In Oatlands, historic buildings and routes offer different ways to explore: the Military Precinct brings together four military sites in a self-guided tour; a 7-kilometre gravel route starts on the shore of Lake Dulverton and connects Oatlands with Parattah. Other highlights include a sculpture in the lake, topiary figures in the streets, and St Paul’s, which is associated with Augustus Welby Pugin. You can choose between local history, architecture, public art and a designated route.
Military sites on a self-guided tour
The key stops in the Military Precinct include the Supreme Court House, the Gaol, the Commissariat Store and the Old Barracks. Each site has on-site interpretive information. The self-guided tour brings the four sites together under a shared theme and lets you explore them at your own pace. If you are particularly interested in Oatlands’ military history, this offers a clearly defined focus with specific places to visit, rather than simply an overview of building names.
Lake Dulverton, sculpture and street art
The 7-kilometre gravel route starts on the shore of Lake Dulverton and connects Oatlands and Parattah. Surface conditions can vary, so take this into account when planning. The stated distance gives you a concrete measure of the route. Another way to explore is the Topiary Trail, which features topiary figures at several locations in Oatlands’ streets. It focuses on individual figures at different spots around town, while the gravel route follows a continuous path between two places.
A single sculpture adds another point of interest at Lake Dulverton. The sculpture of three cows stands in the lake and can be seen from High Street, beside the Oatlands District Historical Society Museum. “Cows in the Lake” recalls a time when cows grazed on Oatlands’ grassy road verges before making their way to Lake Dulverton. The sculpture’s location and historical significance are therefore connected: it refers to an earlier use of the road verges and lake, not a present-day custom.
Architecture and local history
The Catholic church of St Paul’s in Oatlands was one of the last buildings designed by Augustus Welby Pugin to be constructed before his death in 1852. The Oatlands Key System also offers a way to explore named buildings and local history: the Supreme Courthouse, built in 1829; the Gaoler’s Residence, built in 1836; and the Commissariat in Oatlands, built in 1827. Access arrangements and key collection locations may change. Check how access is currently organised before your visit.
The Oatlands District Historical Society has collections of photographs, family records, cemetery information, local historical information, newspapers and books. The collection ranges from personal and family history to local records and printed sources. Together with the named buildings and the Pugin church, these collections make Oatlands a good destination for travellers interested in exploring its architecture and local history.
Callington Mill: tour or tasting
Callington Mill offers two different experiences. The heritage tours are self-guided and free, and run seven days a week from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. As current opening hours may change, it is advisable to check the times before your visit. If you are interested in whisky, consider the Callington Mill Whisky Tasting Experience: it includes four 15 ml tastings of Callington Mill single malt whiskies, as well as a self-guided tour. The format and price may change, so check the latest details in advance. This makes it easy to choose between the self-guided heritage tour and the tasting experience according to your interests.
Discover more destinations: Howth, Swansea, Kettering, Ouse, Petcheys Bay, Tea Tree, Tyenna, Lewisham
For the broader travel overview: Tasmania.
