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Location
Why go to Hamilton for a pie?
Hamilton is an ideal stop for visitors traveling to and from the west
coast. Hamilton is nestled within the Derwent Valley an hour from Hobart
and provides a great base to explore Tasmania.
Hamilton is an historic village, with 21 restored convict built
buildings (circa 1820 – 1858). The Platter Pie Café is the oldest of all
the buildings, with building commencing in the 1820’s.
Recent renovations have uncovered a trove of information such as:
· hand made nails (convict)
· wood panels from shipping crates (1800’s) with hand carved detail
· pressed iron and shingled roofing
· plaster made from horse hair
· hand made slide bolts and other fasteners
· convict made bricks
· layers of decorating (floor & wall)
· coins, papers, photos, bits and pieces from different years
The building itself includes an original fireplace for a bakery, and has
previously operated as a butcher, drapery and co-op. The Blanch family
operated as a bakery and pie shop for 20 years, their delicious pies
creating a traditional stop for many Tasmanians on their way west.
The name Platter Pie Café came to be when Steve & Sam Green bought the
business in April 2004. After having fallen in love with the Derwent
Valley, Steve & Sam moved their family from Queensland to undertake the
major project of restoration of the pie shop. The platypus in the Clyde
River behind the building provided inspiration and the main feature of
pies bought together the play on words.
So why is Hamilton so special? It is a quaint town with lots of history,
it boasts the second oldest church in Tasmania (St Peters – 1834),
Prospect Villa has one of the most beautiful gardens in Australia, the
Valley itself is a magnificent display of colour in the autumn, snow
capped peaks in winter, twilight in summer, unspoiled by the ravages of
corporation, close to one of the most spectacular forests in Australia
(Mt Field National Park), clear night sky, peaceful, cows mooing at
milking time, and the list goes on. The best part of course is the
pies!!!!
Why stay in Hamilton? Hamilton is central to much of Tasmania. Using
Hamilton as a base for a few days allows visitors to enjoy many great
day trips to various parts of Tasmania without having to shuffle
suitcases around.
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Hamilton is well located as a
stopping point in Southern Tasmania. The township sits in a
pleasant valley sheltered by the rugged, often snow-capped South
West Mountains close-by.
Clear skies make the local
climate one of Tasmania's best. The hottest part of Tasmania in
the summer, but always cool at night. Tasmania as a whole
deserves better press for its weather. |
The evening light gives wonderful
photos, with sunsets over the mountains to the west regularly
spectacular and the aurora borealis sometimes too.
Hamilton is a pleasant and interesting little historic township. St
Peters is the second oldest church in the State, there are over 30
heritage buildings and historic sites here plus platypus and trout in
the Clyde river.
Places of interest are in all
directions. National Parks, forests, rivers and lakes are only minutes
away by car. Most other historic towns in southern Tasmania are within
an hour or so. Central Hobart is an easy and scenic drive of about an
hour and worth doing several times. The airport is around 75 minutes
away.
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Colonial plans had Hamilton
becoming the major town for the region. Excellent soils and
climate lent to an obvious agricultural industry - growing wheat
for bread, oats for horses and barley for beer made a strong
local economy. Then, good
gardening meant good living.
As tourism grew in Tasmania in
the early 1980's others pioneered the conversion of old
buildings for 'colonial accommodation'. |
Excellent photo opportunities
throughout the town, and very special light particularly in the evening
enrich the experience here
By car:
10 minutes - Hamilton Plains Road, see historic dry stone fences,
fabulous views
(2 km towards Hobart, turn right).
15 minutes - Lake Meadowbank - platypuses, water birds, trout fishing -
go early or late when it is still (which is often) for magical water
reflections, sometimes mists and far-away sounds.
(8 km towards Ouse, turn left towards Ellendale).
30 minutes radius - Bothwell, New Norfolk, Plenty, Bushy Park,
Pontville, Ellendale, Mt Field National Park.
60 minute radius - central Hobart, Kempton, Oatlands, Styx Valley [with
the world's tallest known hardwood tree/eucalypt/flowering plant (E.
Regnans over 90 metres), the world's tallest Christmas tree and the
'Chapel Tree'
90 minute radius- most of southern Tasmania Lake St Clair National Park,
Hobart Airport, Richmond, Ross, The Great Lake, Mt. Wellington summit
and Huonville.
Travelling West to Hamilton from Hobart:
take the A1 to Granton, then the Lyell Highway, A10, through New Norfolk
and continue west.
Following the Derwent river the road sweeps through quite picturesque
fertile farmland with heritage buildings and views of mountains and
forests. Sometimes the mountains have snow caps.
The river is often mirror calm and is a bird sanctuary with black swans,
little ducks and native hens about and numerous scenic stopping places.
Travelling East from Queenstown, the A10 winds through steep wet
mountain country, wild |
