Bridgewater brings together a notable bridge over the River Derwent, a conservation area, parks and a history that also includes the nearby Watch House. To get your bearings, it is worth distinguishing Bridgewater itself from the other attractions in the wider destination of Brighton Council.
Bridgewater: Bridge, River and Conservation Area
The new Bridgewater Bridge is the fifth bridge to have been built across the River Derwent at Bridgewater. It has a three-metre-wide shared path for pedestrians and cyclists. The bridge therefore not only shapes the history of the river crossing, but also provides a practical way to cross it on foot or by bike. Bridgewater is within the River Derwent Marine Conservation Area, the largest conservation area on the Derwent Estuary. The bridge and river can thus be viewed in the context of this conservation area.
Parks with Different Features
Bridgewater Parkland on Cheswick Crescent offers play equipment, a kick-to-kick area and bike paths. Nielsen Esplanade Park has a different focus: this small park is by the water and offers views across the River Derwent at the foot of the heritage-listed Bridgewater Bridge. The two parks therefore have different features: play and recreation at one, and a waterside location and views at the other. Check local conditions before visiting Nielsen Esplanade Park.
A Building from Bridgewater’s Convict Era
The Watch House is close to Bridgewater and is one of the few surviving buildings from Bridgewater’s convict era. The single-storey sandstone building is in the simple Old Colonial Georgian style. Its two-foot-thick walls are covered with lime plaster. Its construction and materials give this historic building a distinctive architectural character, without reducing it to its former use.
In the Wider Destination of Brighton Council
The Bridgewater Foreshore Trail follows the banks of the Derwent River around Bridgewater and Green Point to the East Derwent Highway Bridge. A variety of birdlife can be seen in the flat wetlands along the shore, including black swans, cormorants, pelicans and white-faced herons. Check local trail information before setting out. The Jordan River Trail has a different focus: it is an easy walking track along the Jordan River and includes a detour into the historic quarter of Pontville. This makes it possible to compare riverside and birdwatching experiences on the Derwent with a walk that has a historical stop along the way.
Pontville and Colonial Architecture
Pontville is a significant colonial-era village within the municipality of Brighton. Its colonial architecture includes sandstone churches, a convict-built bridge, hotels, grand homes and workers’ cottages. A notable example is St Mark’s Church in Pontville: this Romanesque sandstone building was designed by convict architect James Blackburn and completed in 1841. Together with the nearby Watch House, Pontville shows how different places in the wider destination of Brighton Council each bring different aspects of colonial history to light.
Discover more destinations: Tea Tree, Barrington, Deviot, Copping, Grove, George Town, Claude Road, Spreyton.
To the wider travel overview: Tasmania.
