The village of Chudleigh, not far from Mole Creek, is one of those places that seemed destined for greatness but never quite got there. Prior to European settlement, Chudleigh was part of the lands of the Pallittorre Aboriginal tribe. Their range included Deloraine, east of Chudleigh, and the Gog mountain range to the north-west where they mined ochrein the Toolumbunner ochre pits.



During the early 1820s the Van Diemen’s Land Company created a track or stock route from Deloraine to Emu Bay (now Burnie) that ran via Chudleigh and Mole Creek. The route enabled them to move livestock from the west of Tasmania, to the population centres further east. The company built facilities, including a grain satore store (1827-28), in Chudleigh. The store still stands as a silent reminder of what might have been.


The former Van Diemen's Land Company grain store building was restored in 2002.

Europeans settled the area west of Deloraine from the early 1800s, and cattle were being grazed in the Chudleigh area from as early as 1823. John Badcock Gardiner, who probably named Chudleigh after the village with the same name in Devon, England, was granted 850 acres (340ha) in the area after arriving in Tasmania in 1829with his family. Land in the district granted to Lieutenant Travers Hartley Vaughan in 1830 was later sold toHenry Reed.The property,which had been known as Native Hut Corner, was renamed Wesley Dale.

By 1831 a lime burning industry had been established. The town of Chudleigh was surveyed and marked into town blocks by John Batman, founder of Melbourne, many of them 10 acres (4.0ha). The town was laid out to hold a population of 5,000, as it was intended to be a railway junction on a line from Launceston to North-West Tasmania. A railway line was built from Mole Creek to Deloraine, through Chudleigh. It ran 20.4 kilometres and opened on 5 April 1890. The rail line was used for mail, freight and passengers; occasional passenger services went as far as Devonport. Passenger services mostly ceased when they were replaced with a bus service in 1960. The line was closed in 1985, and the tracks lifted in 1992.



Dan Picket, an ex-convict who had been granted a ticket of leave, built the first hotel, the two-storey Chudleigh Inn, around 1850. The building was later reduced to a single storey. A police watch house was completed c.1860. The township of Chudleigh was formally declared in 1866. It continued to expand and by 1883 also had a post and telegraph office, two stores, two churches, and over a dozen houses. Chudleigh's anticipated development never came, but by 1862 an extensive system of caves (Mole Creek Caves) had been discovered in the area, attracting visitors.

For some time the town had an Australian Rules football club. It closed in the 1930s, re-formed in 1939, then finally closed in the 1980s. Telegraph communication followed construction of the railway line in the late 19th century. The first telephones were installed in Chudleigh homes in the 1930s and mains electricity in the 1940s.

The Chudleigh Agricultural and Horticultural Society has run the show annually since 1889, except for breaks from 1914–28 and 1939–45 due to the two World Wars.The show has been held on various grounds; the present one was purchased in 1932. Held annually in February, Chudligh Show is a great family day; Expect to see cattle, horses, sheep dogs, vintage tractors, chopping and more.


Bentley

The 400-hectare property, Bentley, dates back to a land grant of 1829 to John Badcock Gardiner when the island was still known as Van Diemen’s Land. It was named Bentley after the land grant was sold to Donald Cameron in 1836. The Cameron family built the Melbourne-style “town villa” in 1879, and it was the home of Cameron’s son, noted parliamentarian Donald Norman Cameron, until he died in 1931.

The original homestead has been doubled in size, with the second wing a replica of the original. Connecting the wings is a central conservatory crowned by an elaborate cupola inspired by the dome on the Royal Pavilion at Brighton. The only man-made structures visible from the house are its own outbuildings, including the Van Diemen’s Land Company Barn that dates back to 1835 and is currently guest lodgings with four bedrooms and a three-bay carriage house with four cast-iron stables. Perched above both the barn and sheds is a clock tower that dates back to the 1800s.

Beyond Chudleigh

Mole Creek National Park

30 km west of Chudleigh via Mersey Forest Road

The Mole Creek Karst National Park was declared in 1996 to provide protection for some of the finest and most visited cave systems in the State, including Marakoopa and King Solomons Cave. Both caves are open to the public, and provide the opportunity to take a deeper look into the fascinating world of 'karst' landscapes.

The Mole Creek area is renowned for its caves. Marakoopa and King Solomons Caves are but two caves in an area that contains over 300 known caves and sinkholes. Other typical karst features in this area include gorges and large underground streams and springs.


Map showing the location of caves in the Mole Creek area

Both caves are home to a range of fascinating animals which have evolved features which allow them to adapt to their lightless environments. The glow-worm display in Marakoopa Cave is the largest you'll see in any public access cave anywhere in Australia. For the visitor, the Mole Creek Karst National Park offers a range of activities. Although guided tours of the caves will be high on your agenda, don't miss the opportunity to take a short walk through the beautiful forests in which these caves occur.

Dan Pickett: Pioneer Cave Guide

Trowunna Wildlife Park

3.7 km north-west of Chudleigh via Mole Creek Road

When visiting Tasmania's north west, don't forget to include Trowunna - a Wildlife Park with a difference. Trowunna Wildlife Park has been the place to see the Tasmanian devils since 1985. Trowunna is a privately owned wildlife park, where native Tasmanian fauna and flora thrive. It houses the world's largest heritage population of endangered Tasmanian Devils, but also has a great range of marsupials, birds and reptiles on site.

The Truffle Farm

Just outside Chudleigh at Needles, visitors can experience the first producing truffle farm in the country. Learn about the history of truffles from the pioneering family, and hear the story of how they were first grown here in Australia. Join second generation truffle farmer Anna, and her truffle hunting dogs and dig up some magic of your own. Tours run from December to September (10 months) annually.

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Mole Creek

6.9 km north-west of Chudleigh via Mole Creek Road

> Mole Creek is a pretty town surrounded by some of Tasmania's most beautiful wilderness and is the perfect base for exploring nearby national parks, and its extensive, amazing caves.

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Alum Cliffs

5 km north-west of Chudleigh via Mersey Hill Road

The Alum Cliffs lie within the Alum Cliffs State Reserve and form a part of the Gog Range. The short walk from its car parking area to Alum Cliffs (about 40 minutes return) takes you to a forest lookout perched high above the Mersey River, as it flows along the valley through the Alum Cliffs Gorge. From the carpark, steps climb to a forest clearing where you will find one of the installations which form the Great Western Tiers Sculpture Trail – Soulevement-Triangulaire, point de vue – by David Jones. This enormous structure acknowledges the triangulation of three major physical references – Quamby Bluff, Alum Cliffs Gorge and Western Bluff, as seen from the site of the sculpture.

Tulampanga, or Alum Cliffs, was a place of particular social and spiritual significance to Aborigines because of the ochre to be found in that area of the Gog Range. Many tribes travelled to Tulampanga to obtain this highly prized material and for them this was a sacred celebration place. The connection of Aboriginal people with the Mole Creek area is thought to date back more than 10,000 years, and the Pallittorre band of the North tribe was based around Mole Creek/Meander. To these early inhabitants, the Great Western Tiers were known as Kooparoona Niara, or Mountains of the Spirits, culturally significant as the meeting place of three Aboriginal clans.

Devil's Gullet

49.7 km north-east of Chudleigh via Mersey Forest Road

Devil's Gullet is a dolerite cliff in the Central Highlands of Tasmania that is approached via Mole Creek at the western end of the Gt Western Tiers. Devil's Gullet Lookout gives you uninterrupted views of Tasmania's World Heritage Area. A glacier carved its way through this alpine highland to cut the deep valley below. Alpine forests now cover the landscape leaving only the 220-metre dolerite cliff bare. The lookout comes at the end of a 20-minute return walk from the lookout's carpark. The entire walk is easy and takes place on a boardwalk. There are no facilities at this site so plan and pack accordingly. Devil's Gullet is 79 km from Devonport via Mole Creek.

Ironstone Mountain

17.4 km south of Chudleigh via Western Creek Road

This climb to the highest peak of the Great Western Tiers is for the more serious of hikers/walkers. Do not attempt this one if you are unfit, inexperienced or ill-prepared. The track is challenging track with steep sections, but scrambling over boulders and crossing the Western Creek waterfall makes for a very fun hike. Access to Ironstone Mountain is mainly from two walking tracks. The closest access is from the north via Mole Creek, Caveside and Westrope Road to the Western Creek Track which follows the eastern side of the gully formed by Western Creek. Another access route is from the east via Deloraine, Meander, Smoko Road and the Mount Ironstone Track. This track starts 2 kilometres south of Mother Cummings Peak, another dominant landmark in the region.

Westmorland Falls

11.8 km south-west of Chudleigh via West Caves Road

Lobster, Montana and Westmorland Falls are all in the Mole Creek limestone cave area on the Mersey River. Several waterfalls and pools are enclosed by 100 metre cliffs. Many visitors have fun spotting the freshwater lobster at Lobster Falls. Severe flooding in January 2011 and again in June 2016 caused a lot of changes; tracks needed to be re-routed and viewing platforms repaired/replaced by Parks and Wildlife, allowing access to the creek. If you have been there before, you will certainly be amazed at the changes wrought by nature. The falls have been cleared by the rushing waters, revealing many fossils, and the little creek below the falls has been transformed into a wide, deep, boulder-strewn riverbed.

Lobster Falls

To reach Westmorland Falls from Mole Creek, travel about 6 km south along Caveside Road to a T-junction. Go right into Wet Cave Road, which is unsealed. The Wet Cave reserve is soon reached straight ahead and you take the left turn and continue on until you reach a small car park on the right with a sign ‘Mole Creek Karst Conservation Area’ and ‘Westmorland Falls’. Large rocks mark the track entrance. Lobster falls is 10 km east of Mole Creek via Mole Creek Main Road. Like most accessways to waterfalls in Tasmania, the track to the falls is a little rough and uneven in places.


Montana Falls

Situated on Western Creek, it is accessible from Lomg Ridge Reserve on Leonards Road, Montana. Although path to the waterfall is in a Regional Reserve (which is public property), the other side of the creek is private property, and should not be accessed. A well marked side track that leads to a series of small cascades known as the Montana Cascades.



King Davids Peak, Walls of Jerusalem

Walls of Jerusalem Mational Park

66.9 km south-west of Chudleigh via Mersey Forest Road

The Walls of Jerusalem is a mountainous area in the extensive central plateau of Tasmania which forms part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. As the park is remote and not accessible via road, the Walls retains its wilderness character. There are no facilities for casual visitors. The region is an alpine wilderness dominated by dolerite peaks, highland tarns and lakes and alpine vegetation. The Walls of Jerusalem National Park is very exposed to the extremes of Tasmania s changeable weather.

The Walls of Jerusalem National Park offers experienced bushwalkers and cross-country skiers the opportunity to pursue their passion within a spectacular mountain region that is little touched by the modern world, and to test their skills against the elements. The wild weathers characteristic of the Walls is as much a part of experiencing the region as is the landscape. People venturing into this area must be prepared for extremes of weather.



A walking track leads from the carpark at Lake Rowallen through scleropyhll forest before entering the alpine regions of the park at Herods Gate. The track continues to Dixons Kingdom. However, beyond this point tracks are poorly defined or non-existent. The track, to the main valley of the Walls around Lake Salome, can be visited as a day walk. Most prefer to explore further and two day walks with an overnight campsite is the most popular trip. Camping platforms have been provided in the entrance to the Walls below Herods Gate. This is also a good area for experienced walkers as there are multiple multi-day approaches across the Central Plateau to the Walls.

Walkers should NOT venture too far into the park without careful preparation and suitable equipment. Tents, warm sleeping bags, waterproof and cold weather clothing and fuel stoves are essential. Boots and preferably gaiters are needed. Bushwalkers must carry a tent. Huts within the park are small, in poor condition and suitable for emergency shelter only. There is a camping platform and composting toilet at Wild Dog Creek. We recommend that walkers camp here in preference to Dixons Kingdom.


Halls Butress, Walls of Jerusalem

How to get there: The Park is not accessible via road. Bushwalkers must walk up into the park from the carpark located off the gravel Mersey Forest Road near Lake Rowallan. The carpark is reached via Mole Creek by following the Mersey Forest Road to Lake Rowallan, and then taking the gravel road on the left just after the Fish River. The park boundary is reached by following the walking track up through forest for about 1/2 hour. It is a further two hours to Herods Gate, which marks the start of the high exposed plateau. The track is often wet and muddy. Please be aware that when driving between sunset and sunrise you are sharing the road with wildlife.

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Sheffield

36.5 km north-west of Chudleigh via Liena Road and Paradise Road

A rural inland town set against the backdrop of Mt Roland, Sheffield is known as the Town of Murals because of the many murals that decorate the walls of buildings around the town. Names like Promised Land, Paradise and No Where Else were used to encapsulate the beauty of the region. Visitors today believe this still rings true! View rich agricultural fields, rolling green hills and natural vistas when journeying to Sheffield, Cradle Mountain, Wilmot and Railton.

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