Ross

Ross grew as a garrison and coaching stop on the road between Hobart and Launceston, and its centre is a crossroads of sandstone buildings from the 1830s and 1840s: the Man O'Ross Hotel, the Scotch Thistle Inn, the barracks and the town hall. The Ross Bridge, completed in 1836, is the third-oldest bridge still in use in Australia and its arches are carved with 186 individual panels of Celtic symbols, animals and faces, cut by convict stonemason Daniel Herbert, who received a pardon for the work. The Ross Female Factory site nearby held convict women. The Tasmanian Wool Centre in the village covers the midlands merino industry.

What you actually see

• The Ross Bridge - the 1836 span carved with 186 decorative panels.
• The sandstone crossroads - hotels, barracks and town hall from the 1830s.
• The Female Factory site - the archaeological remains of the convict institution.
• The Wool Centre - the midlands merino story and local craft.

When to go

October to April for mild weather; the midlands are cold and frosty in winter. The village is a common stop on the Hobart to Launceston drive, busiest at lunchtime. Museums keep short hours in winter.

Honest expectations

The village is small and a visit takes an hour or two. The Female Factory site is largely foundations and interpretation. Services are limited to a few cafés and a bakery, and much closes early.

Nearby

Oatlands lies south; Campbell Town and Launceston are north.