We’ve been using Rose Bay as our little base camp lately, and it’s been lovely to wake up with the water right there. It’s a bit quieter than the middle of the city, which suits us just fine. We decided to head inland for a bit of a look around Richmond, and of course, we couldn’t get very far without a pit stop for something sweet.
We pulled into Coal River Farm thinking a morning treat was in order. The entrance is all sleek dark metal and warm timber, very modern and inviting.
We went straight for the chocolates. Lisa was quite happy with her choices, but we both decided on a hot chocolate to warm the bones. To be honest, Steve was a bit let down by his—it was one of those ones that’s a bit too sweet and just didn't have enough heat in it to really hit the spot. They certainly looked the part, though, served in big glass mugs with chocolate shavings all over the rim and a nice block of hazelnut chocolate on the side.
Driving further toward Richmond, Lisa spotted a sign for Frankham Figs. We have a bit of a soft spot for roadside stalls, so we had to pull over. It was a classic Tassie scene with the yellowing hills in the background and a simple wooden gate. We picked up some fresh ones for Lisa to snack on later; there’s nothing like fruit bought right at the farm gate.
When we finally got into Richmond, the first thing that catches your eye is that old sandstone bridge. It’s incredible to think that people are still driving their cars over something built by convicts back in the 1820s. We took a stroll down by the water to get a better look at the arches. The way the yellow stone reflects in the Coal River is really something, even with a bit of cloud overhead.
The whole town feels like it’s been frozen in time. We walked up the hill to St. John’s Catholic Church. It’s a beautiful old building, and being the oldest one of its kind still in use in the country, you can really feel the years in the stone. Steve stood back to admire the tall spire while Lisa was more taken with the decorative carvings. The grandkids would have had a field day looking at all the little details in the windows.
We spent a good portion of the afternoon at the Miniature Hobart Town. It’s a bit of a marvel, really. A man named Peter spent over ten years building this entire replica village by hand. The level of detail is a bit mind-boggling—we were looking at a tiny butcher shop where they even had miniature carcasses hanging up in the yard.
There’s a little harbour section too, with a sailing ship sitting in the water and all these tiny sandstone warehouses lined up. It really gives you a sense of what life must have looked like back then, with the convicts and the sailors going about their business. We felt like giants walking through the streets.
Back in the main street of Richmond, we couldn't resist a few more photos of the local shops. One of the old cottages has been turned into a lolly shop, and they have these giant gingerbread men standing guard on the porch. It’s a very charming place to just wander around.
Everywhere you turn, there’s another piece of history. We saw an old schoolhouse-style building tucked behind a black picket fence, surrounded by a lovely garden that Lisa spent a good ten minutes inspecting.
Before heading back to Rose Bay, we took a drive out to a tiny spot called Campania. It’s just a small town here in Tassie, but the name is very special to us. Lisa’s parents came from the Campania region in Italy—the land of Naples and the Amalfi Coast. As we drove through the Tasmanian countryside, Lisa was telling stories her parents used to tell about the ruins of Pompeii and the vibrant street life back home. It’s a long way from the Mediterranean to the Coal Valley, but it was a nice moment to stop and think about our roots while we’re out here exploring.
We also came across a bronze statue of two children holding hands near a fence. It’s a quiet, touching little tribute to the kids who grew up in this town long before us.
It was a big day of walking and history, and we were both pretty happy to get back to the quiet of the bay.
