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Heartlands Way Through Kempton: Walking Tour & Lunch

  • Heartland Way Kempton

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Heartlands Way Through Kempton: Walking Tour & Lunch

Step back into the wilder side of Kempton’s past on this offbeat winter wander, where the company is warm, the tea is hot, and the stories are delightfully dodgy.

Event overview

Join historian and self-confessed scandal enthusiast Alan Townsend for Heartlands Way Through Kempton: Walk through History – Embezzlers, Brothel Keepers and a Gold Digger in colonial Kempton.
This immersive guided walk runs on Sunday 21 June 2026, 10am – 3.30pm, setting off from Memorial Avenue in Kempton (the old “Green Ponds”) along Tasmania’s Heritage Highway.

Over roughly 7km, you’ll follow in the footsteps of three larger-than-life local characters – Eliza Murphy, William Henry Ellis and Jane Baird Hadden Johnson – whose tangled lives reveal the grit, gossip and ambition of colonial Kempton.
Think less dry dates and more juicy tales of embezzlement, brothels and gold digging, told right where it all unfolded.

What you’ll experience

This is a walking tour with plenty of stops, snacks and story breaks, so you’ve got time to soak it all in (and warm your hands around a cuppa).

Along the way, you’ll enjoy:

  • Devonshire tea and a building tour at Old Kempton Distillery, housed in one of the region’s finest historic properties.

  • A peek inside the beautifully preserved interior of convict-built St Mary’s Anglican Church – plus a wander through one of the Midlands’ most atmospheric graveyards.

  • A visit to Glebe House for tea, hearty soup and sandwiches in a setting that wears its history on its walls.

  • A final stroll to Lonsdale Homestead via Green Ponds Rivulet and the original elm-lined driveway, showing off the classic Midlands landscape that gives the Heritage Highway its charm.

Your Community Bus will be on hand at the end of the day to ferry you back to the starting point at Memorial Avenue, so there’s no need to retrace your steps on tired legs.

Heartland Way Kempton
Heartland Way Kempton

Tickets and bookings

  • Date: Sunday 21 June 2026

  • Time: 10am – 3.30pm AEST

  • Location: Memorial Avenue, Kempton, Tasmania

  • Region: Heritage Highway / Tasmania’s Midlands

Tickets are $45 per person plus booking fee and include morning tea, light lunch, afternoon tea, guided walking tour with a local historian, historic house and church visits, and bus return to the starting point.

Bookings are essential – secure your spot via Humanitix (search “Heartlands Way Through Kempton” or Walk through History: Embezzlers, Brothel Keepers and a Gold Digger in colonial Kempton).

Book Tickets

Walking, pace and accessibility

The total distance is around 7km, taken at a relaxed pace with lots of stops for stories, photos and refreshments.
The route is mostly level and is considered a fairly easy walk, suitable for people with a reasonable level of fitness who are comfortable being on their feet for several hours.

Winter weather in the Midlands can be crisp and changeable, so dress warmly in layers, wear comfy walking shoes, and bring a rain jacket just in case.
If you’re unsure whether the walk is right for you, have a chat with organisers when booking about your mobility and any specific needs.

Food, comforts and what’s included

You won’t go hungry on this one. Your ticket includes:

  • Morning Devonshire tea

  • Light lunch (soup and sandwiches)

  • Afternoon tea

Hot drinks, historic houses and a bit of scandal in the fresh Midlands air – it’s a pretty perfect Heartlands combo.
Bus transport from the end point back to Memorial Avenue is also included, so you can simply relax into the day.

Picture of Hobart and Beyond Editorial Team

Hobart and Beyond Editorial Team

The Hobart and Beyond Editorial Team is dedicated to bringing you the best insider tips, local stories, and up-to-date guides to exploring southern Tasmania.

Article Details:

Article Created: 29 May 2026
Last Update: 29 May 2026
Author: Darren Wright
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