Historic, quintessentially English village in northern Tasmania.
One of the elements that makes small English villages so captivating is the sense of surprise. You never know what you will see around a corner - a thatched cottage, a view across a river, a town square. Westbury, a little piece of England in Australia, is like that. Around a corner you will find a village green, tree-lined streets, old courtyards and stables, elegant inns and charming houses. It is a feast of Victorian and Georgian buildings. Not surprisingly it is a classified historic town where the visitor simply has to get out of their vehicle and start walking.
Location
Westbury is located on the Bass Highway 35 km from Launceston and 215 km north of Hobart via the Midlands and Bass Highways.
^ TOPOrigin of Name
Westbury is named after Westbury in the English county of Wiltshire just south of Bath.
^ TOPThings to See and Do
The Village Green
It is claimed that the Westbury Village Green, with its elms, oaks and chestnut trees, is the only true village green in Australia. Certainly by the 1830s, with the soldiers garrisoned on the edge of the green, it was being used for parades and archery competitions. Prisoners were put in stocks on the green and it would have been the setting for village fairs, including the early St Patrick's Festival.
St Andrews Church
Opposite the Village Green is St Andrews Anglican church which was built between 1836 and 1890 - the foundation stone was laid in 1836, the nave was opened in 1842, the church was consecrated in 1851, the tower was added in 1859 and the chancel was completed in 1890. The church is noted for its fine carvings by noted woodcarver, Mrs Ellen Nora Payne, who was born and grew up in the village and who, in 1938 completed the magnificent 'Seven Sisters' chancel screen in memory of her seven dead sisters (she was the twelfth of fourteen children), and next year, such was her status, that she carved a coat of arms for Parliament House in Hobart. Next door is an attractive two storey brick house which was built in the 1840s and became the residence for Westbury Council clerks.
Fitzpatricks Inn
Located at 56 Meander Valley Highway, the charming two-storey Fitzpatricks Inn was opened in 1833 as the Commercial Hotel and operated for some years as a coaching inn. It was the first hotel in Westbury. In 1903 the Fitzpatrick family acquired it and renamed it Fitzpatricks Inn. It remained in the family through the twentieth century and, while it was being run by the three Fitzpatrick sisters (Cora 1891-1968, Genevieve 1896-1994 and Myra 1898-1981), had a reputation as a fine hotel. It is recognised as a fine example of a Georgian Inn although the classical portico was added in the early 1900s. Today it operates as a B&B, tel: (03) 6393 1153. Check out http://www.fitzpatricksinn.com.au. Outside there is an interesting historical silhouette/plaque of the three sisters which notes: "Conviviality was always the order of the day. Locals enjoyed a beer in the quaint English bar under Myra's watchful eye and famous artists and writers were inspired by its old world charm and lively conversations. Tasmania's social elite dined at a magnificent cedar table, laid with exquisite china, crystal and stirling silver."
John Peyton Jones
The silhoutte/placard celebrating the life of John Peyton Jones (1809-1891) depicts the man with a particularly ferocious dog because it was Jones, or Captain Jones as he was known, who arrived in Van Diemen's Land in 1829 with the 63rd Regiment, was stationed at Eaglehawk Neck from 1830-1832, who "devised the scheme of placing a chain line of savage dogs across the neck of the narrow isthmus to prevent prisoners escaping from Port Arthur to the north. This action secured him legendatry status within the convict era. Governor Franklin appointed Jones as Police Magistrate at Westbury in 1841 and he went on to play an important part in the township's early history."
Westbury Maze and Tea Rooms
Located at 10 Meander Valley Road, the Westbury Maze and Tea Rooms is a huge hedge maze with more than a kilometre of maze paths all edged by more than 3,000 two metre high bushes to challenge those who enjoy getting lost in a maze. There are tea rooms for those who successfully make it through the maze. It is open from 10.00 am - 6.00 pm from September to July, tel: (03) 6393 1840.
Pearn's Steam World
Pearn's Steam World is located at 65 Meander Valley Road,Westbury and has over 200 steam engines which have been collected since the 1950s. It is reputedly the largest collection of steam engines (trains, tractors, agricultural and industrial equipment) in Australia. It is open from 9.00 am - 4.30 pm except during the winter months (July, August, September) when it is open 10.00 am - 3.00 pm, tel: (03) 6393 1414. For more information check out http://www.pearnssteamworld.org.au which explains the genesis of the Steam world as "In the 1950’s, the Pearn brothers saw that the age of steam and threshing was giving way to tractors and self propelled headers. The last contracting job completed by the thresher was carried out in 1953. All machines used by the Pearns were kept in good working condition in sheds and when other farmers sold their machines for scrap the Pearns purchased sixteen more engines throughout the years. They decided to collect a representative sample of the steam engines operating in the state. They were already operating Marshall and Bulldog tractors on the farm and in the business. When other farmers and sawmillers sold their machines for scrap, the Pearn's purchased many of them for their collection Spare time was not used for recreational activities, instead it was used to polish and paint the engines. And so began the Pearns collection of steam traction engines and farm machinery, a hobby that involved all members of the family in recovering, restoring and operating the giants from the past and eventually creating the largest private collection of its kind in the Southern hemisphere."
History
* Prior to European settlement the area had been inhabited by members of the Tyerrernotepanner First Nations language group for thousands of years.
* The townsite was surveyed in 1823.
* In 1828 Governor Arthur ordered that the streets be laid out. The plan was that Westbury would be developed by the Van Diemen's Land Company and become an important stopping point on the route from Hobart to the northwest coast which was being opened up by the company. The plans were so grandiose that it was obviously Arthur planned for Westbury to grow into a city.
* In 1832 Lieutenant Ball and a detachment of troops arrived and were stationed on the edge of the Village Green. That same year a post office was opened.
* By 1836 the town's population comprised 227 free men and women and 317 convicts. This settlement grew so that by the mid-1850s the town had become the largest military barracks outside Hobart and Launceston. The population was dominated by Irish emigres - convicts, settlers and military personnel.
* In 1871 the railway arrived in the town.
* Today Westbury is a town with a nineteenth century ambience.
^ TOPVisitor Information
There is basic visitor information at the John Temple Gallery, 103 Meander Valley Road, tel: (03) 6393 1666. The closest information centre of importance is the Great Western Tiers Visitor Centre, 98-100 Emu Bay Road, Deloraine, tel: (03) 6362 5280 which is 16 km to the west.
^ TOPUseful Websites
The official local site, run by the Meander Valley Council, can be found at http://www.greatwesterntiers.net.au/villages/westbury
^ TOP
I would like to know what happened to the Westbury Inn? My great, great, great grandfather John Whitehead who came from Clonmel County in Ireland built the Westbury Inn back in the early 1800s. I would like to know the history of the Westbury Inn and what happened to the building.
Joanne there is a great photo taken in 1860 of the Westbury Inn in Linctas eHeritage. It also has the history of the building and surrounding old buildings and their uses. I descend from the Herbert family who lived there in the early 1900’s.
Ever Dreamt of Playing Harp? Now is the time!
The Harp Society of Tasmania with support from the Tasmanian Folk Federation present a fantastic weekend of all things harp in beautiful Westbury on the 10th – 11th October 2015, Supper Room in Westbury Town Hall.
Come along and take part in this wonderful experience with the Harp Society of Tasmania for all members of the Tasmanian Community … everyone is welcome!
There will be a range of guided sessions available for complete beginners to those with some experience. The only cost for these sessions is optional gold coin donation!
Harps are provided for you to see and play, but if you have one then please bring it along.
Please also bring your own lunch, or a plate of food to share if you wish.
The Nellie Payne Woodcarving Exhibition is in the Town Hall at the same time!
MAKE YOUR OWN LAP HARP
The workshop will be running in conjunction with the guided sessions on both the Saturday and Sunday. The cost of this workshop is a weekend special price of $200 and places are limited, so please get in quickly to reserve your spot for this rare opportunity.
Contact Emily via email to register secretary.harpsoctas@gmail.com, or phone Jenny on 0467 661 424.
A great weekend for beginners and experienced harpists alike. Come along, enjoy and be a part of our harp community! harpsocietytasmania.org
FaceBook: Harp Society of Tasmania, Ever Dreamt of Playing Harp? Now
The Westbury Inn was owned by my grandparents Albert and Lillian Drake. My grandfather was a blacksmith.
Hello Julie you said your grandparents owned the Westbury Inn and he was a blacksmith. I am looked for John McCormack Jnr who was a blacksmith at Westbury about 1861. I have truly no other info except he is the father of my husband g grandma . I have searched for many years and cannot find him. Just wondering if he may have worked with or for your grandfather and maybe there are records of employees etc. Anyway grasping at straws I know Thanks for reading this Pamela B
The Fitzpatrick sisters – Cora, Genevieve and Myra – were the daughters of Emma and Francis Henry Fitzpatrick from Deloraine. Their mother Emma was a Goodridge. Her parents owned the Bush Inn at Deloraine from 1879 till 1885. They were relatives of Patrick and Bridget McCormack, originally from Westury in 1860
Maybe a photo of the Rexford bridge sign?
I visited Westbury last week to follow up on an ancestor living in Shadforth Street in 1839. Is there any history regarding this street?
I am very interested in the McCormack family who were blacksmiths in Westbury around 1860. My husband’s descendants are from McCormack Jr. I have no details whatsoever on this family. You may know of a site I can go to or some details yourself. They are descendants of James Wood, convict of Westbury.
Hi Pam,
I’m also interested in the McCormack’s in Westbury in the 1860’s. I’m a direct descendant of RF McCormack. I’ve recently found an ad placed by a John McCormack in 1863 regarding RF McCormack. Any information you have would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! Brooke
Brooke I’m still no further ahead as I have nothing to go by except his name John McCormack Jnr and he was a blacksmith. Our Emily, his daughter’s birth, was registered at Westbury. Regards Pamela B
Hi Pamela, I’m still no further ahead either 🙁
I still search sporadically in the hope that something will pop up – fingers crossed!
My great grandfather Martin Stewart was a tanner there I’m going to visit today
My great grandfather owned and operated the Fitzpatrick Inn around the 1860’s and 1870’s…it was called the Westbury Railway hotel then…his name was DENIS SHANNAHAN m Mary Kilmartin (the origin of these two I haven’t been able to nail down but surely they came from Ireland )
He advertised it as a coaching Inn with accommodation and was also at times Undertaker/Tailor.
Hi Nicholas, Dennis Shanahan was also my grt grt grandfather. I am currently searching for his birth. I did find a marriage with Mary Kilmartin in Ireland in 1860. Their first child was born in Westbury in 1861. I have booked to stay at Fitzpatrick’s in this November (2023) for the bicentennial weekend. He was also recorded as Dionysis Shanahan, which is the latin for Dennis.
Do you have any information about the Shaw family – William and Hanna who came from Ireland. He was in the British Army and they were given an acre of land. I think it was in the 1830’s. Thanks
Westbury historical society may be of help
The Tasmanian State Government has announced Westbury as the ‘preferred site’ for a 270-inmate prison, including maximum-security prisoners. The prison is planned to be built on 41 hectares of land, 2 km from Westbury. There is much concern among the Westbury community regarding the proposed prison. For further information google ‘Westbury Prison Tasmania’
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If my ancestors were married in the parish church in Westbury in 1854 according to the rites of the Church of England – is that the St Andrews Anglican church? Were they previously Church of England prior to Anglican?
The correct answer: The term ‘Anglican’ means ‘English’. The Church of England in Australia became the Anglican Church of Australia some years ago under its own control rather than under English control. It is part of the World wide Anglican Communion of churches that draw their heritage from the Church of England.
The term ‘Anglican’ means ‘English’. The Church of England in Australia became the Anglican Church of Australia some years ago under its own control rather than under English control. It is part of the World wide Anglican Communion of churches that draw their heritage from the Church of England.
Thanks for that Robert Hill.
My great great great grandfather John Butterworth Whitehead built the Westbury Inn . He came out from Ireland, then built the Inn & when his son got married he built him one too.
Hi, I am also a descendent of James Butterworth Whitehead. He is my Great Great Grandfather. The brothers came out to Tasmania and two went to the US from what I have found. Thomas went to Victoria to run the Woorndoo hotel, and his son Robert lived in Rainbow. Most of the family lived in Edenhope at some time. Very big family! Just with my family I have 20 cousins, they all have children, and some of the children have children.
I love this info. It helps me connect the dots.
My Grandfather, Reuben Thomas WHITEHEAD, the son of Robert and Christina, was a shearer in the Western Districts in his time. A really lovely man who would do anything for anyone. Always slipped us kids a $20 note at Christmas and told us not to tell Mum.
I’m also a descendant of James Butterworth Whitehead. He is also my great, great grandfather. My grandfather was Robert Ian Whitehead who was the son of Robert Whitehead and older brother of Reuben Thomas Whitehead. I hope to visit Westbury to learn more about James Butterworth Whitehead’s life.