Pontville

Pontville is a Tasmanian town whose history can be read in its buildings and its origins. The settlement was founded in 1821 as a garrison town and is one of Tasmania’s oldest settlements. If you’d also like to learn about your destination’s history during your trip, Pontville offers a special starting point: discover the town through its early development and surviving buildings.

Historic buildings and local character

One of the most distinctive buildings is the Jordan River Bridge. Built in 1842, it is one of the few surviving bridges in Australia from the first half of the 19th century. Pontville’s houses also give the town its historic character: Pontville is home to several of Australia’s 50 oldest surviving houses. Together with its origins as a garrison town, these facts offer various points of interest for anyone interested in early settlement history. As you explore, you can focus on one particular building or consider Pontville as a place with a longer history.

The unusual Romanesque St Mark’s Church also shapes Pontville. Its architecture adds a distinctive, clearly identifiable style to the town’s historic buildings. For travellers who enjoy noticing the different ways a place expresses itself, the church offers another aspect of Pontville’s character. Alongside the settlement’s history, the church’s distinctive architectural form is another focus of cultural interest.

The Jordan River, the plain and the trail

Pontville sits on a hill overlooking the Jordan River and a wide plain. The river and open landscape offer a different way to experience the town from its historic buildings: here, the surroundings take centre stage. The plain beside Pontville was once a travel and transit route for the Palawa between northern and southern Tasmania. This historical context adds significance to the landscape without equating its present-day appearance with its earlier use.

If you’d like to include some activity in your stay, consider the Jordan River Trail. The trail follows the river for 4.5 km and heads south to the neighbouring town of Brighton. The stated distance can help you assess the trail as a separate part of your day’s plans; it does not indicate a walking time or a particular level of difficulty. When choosing between local history and activity along the river, these are two different interests that shape Pontville as a destination.

Tastings and distillery tours

LARK Pontville Distillery is located in Pontville. Its Cellar Door offers tastings of Lark whisky or Forty Spotted gin. The distillery also offers tours at 12 noon and 2 pm. This gives your stay a distinct focus on food and drink alongside its historic and scenic attractions. If you’d like to explore this side of Pontville, you can take the listed tour times into account when planning your day and consider the tastings as another local offering.

Which kind of stay suits your interests?

When choosing holiday accommodation in Pontville, you can start by thinking about which side of the destination matters most to you. The town’s history, with the Jordan River Bridge, old houses and St Mark’s Church, appeals to travellers who enjoy exploring buildings and history. The views of the river and plain, along with the 4.5 km Jordan River Trail, offer a different focus. If you’d also like to plan a tasting or distillery tour, LARK Pontville Distillery has options for that. This way, you can choose Pontville based on the experiences that interest you most during your trip.

More places to discover: Risdon, Lindisfarne, Berriedale, Glenorchy, New Town, Cambridge, Sandy Bay and Clifton Beach.

For the broader travel overview: Hobart.