of one sort or another. It can be a burearocratic nightmare between several departments before the design and the situation is deemed to be just right. But one of the main difficulties is - as per usual - about the money, because good roadsigns don't come cheap.
Now it sounds as if there might be some financial help from the Commonwealth Government for World Heritage signs. Wouldn't that be wonderful? And everyone agreed that it absolutely would!
I vividly imagine visitors arriving at Launceston Airport and being made aware - almost as soon as they arrive - that there's a World Heritage Convict Site very near the airport. Then I imagine them (or at least some of them) making their way instantly there!
Here's hoping that this particular little dream can soon become a reality and that it proves to be more than just a throw-away dinner-time thought bubble......!
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Monday, November 15, 2010
VISITING BRICKENDON
This week I went to dinner at Brickendon Estate near Longford along with 150 others - we were all attending a fascinating symposium in Launceston, all about Interpretation of historic sites, National Parks etc.
A delicious barbequed meal was held in one of the large old barns on the property and we were treated to some good wines - Tasmanian of course.
Brickendon Farm Village interprets the convict story so well and, along with neighbouring Woolmers Estate (the two properties act as one precinct) has recently been made a part of Austalia's World Heritage Convict Sites. These two grand colonial Estates are separated by the Macquarie River and they illustate the "good", or at least the more positive, side of the early convict Assignment System.
Our visit coincided with an enormous hailstorm which lasted half and hour and which seemed to fall exclusively on the very barn in which we were sheltering - luckily we had plenty of wine to while away the time! After the downpour the sun came out and rainbows formed, giving us a wonderful bright evening to wander and take in the lovely little convict-built village.
The old bake-house had been fired up and a baker was there busily making damper, and the picturesque little church was alive with organ music especially for the occassion.
When darkness fell we were treated to a theatrical performance of "Voices from the Graves" performed by members of Launceston's Mudlark Theatre. This was such an evocative performance bringing the stories of convicts vividly alive for us. Hearing these true stories in such an authentic setting, where the convicts actually lived and worked, was just amazing.
A visit to this beautiful historic place is simply a must for anyone interested in the convict story and indeed for every tourist to our state!
Check the website http://www.brickendon.com.au/
Look for "Voices from the Graves"....
A delicious barbequed meal was held in one of the large old barns on the property and we were treated to some good wines - Tasmanian of course.
Brickendon Farm Village interprets the convict story so well and, along with neighbouring Woolmers Estate (the two properties act as one precinct) has recently been made a part of Austalia's World Heritage Convict Sites. These two grand colonial Estates are separated by the Macquarie River and they illustate the "good", or at least the more positive, side of the early convict Assignment System.
Our visit coincided with an enormous hailstorm which lasted half and hour and which seemed to fall exclusively on the very barn in which we were sheltering - luckily we had plenty of wine to while away the time! After the downpour the sun came out and rainbows formed, giving us a wonderful bright evening to wander and take in the lovely little convict-built village.
The old bake-house had been fired up and a baker was there busily making damper, and the picturesque little church was alive with organ music especially for the occassion.
When darkness fell we were treated to a theatrical performance of "Voices from the Graves" performed by members of Launceston's Mudlark Theatre. This was such an evocative performance bringing the stories of convicts vividly alive for us. Hearing these true stories in such an authentic setting, where the convicts actually lived and worked, was just amazing.
A visit to this beautiful historic place is simply a must for anyone interested in the convict story and indeed for every tourist to our state!
Check the website http://www.brickendon.com.au/
Look for "Voices from the Graves"....
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