121km (75 miles) N of Hobart; 78km (48 miles) S of Launceston
One of Tasmania's best-preserved historic villages, picturesque Ross was established as a garrison town in 1812 on a strategically important crossing point on the Macquarie River. Ross Bridge, the third oldest in Australia, was built in 1836 to replace an earlier span made of logs. The bridge is decorated with Celtic symbols, animals, and faces of notable people of the time. It is lit up at night, and there are good views of it from a dirt track that runs along the river's north bank.
The town's main crossroads is the site of four historic buildings, humorously known as "temptation" (represented by the Man-o'-Ross Hotel), "salvation" (the Catholic church), "recreation" (the town hall), and "damnation" (the old jail). The Ross Female Factory, built in the early 1840s, consists of ruins, a few interpretive signs, and a model of the original site and buildings inside the original Overseer's Cottage. Entry is free. Women convicts were imprisoned here from 1847 to 1854.
The Tasmanian Wool Centre and tourist information center, on Church Street (tel. 03/6381 5466), holds an exhibition detailing the growth of the region and the wool industry since settlement. It's open daily from 9am to 5pm (until 6pm Jan-Mar). Entry is by donation.
