MOT Tour Day 63 - Ross

The view from the hill at the south of Ross

Traveling back up the Midlands Highway meant the inevitable roadworks. At one stage, we sat under the yolk of a 40kph instruction for nearly 25 minutes ... plus roadworks traffic lights. To cap it off, we had no longer escaped the roadworks when a big tractor appeared on the roadway and escorted us for nearly 7kms at 15kph!

We eventually reached Ross at about 12:30 and quickly turned around a minimal setup so we could explore the historic town of Ross on foot. 

Its impressive. For mine, more impressive than the much higher regarded Richmond. Maybe that's because Richmond is almost a suburb of Hobart now. We loved Richmond but in retrospect, it was pretty highly commercialised. Ross, by comparison, is laid back.

Ross Bakery Inn

Lunch was at the Ross Bakery Inn, a classic Georgian design built in 1832 and then called the Sherwood Inn. It was originally a coach change and overnight stop for passengers traveling from and to Hobart but for the last 100 years, a bakery. Still using the traditional methods and cooking pastries and treats in a wood-fired oven, it has become famous for its vanilla slices and scallop pies. They make a lot more than that but visitors have heard the news and its the former two most ask for. 

From there we wandered and everywhere you turn, sandstone buildings dominate the view. Heading up Church St, Sue spent some time at the Tasmanian Wool Centre in order to find a new jumper. Ross is the centre of an area which produces Tasmania's finest wool. She found what she wanted. 

While she shopped, I went further up the hill to the grand Ross Uniting Church. It was originally the burial ground for the town and previously the site of another church. Today's occupant is a beautiful sandstone building, with broad buttresses and a tall spire, more than 15 metres high (50 feet in old money). Inside, the high ceiling and floor are all wood, with ornately crafted braces below the spire and a raised pulpit and circular communion rail. A pipe organ is off to one side. The crowning glory are two brilliantly colourful stained glass windows.

Back together again, we walked down to the river and followed the path to the Ross Bridge: a much photographed structure built in 1936. The two convict stone mason did such a creative job in adorning the structure, that it earned them a pardon from Governor Arthur. I'm sure his name displayed prominently on either side of the central arch had nothing to with it. Its a lovely bridge, with three arches in the English country style.

We did another lap of the main street and then Sue went back to the van for a rest, whilst I walked to the edge of town to visit the Female Factory. Readers would be family with my descriptions of the Cascades earlier in this Tour and their a strong similarities, except on the level of cruelty. Perhaps the difference lies in the founding Superintendent, Dr Hall. He placed a greater emphasis on welfare and health and this led to a lower mortality rate and a high percentage of women "graduating" from the Factory. Even so, conditions were harsh and like Cascades, there was a tiered hierarchy. The criminal class were treated to the worst of the conditions. Everyone who went to the factory started with 6 months in the criminal class (lowered rations, longer work hours, no contact with others). Good behaviors and hard work would elevate you to probation class after those six months and further dedication to the set rules and you could earn passholder class. Passholders could be employed outside of the Factory and earn their own wages. You would immediately return to criminal class if you were violent, you absconded ... or you fell pregnant, regardless of whether you consented to sexual act. 

Babies born at the Female Factory were taken from their mothers within four weeks. Their mothers would not see them unless they graduated from criminal class in the six months time frame. At 3, the babies were taken to the Hobart Orphanage. It was the last either would see of the other.

Remember: this was not as harsh as Cascades!

Click here for today's photos

This evening, we had a delicious meal at the local rubberty dub, The Man O' Ross Hotel. $25 for a huge and flavoursome salad, infused with brown trout, feta, hazelnuts, cranberries and several other goodies. First rate service, food and price. I challenged Sue, always the pool shark to a game and managed to sneak home.

We walked home via the war memorial and statues which are lit at night.

Delightful place.