Today is Saturday 4 Feb2006
   
   Today is also the our last full day in this lovely place, like all good things I am afraid it has to end tomorrow morning when we board the Spirit of Tasmania for trip home again and back to reality.
    But Before that happens we got a couple of places we want to go see to this morning before taking a last look at Devonport itself. We got up early ,and for a change we bought Macca's for breakfast, following that we drove down to look at Latrobe and the noted Mural town of Sheffield, followed by a little country drive back into Devonport to do some last minute shopping.
   First stop today was Latrobe just a short drive south of Devonport,Follow the twists and turns of the Mersey River and you will soon reach Latrobe, the former port of the north-west coast. Once the bustling town of its time, it is now a much smaller neighbour to Devonport.
      Latrobe comes to life with various festivals throughout the year, including the Chocolate Winterfest held at the House of Anvers Chocolate, Frogmore Fair, and Henley on the Mersey, held annually on Australia Day and featuring a family favourite – the ferret race.
   The town's impressive list of achievements includes having the country’s oldest continuously playing brass band and richest wheel race, and being the birthplace of competitive wood chopping.  
  The Australian Axeman’s Hall of Fame, on Bells Parade, is a tribute to this chopping heritage. Bells Parade is also the site of the former port and is now a favourite picnic spot for
locals and visitors. It is particularly beautiful in autumn when the deciduous trees shed their leaves.
    Latrobe has 76 heritage-listed buildings, which can be explored on an historic walk down Gilbert Street. The former Wyndarra Lodge on the Bass Highway has been converted into a café and chocolate factory. Chocoholics beware, the House of Anvers has a tasting centre choc-full of sweet delicacies.
     Latrobe was settled in 1826 by Edward Carr, and grew quickly because it was the first accessible crossing point of the Mersey River. The town was once the third largest in Tasmania, but declined when a railway was built between Launceston and Devonport.
    After a short time here we headed off towards Sheffield passing through Railton on the way.
Found between Latrobe and Sheffield, this industry-based township has added
more than 100 imaginative topiary characters to its main street area in recent years.
       Visitor attractions also include TheSeven Sheds Brewery,Meadery & Hop Gardens, a Fibre optic lighting and gifts store, a delightful country tea room, secondhand store and a local crafts
gallery. The town is also equipped with several food supply stores, service station, pub and news agency. The Tasmania Trail can all be accessed at Railton
    Railton (marginally smaller than Sheffield) is the next largest town in the Kentish municipality and began its life as a rail head. The town was named after the daughter of a pioneering family, not the rail head as commonly thought. The wide main street in Railton indicates the space needed to turn the bullock teams and drays that were responsible for hauling Kentish
produce to the railway station. 
    Railton is the home of Cement Australia . Cement Australia began operating in the 1920's producing the world renowned 'Goliath Cement. Goliath Cement was used to build the Sydney Harbour Bridge. In fact, the construction industry throughout Australia has used cement from the Railton plant since the plants inception. This is a testament to the purity of
the limestone lode still being used to produce cement
   
Sheffield, Town of Murals, is nestled in Cradle Country's rural heartland. The gateway to Tasmania’s iconic Cradle Mountain, Sheffield lies aproximately 35 minutes from where the Spirit of Tasmania disembarks passengers in Devonport. Visitors are simply captivated by more
than 50 murals in this quaint country town. Take the "Story of the Sheffield
Murals" self-guided audio tour (available for hire from the Visitor Information Centre) and immerse yourself in the story of how a typical Tasmanian town facing rural decline succeeded in becoming a wonderful outdoor art gallery!  Fertile farmlands of Kentish Plains dominate the scenery, with Mt Roland towering the southern skyline at 1233m above sea level. Is it any wonder pioneering settlers named their townships Paradise, No Where Else and Promised
Land?Sheffield hasdeveloped into a hub for fine arts and crafts people. Studio-galleries withwoodcraft, glass and ceramics, are dotted around the region. At the Working ArtSpace a co-op of artists display their wares and demonstrate their skills forvisitors. The Kentish Museum contains a wealth of information and artifacts which reveal the shire’s agricultural, industrial and social histories. At Promised Land is Tasmazia – a whimsical complex which includes challenging mazes, the model village, Lower Crackpot, and a pancake parlour.
Sheffield eateries can cater for a quick take-away or a restaurant meal. Browsers will discover various specialty stores where souvenirs, second-hand treasures, fine art and gifts can be purchased. Accommodation includes hotels, lodges, cabins, guest houses, bed and breakfasts, motels and self-contained cottages both in Sheffield, Cradle Mountain, Wilmot or the surrounding countryside   Sheffield is nestled in under Mount Roland in an area of rolling hills and gentle valleys which produces fat lambs, pigs, potatoes, timber and a number of vegetable crops. The completion of the power scheme - seven dams and seven power stations - in 1973 saw the town's population decline but today it has grown to become the centre of the surrounding Kentish district
    Well what a lovely couple of hours we had here in Sheffield, the town maybe small in population and stature but it is an absolute mecca for tourists coming here to see the murals. With out time running out we are back on the road to Devonport for lunch and shopping, back in town we find a park for the car and start our walking-shopping afternoon,but first we had to find a nice little cafe to have a light lunch and a coffee. With appetite filled we are off to spend the last afternoon here in Tasmania and have a look around before going back to Rannoch to pack up. About 3 hours passed, we are all worn out, and our pockets empty we head off back to the B&B to relax after another day in paradise, oh boy have we got memories to take home to share with family and friends.