Discover Oatlands: History and Walking Trails

Oatlands offers several ways to plan your trip: self-guided tours take you to historic sites, while walking trails and sculptures reveal other sides of the town. If you’re weighing up culture and exercise for your stay, the different options and specifically stated trail details can help you decide.

Explore military history and buildings

The Military Precinct has a self-guided tour of the main military sites. These include the Supreme Court House, the Gaol, the Commissariat Store and the Old Barracks. Each stop has on-site explanations. This lets you explore the sites at your own pace, rather than learning about history through just one building.

The Oatlands Key system provides access to the Supreme Courthouse, built in 1829; the Gaoler’s Residence, built in 1836; and the Commissariat, built in 1827. Access arrangements and key collection locations may change; check these details before your visit. The tour of the Military Precinct and access with an Oatlands Key are different ways to experience the historic sites.

St Paul’s Catholic Church is also part of the town’s architectural history. It was one of the last buildings designed by Augustus Welby Pugin to be built before his death in 1852. For another perspective on Oatlands, the Oatlands District Historical Society holds collections of photographs, family records, cemetery information, local history information, newspapers and books. The subjects range from individual families and places to broader local history.

Walking trails and sculptures

The Topiary Trail features topiary figures at several locations along Oatlands’ streets. The figures in the sculpture “Cows in the Lake”, by contrast, stand in Lake Dulverton. They can be seen from High Street, beside the Oatlands District Historical Society museum. The sculpture’s subject is a time gone by, when cows grazed on the town’s grassy verges before heading to Lake Dulverton. It thus combines a specific vantage point with a story about life in Oatlands in the past.

If you’d like to plan a longer walk, a 7-kilometre gravel trail starts on the shore of Lake Dulverton and connects Oatlands with Parattah. The trail’s length is clearly stated, while the self-guided Military Precinct tour is shaped by its historic stops. The trail surface is gravel; conditions may vary. Take this into account when planning.

Self-guided tours at Callington Mill

Callington Mill Heritage Tours are free and self-guided. They run seven days a week from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. As current opening hours may change, it’s advisable to check the times before your visit. The Callington Mill Whisky Tasting Experience includes four 15 ml tastings of Callington Mill Single Malt Whiskies and a self-guided tour. The inclusions and price of this offer may also change; check the current details if you’re planning to take part in the tasting.

The options differ mainly in what you’d like to spend your time on: historic military sites, architectural and local history, public art, or a walk of a specified length.

Discover more destinations: Adventure Bay, Weegena, Longford, Queenstown, Tea Tree, Pipers River, Southport, Strahan.

For the broader travel overview: Tasmania.