Pontville, Tasmania

History

Pontville was sited by Governor Lachlan Macquarie in 1821, and was an early garrison town, where convicts built the bridge over the Jordan River. During World Wars I and II the area had a major army camp.

There is an old sandstone bridge in Pontville that lies on the Jordan River. The bridge is part of the Midland Highway.

A railway line connected the town with Hobart from 1891 until 1947. Additional excursion trains operated from Hobart, bringing riflemen to the nearby range. Pontville was gazetted as a locality in 1970.

Brighton Post Office opened on 1 June 1832, was renamed Pontville in 1895, and closed in 1973.

Historic buildings

Epsom House is an historic building originally built as a coaching inn, The Blacksmith's Arms, around 1831, by retired sergeant James Bunyip. In the 20th century, it was run by the Johnson family as the Epsom Store. It was restored in the 21st century as an entertainment venue, with the ballroom hosting the Australian String Quartet in 2006 in what may have been the first public performance there in 100 years. , it is one of the regular venues of the Seraphim Trio.

Geography

The Jordan River flows through from south-west to south.

Road infrastructure

The Midland Highway (National Route 1) passes through from south to north-west. Route C195 (Brighton Road) starts at an intersection with Route 1 and runs south until it exits.

Immigration detention centre

The Federal Government announced in April 2011 that it would spend $15 million on converting the army rifle range to an asylum-seeker detention centre, housing 400 people, mainly single adult men, although the Pontville Immigration Detention Centre was also used to house under-age males. In February 2012 it was announced by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship that the centre would be closed, which it did in September 2013.

References

References

1. . (23 October 2017). ["2016 Census Quick Stats Pontville (Tas.)"](https://quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2016/quickstat/SSC60506?opendocument). *Australian Bureau of Statistics*.
2. ''A Short History of the Apsley Branch Line'' Stokes, H.J.W. [[Australian Railway History. Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin]], July, 1971 pp. 152-160
3. . ["Placenames Tasmania – Pontville"](https://www.placenames.tas.gov.au/#p1). *Placenames Tasmania*.
4. Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions.
5. "History".
6. (12 June 2023). "About".
7. "Pontville, Tasmania".
8. . (May 2017). ["Tasmanian Road Route Codes"](https://dpipwe.tas.gov.au/Documents/Route%20Descriptions%20V3.6.pdf). *Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water & Environment*.
9. Cooper, Mex. (5 April 2011). "Tasmanian solution for asylum seekers". The Age.
10. (20 February 2012). "Pontville experience showcases our better natures".
11. (14 January 2014). "Scott Morrison announces closure of four immigration detention centres". [[Sydney Morning Herald]].