A charming and unspoilt historic Georgian village. Like Oatlands and Ross, Hamilton is still sufficiently removed from the over-commercialisation to offer the visitor an opportunity to experience what the villages of southern Tasmania were like in the 1830s and 1840s. It is the perfect place to stop, stretch one's legs and enjoy a tea or coffee breack on the journey from Hobart to the west coast. The origin of the town’s name is unclear although it was named by Governor Arthur, either after Hamilton on the Lower Clyde in Scotland or in honour of his friend William Henry Hamilton.

Where Is it?: 74 km north west of Hobart on the Lyell Highway between New Norfolk and Queenstown.



St Peter's Anglican Church: One of Australia's oldest churches, built c.1834 before the founding of Melbourne, when Van Diemen's land was in the Diocese of Calcutta, India. It is thought that its single door was a means to prevent convicts from escaping during services. The church was begun in 1834 but, when partly built, the walls had to be pulled down as they were unsafe. The church is of freestone and has a tower with a place for a clock, but one has never been installed. Half the cost of the building was provided by the Crown, partly through the ‘dog tax’, as was the case with several other churches. When Bishop Broughton, the first and only Bishop of Australia, visited Tasmania in 1838 he consecrated seven churches, St. Peter’s, Hamilton being the first on 8th May. The organ was bought for £80 in 1885. The architect was Edward Winch of the Colonial Architect and Engineer’s office and William Sibley was the contractor. Plans for the church were later modified by John Lee Archer. St Peter’s faced closure in 2017 but was reprieved from being sold as a result of community resistance.

McCauley's Cottage: A large cottage for its time, built around 1840 by the Church of England for clergy serving the district. Privately owned since 1906, it now offers self contained historic accommodation. It has an extensive rural vista , which includes St Peters' Church and Rectory.




Jackson's Emporium: Built by James Jackson in 1845, this building was originally 2 storeys but it was damaged by fire in the 1930's and was reduced to a single storey. This building was the centre of commerce in colonial Hamilton from the1860's to 1880's. Today it relives that history once again. The Emporium specialises in locally made Derwent Valle products - fuit nd berries, jams and preserves, cheese and smallgoods, wines and beverages, essential loils and local crafts. Jackson’s Emporium can cater for your heritage accommodation, as well as hearty home-style cooking - with a twist, through the day and evening.




Warder's Cottage: Built around 1835 and used by the Gaolers for accommodation (the gaol was behind the cottage) now used as the Heritage Centre and Museum by the Historical Society. When not open keys are available at the Hamilton Inn or Glen Clyde House. The cottage is the only remaining building of the district gaol, originally containing two lrage lock-ups, eight cells, staff quarters and coachhouse.



Glen Clyde House: Convict built as a private home in 1840, it was licensed by James Jackson as a Coaching Inn in 1845 as 'Tasmanian Las'. In the 1860's to the 1930's it was known as the Glen Clyde Hotel. Renovations began in the 1970's and Glen Clyde is now a Multi-Award- winning craft gallery and tea rooms. Listed by the National Trust of Tasmania.
The Hamilton Inn: Built by William Roadknight and postmaster around 1830, as a shop and private residence it was first licensed in 1838 as the New Inn and is the only remaining licensed Hotel, providing ensuite accommodation and a-la-carte counter meals. A late discovery in 1994 of mineral water on this site, has the present owners producing the world's purest drinking water.

The Old School House: Built in 1858 at a cost of £751 to accommodate eighty pupils, the School House is one of the most striking buildings in the Derwent Valley. It has been saved from demolition in 1972 by action of the Hamilton Council and concerned residents, it has been extensively renovated for tourist accommodation.

Along the Lyell Highway, 7km north-north-west of Gretna, you'll find Glenelg, a fine heritage listed two storey Victorian Italianate Villa built in 1878 to a design of Henry Hunter. The house has a good hillside setting, and is seen prominently from the road. The house features unfaced stone quoins, fine stone to openings, two pane windows and a two storey bay window, a single storey return verandah with timber columns, cast iron brackets and valance.

Meadowbank Lake

Meadowbank Lake, 8km north west of Hamilton, is a catchment of the Derwent River hydro electric scheme located between Hamilton and Ouse. Meadowbank Lake, created when Catagunya Dam was constructed in 1954, is an excellent trout fishing and aquatic area. Access via Dunrobin Bridge. The lake is also popular with water skiers with two designated ski zones south of Dunrobin Bridge. A camping and picnic area is located at Bethune Park on the western side of Dunrobin Bridge. A picnic area, public toilets and boat ramp are located on the eastern side of Dunrobin Bridge.

The relatively low elevation and the surrounding topography present a picturesque and sheltered angling experience. Meadowbank Lake is managed by the Inland Fisheries Service as a Family Fishery and is open to angling all year round. Regular stocking with brown trout, rainbow trout and trophy sized Atlantic salmon maintains the quality of the angling. Spinning, trolling, bait fishing and fly-fishing are all popular methods. Upstream from Dunrobin Bridge weed growth is prolific.

This area is designated as a small boat only zone with a 10 knot maximum speed limit. Fly-fishing from the shore or a small boat is recommended. Of particular interest are the prolific caenid and red spinner hatches during spring and summer. Downstream from the bridge the banks are generally steeper with deeper water and less weed growth. This provides opportunities for spinning, trolling and bait fishing.

Bethune Camping Area, beside Meadowbank Lake, is a grassy camping and picnic area witg sites that can accommodate big rigs. Perfect for waterskiers and anglers, there s a launching ramp close by on the eastern side of Dunrobin Bridge. The lake is the final section of the Derwent River Hydro-electricity Scheme and the last of the catchment s 10 power stations is at the foot of the Meadowbank Dam downstream. As the campground is on Hydro land, campers can stay for a maximum of 7 days. Access is through a gate on Ellendale Road, just west of Dunrobin Bridge, 2 km from the Lyell Hwy. Bring water and firewood.


Meadowbank power Station

The Catagunya hydro electric Power Scheme was an important step in the rapid post-war development of Tasmania's hydro-electric resources. Tasmania had the cheapest electricity in Australia, and the demand for electricity was doubling every ten years. Two thirds of the demand arose from a small number of large industries. The State government saw cheap electricity as a means of attracting more industries and the Hydro-Electric Commission as a large employer of labour. At the same time, the construction of hydro schemes was capital-intensive and funds were sometimes restricted. Strenuous efforts were made by the Hydro-Electric Commission staff to embrace new ideas in order to produce the most economical designs, of which Catagunya Dam is an example. It was an exciting and challenging time for the hydro-electric engineers.

The 50 MW Catagunya scheme was also the last of the single power schemes approved by the Tasmanian Parliament. The requirement for more electricity arose from the expanding production of zinc, aluminium, newsprint, paper, carbide and cement, and from the steady growth in domestic and retail consumers. Catagunya's output was expected to meet the increase in demand for only one year and was approved as a stop-gap measure. Thereafter larger blocks of power were required.

The single schemes began with Waddamana in 1914, using the outflow from the Great Lake whose storage was greatly increased in 1922 by the construction of Miena Dam No. 2. Over the next 40 years until Catagunya, nine other schemes were built, some in several stages.

Mt Bethune Conservation Area

Mt Bethune Conservation Area is 362ha. reserve of natural bushland, located 4km east-south-east of Ellendale. The majority of the 43 ha property comprises beautiful dry inland Silver peppermint (Eucalyptus tenuiramis) forest. Adjacent to Mt Field National Park, it is a popular spot for campings and bush walks.

Bethune Camping Area, beside Meadowbank Lake, is a grassy camping and picnic area witg sites that can accommodate big rigs. Perfect for waterskiers and anglers, there s a launching ramp close by on the eastern side of Dunrobin Bridge. The lake is the final section of the Derwent River Hydro-electricity Scheme and the last of the catchment s 10 power stations is at the foot of the Meadowbank Dam downstream. As the campground is on Hydro land, campers can stay for a maximum of 7 days. Access is through a gate on Ellendale Road, just west of Dunrobin Bridge, 2 km from the Lyell Hwy. Bring water and firewood.