MT BARROW

MT BARROW FROM WINDSOR PARK

Wikipedia (the source of all such information) tells us that Mt Barrow is 22km north-east of Launceston and rises 1,413m above sea level.

 Mt Barrow also rates a mention on Dangerous Roads.org which advises one to “avoid driving in this area if unpaved mountain roads aren't your strong point. Stay away if you're scared of heights.” Well, I'm OK with heights but don't like unsealed roads, let alone one with spectacular drops off the side so I'll take their advice ...........which is a shame as the same site claims that it is “one of the most scenic drives in the world.” I have no doubt that the views are stunning as described.

The Wikipedia entry is well worth a look and (probably because history is my thing) the discussion of how it may have come by its name is particularly interesting.

Mt Barrow is so visible on the Launceston skyline, that we tend to take it for granted, but it has, over the years received attention for all sorts of things. In the 1880s for instance, there was great hope that gold deposits might be hidden in the area. The first road that went all the way to the top was built in 1940.

I'll leave it to an early Examiner article from 11 December 1909 (via TROVE) to summarize what I'm missing out on by not venturing up to the top of Mt Barrow: “The outlook from the trigonometrical station at the pinnacle of this mountain is one which on a clear day comprises a good half of Tasmania, and the panorama of mountains, valleys, plains, rivers, settlements, cultivated and uncultivated lands, coastline, distant island etc is not eclipsed by any other obtainable from a mountain top in the Commonwealth.”

(And yes, it is a “trigonometrical station” but I'll let you look that up, as I did).

ROSEVEARS HOTEL - 215 ROSEVEARS DRIVE

ROSEVEARS HOTEL

Perhaps a little unusually, this is one of the few hotels in the Launceston region that was built at the request of the government.

The land around Rosevears, a small town on the West Tamar, some 20km from Launceston, was originally known as Cimitiere Point, but as it became increasingly settled and used for pursuits such as wheat growing, sawmilling and shipbuilding, and the area on the Western side of the river developed,  facilities were needed for both locals and travellers.

William Henry Rosevears was offered a grant of 640 acres, contingent on him providing an inn on the land. The first license was granted in the 1830s.  Rosevear's first license was for "Halfway House Hotel, Point Cimitiers, but it is probable that this is the place better known as the "Rose Inn," which, in time. became the Rosevears Hotel.   Parts of the current building were constructed as early as 1854, from bricks made on the property.'

William Rosevears had a very complicated personal life - outlined  in Lois Nyman's The West Tamar People - a book I can really recommend for people who are interested in Tamar Valley history (on both sides of the river).

The hotel has recently undergone a complete transformation (see their website) but still retains a great deal of its original charm.  The location is certainly still stunning. with views up and down the river, and across to the Windermere Church (see a previous post).