Heritage Walking Trail - Torquay - East Devonport

10 ECHOES

Location: East Devonport, Tasmania, Australia

Devonport City Council

The 2km walk explores some of the history of Torquay.

Begin your tour near the Spirit of Devonport river ferry at the bottom of Thomas Street. A ferry service, of one kind or another, has operated from this area since the establishment of the town.

Start - Thomas Street

East Devonport was first settled in the early 1850s under the name of Torquay. Across the river was the village of Formby. Torquay was the more important of the two, being home to the police headquarters with the courthouse and police cells. General stores, butchers and bakers, boat builders and mariners, all settled in this area. The first hotel, the Mersey Hotel, was licensed in May 1853 and later destroyed by fire in 1880. The first jetty was constructed at the end of Thomas Street and a row of small cottages were erected in Pardoe Street in 1854, also destroyed by a fire in 1886.
A later Mersey Hotel, now the Edgewater Hotel was built in 1884 and only a small portion of the original building remains. Several other hotels were built nearby in the early years of the town.

When ready, head North on Wheeler Street towards the mouth of the river.

1 sound

Shipwreck Beach

Shipwreck beach and the East Devonport Beach are worth a visit when the tide is low. The wreck is of the G. Ward Cole, a dredge used in widening the river, and wrecked in 1932. The training wall was constructed in 1903. East Devonport Beach is noted for its basalt rock pools and shingle banks where marine life may be explored, and sea birds observed. The next site to visit is on Pardoe Street, Head South to discover more of East Devonport's history.

1 sound

5 Pardoe Street

No. 5 Pardoe Street is Illania. Built in 1888, this house was designed by architect Mr. T.Y. Kimpton for Mr Walter Dunn, a commercial traveler for over 50 years, and grandfather of a Miss Australia. Another property of interest is also on Pardoe Street. Continue along to number 21.

1 sound

21 Pardoe Street

No. 21 Pardoe Street. John Hair McCall a Scotsman and qualified chemist from Glasgow built this small cottage in 1861 and operated his apothecary store from this site. He later represented the district as a member of the Legislative Council from 1888-1901, and his son, John McCall, graduated as a doctor in Glasgow, returning to Tasmania to practice his profession. He was elected to the House of Assembly in 1888 and was knighted in 1909, and became Agent-General for Tasmania in London between 1909-1914. Continue walking, turning left on to Thomas Street you will soon find the next location.

1 sound

13 Thomas Street

Observe the second oldest residence in East Devonport, No. 13 Thomas Street. Miss Catherine Dean had this house built ca 1861 and a school was conducted here for a short time. Her niece, Annie Cocker was appointed to the position of Postmistress in 1875 She was a watercolourist, and painted many of the wildflowers of the district. The dormer windows are a later addition. Another member of the family, Miss Kathleen Cocker, lived here for many years and published several volumes of water- colour paintings of the town and surrounding villages. From here it is a short walk to explore the Church.

1 sound

St Paul's Anglican Church

St Paul’s Anglican Church. The foundation stone was laid by Bishop Bromby in 1876, and the first service was held in July 1879. The church was consecrated in 1882 and has been in regular use ever since. In 2001 a fire partially destroyed the building but it was restored in the same year, being re-opened in August 2001. The church was again subject to an arson attack in July 2019.

1 sound

Church of England Burial Ground

This location, now known as Pioneer Park, is the site of the Church of England burial ground. The park was created following the resumption of the site in 1965, and surviving headstones from the ground may be found here. The oldest surviving headstone is that of Isaac Stephens who built the first hotel at the western end of Thomas Street and cottages in Pardoe Street. When you are ready, make your way East on Drew Street, then left on Wright Street.

1 sound

26-28 Wright Street

Number 26 and number 28 Wright Street are known as Rose Villa and Fern Villa respectively. The two houses established in 1891 were built for Mr Gravatt and were identical at the time of completion. He was also responsible for building the Victoria Hotel in the 1890's. The river facing hotel originally sat on the site of what is now the Spirit of Tasmania Ferry Terminal. Head South, towards the corner of Thomas and Wright Streets.

The Cairn

Pioneer Park was also the home of the Wesleyan Burial Ground. A Cairn was established as a memorial and records the names of the pioneers buried here. Head South to the next intersection, the corner of Murry and Wright Streets.

1 sound

71 Wright Street

On the corner of Murray Street and Wright Street you will find 71 Wright Street. Currently a cafe, this two storey, 12 roomed building in the Elizabethan or Gothic style was designed by Mr W. Gadsby and built by Mr Michael Wood for the Wesleyan Minister. It was started in May 1885 and completed by the next year. In 1946 it was decided to build a residence for the Minister at West Devonport, so the property was sold and has been in private hands ever since.

1 sound