places
things to do
blog
deals
Talk to an Expert

Things to Do

Travel Ideas

Events

See all blogs

Popular Destinations

All Towns

Places to Stay

Camping
Heritage Stays
Hobart Hotels
See more...

Popular Destinations

All Towns

Latest Deals

View all deals

Wishlist

As you browse the site, add accommodation, tours, events and attractions to your personalised trip by clicking the heart icon. When you’re done, click the heart icon in the menu at the top of the website to view your wishlist.

Review your list, remove any items you no longer need, then select “View your itinerary” to see your trip on a map, or send it to a friend.

VIEW YOUR ITINERARY
EMAIL THIS WISHLIST
Close

Things To Do in Ross Tasmania — Heritage Village Guide

  • Ross Tasmania. Image Credit: Darren Wright

Home » Heritage Highway » Blog » 

Things To Do in Ross Tasmania — Heritage Village Guide

Discover historic Ross along Tasmania’s Heritage Highway

Ever wondered what a perfectly preserved 19th-century village looks like? Ross Tasmania is about as close as you’ll get.

A garrison of soldiers was stationed here at the Macquarie River crossing in 1812, and by 1821 Governor Macquarie had officially proclaimed it a town — naming it after his friend’s estate on the bonny banks of Loch Lomond. From those early days, Ross grew into an important coaching stop and livestock market between Hobart and Launceston. Today, it’s one of Australia’s finest heritage villages — listed on the National Estate and brimming with stories etched in sandstone.

Ross Visitor Information Centre
Ross Post Office. Image Credit: Darren Wright
Ross Post Office. Image Credit: Darren Wright

1. Wander the Village stores

Take a slow wander along Church Street and you’ll quickly discover that Ross does “small town shopping” very well.

Step into Classwood, in a heritage former drill hall, for beautifully handcrafted Tasmanian timber pieces.  Nearby, 1821 Crafts and Gifts showcases work from dozens of local makers, or sift through The Wrinkly Tin, which is filled with retro collectables and trinkets.

For something with serious heat, Australian Extreme Chilli Condiments at 34 Church Street is Tasmania’s first dedicated chilli shop. The Ross Post Office also doubles as a handy little gift shop, with souvenirs, cards and small gifts. Books on Bridge is cosy and casual bookshop. Featuring hand-picked classics, bestsellers and collectible editions.

Last but not least, a trip to Ross isn’t complete without a visit to the Tasmanian Wool Centre.

Tasmanian Wool Centre
Four Corners, Ross Tasmania. Image Credit: Darren Wright
Four Corners, Ross Tasmania. Image Credit: Darren Wright

2. Ponder your fate at the Four Corners

The main crossroads at Ross are said to represent ‘Temptation’ (the Ross Hotel, c. 1835), ‘Salvation’ (the Roman Catholic Church, c. 1920), ‘Damnation’ (the old Town Gaol, now a private residence), and ‘Recreation’ (the Town Hall).

Don’t stop at the crossroads for too long, choose a corner and let your destiny unfold!

Ross Bridge. Image Credit: Darren Wright
Ross Bridge. Image Credit: Darren Wright

3. Admire the beautiful Ross Bridge

The Ross Bridge (c. 1836) is one of the town’s most photographed landmarks and is recognised as Australia’s third oldest bridge still in use.

This iconic bridge emerges as a testament to the ingenuity of Government Civil Engineer, John Lee Archer. Initially envisioned to replace a dilapidated wooden predecessor, Archer’s vision was nothing short of extraordinary, a freestone bridge that seamlessly blends beauty with enduring strength.

The outcome? A solid stone marvel featuring three impeccably balanced arches that stand as a timeless tribute to Archer’s genius.

The real stars of the Ross Bridge story are convict stonemasons Daniel Herbert and James Colbeck. Herbert, a convicted highway robber from England, arrived in Van Diemen’s Land in 1827. His extraordinary skill with sandstone, responsible for most of the bridge’s 186 intricate carvings depicting animals, Celtic deities, plants, and even Lieutenant-Governor George Arthur, earned him something money couldn’t buy: a free pardon. Colbeck, too, received a pardon for his work. Herbert remained in Ross until his death in 1868, a free man buried on the hill not far from his masterpiece.

You can see detailed replica casts of some of the Ross Bridge sandstone carvings up close in the Tasmanian Wool Centre museum.

Ross Uniting Church. Image Credit: chachi86
Ross Uniting Church. Image Credit: chachi86

4. Visit the Ross Uniting Church

From the Ross Bridge, wander up the hill and view the Ross Uniting Church (c. 1885), from the street.

The gothic-style church looks like something out of a fairytale! Features include hand-carved sandstone walls, Tasmanian blackwood pews, an Oregon ceiling, an Italian marble font with carved cherubim, stained glass windows, and a modern French tapestry depicting the tree of life.

Note: The Ross Uniting Church was sold in 2023 and no longer operates as a place of worship. While the stunning Gothic-style exterior remains a landmark on the hill, public access to the interior is not available.

5. Eat at famous bakeries

First things first: vanilla slice. The Ross Village Bakery has been turning them out from its original semi-scotch brick wood-fired oven since the 1860s, and yes, they really do live up to the hype.

The bakery is also rumored to have inspired the fictional Gütiokipänja Bakery in Hayao Miyazaki’s beloved 1989 anime film Kiki’s Delivery Service (Studio Ghibli has neither confirmed nor denied it, but thousands of fans make the pilgrimage each year, so they might be onto something).

Across the road, Convict Coffee, formerly known as Bakery 31, is a vibrant café and bakery right in the heart of Ross. Alongside their famous pies, they serve up delicious food, great coffee, unique gifts, and genuine warm hospitality. It’s the perfect place to refuel while exploring one of Tasmania’s most historic towns. They also stock a lovely range of homemade jams and preserves — ideal for taking a taste of the Midlands home with you.

The Ross Hotel has been a meeting place for generations of Tasmanians and tourists alike, they pride themselves on good food and drinks, and a relaxed atmosphere.

Ross Village Bakery. Image Credit @gm.williams
Ross Village Bakery. Image Credit @gm.williams
Bakery 31 Ross. Image Credit: @thedevonshireteaguide
Bakery 31 Ross. Image Credit: @thedevonshireteaguide
Ross. Image Credit: @lauraverity
Ross Female Factory. Image Credit: @susanjmathew
Ross Female Factory. Image Credit: @susanjmathew

6. Explore the Ross Female Factory Historic Site

The Ross Female Factory was built in 1833 and originally housed the convict chain gangs employed on the Ross Bridge.

Between 1847 and 1854, the site operated as a probation station for female convicts and their babies. The site included a chapel, dining rooms, a hospital, a nursery, solitary cells, dormitories, and an outer courtyard.

Although there are few visible remains above ground today, the site is recognised as the most archaeologically intact female convict site in Australia.

Visit the Overseer’s Cottage and see the display. You might also like to follow the Ross Heritage Trail that runs past the site.

Ross Female Factory
Old Wetmore BnB
Old Wetmore BnB

7. Stay awhile

Ross is the perfect base for exploring the surrounding regions.

Old Wetmore is an historic convict-built sandstone homestead. Settled in 1824, thoughtfully modernised with luxurious comforts, situated just south of Ross.

Shepherds Story has been restored from the rubble of sandstone left from the original cottage, retaining the old where possible. Lime plaster walls and exposed timber beams with natural organic bedding, linen and finishings provide a warm, luxurious natural feel.

Riverview at Ross offers quality accommodation, or try the Ross Caravan Park, next to the Historic Ross Bridge.

Old Wetmore BnB
Tasmanian Wool Centre. Image Credit: Tourism Australia
Tasmanian Wool Centre. Image Credit: Tourism Australia

8. Visit the Tasmanian Wool Centre

The Tasmanian Wool Centre is a must-see when visiting Ross. Situated at the top end of Church Street, the centre contains a fabulous onsite Museum which relates to the region’s history and wool connections.

There are many artifacts, pictures, and documents on display in the Wool Exhibition room and adjoining History Gallery, including permanent exhibitions on the Ross Bridge, as well as changing short-term exhibitions.

The Wool Centre also houses the Ross Visitor Information Centre.

Tasmanian Wool Centre
Hearth A Living Sculpture
Hearth A Living Sculpture

9. Hearth – A Living Sculpture

At the northern entrance to Ross, Hearth rises from the hillside like a contemporary campfire circle, watched over by two ancient trees. Created by artists Peter Davies and Scott Rose in partnership with Greening Australia’s Midlands Restoration Program, this living sculpture marks a human and ecological crossroads — a place of connection, rest and reflection in a landscape that people, animals and plants have moved through for millennia.

Follow the winding paths up from the roadside to sit within the work, take in sweeping views back towards Ross, and, if you have a device and headphones, listen to the accompanying soundscape inspired by Woven Landscapes – Connections in the Tasmanian Midlands as you explore.

Hearth – A Living Sculpture

Makala — The Country Before the Colony

Long before Governor Macquarie rode through these plains in 1821, this country had a name: Makala. It is the Aboriginal place name for the land at and around what is now Ross, recorded by George Augustus Robinson during his journeys through the area in December 1833 and January 1834. Robinson was accompanied by Karnebutcher/Karnebunger, from one of the tribes of this area, as his guide.​

Makala is the country of at least three original tribes — the Tayarinutipana, the Rrulinamirimina, and the Mawimirina — who lived on and cared for this land for tens of thousands of years before European settlement.​

We acknowledge Tasmanian Aboriginal people as the traditional owners of this island, Lutruwita, and of the country at and around Makala. We pay our respects to Elders past, present, and emerging, and recognise their enduring connection to this place.

The Aboriginal place name Makala and tribal names are used in palawa kani, the Tasmanian Aboriginal language, with the approval of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre.​

SHARE YOUR ADVENTURES IN ROSS WITH US!

Share your snaps by tagging @midlandstasmania and using #MidlandsTasmania and #HeritageHighway on Instagram – we’ll share our favourite pics on social media and in the blog.

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: 10 February 2026
Last Update: 12 February 2026
Author: Darren Wright
Skip to content