A rural inland town in Tasmania’s north west, Sheffield is known as the ‘Town of Murals’ because of the many murals that decorate the walls of buildings around the town.
Names like Promised Land, Paradise and No Where Else were used to encapsulate the beauty of the region. Visitors today believe this still rings true!View rich agricultural fields, rolling green hills and natural vistas when journeying to Sheffield, Cradle Mountain, Wilmot and Railton. Experience the change of environments from low lying grassy plains to the foothills and grandeur of Mt Roland, the most prominent landscape feature visitors see en route to Sheffield.
Town Murals
Sheffield attracts over 200,000 visitors each year, most coming to see the murals painted on walls throughout the town and buildings along the roadside. The first mural commissioned was of Gustav Weindorfer, a passionate mountaineer, naturalist and conservationist. Since then many more murals embellish the building in the town. Sheffield now has more than sixty murals painted on the walls of the town buildings and a further nine murals displayed in Mural Park.
Mural Walk Maps are free of charge and may be obtained from most businesses. The Mural Art Book is also available and can be purchased from most shops or the Visitor Information Centre at 5 Pioneer Cres, Sheffield 9am – 4pm daily.
Where Is it?
29 km south of Devonport.
Visitor Information Centre
5 Pioneer Crescent, Sheffield. Ph (03) 6491 1036
Markets
CLAUDE RD MARKET
Claude Rd Hall, Claude Rd, Sheffield
Trading: 3rd Saturday of the 3rd Month
Type: Trash & Treasure. Phone: (03) 6491 1853
Things To See And Do
Natural Attractions
Kimberley Warm Springs are a geothermal feature and
semi-developed visitor site located within the town of Kimberley. The
micro climate created by the warm springs results in a unique habitat.
Sykes Sanctuary is 40 acres of bushland with abundant birdlife,
walking tracks and memorials to Norman Sykes. He was an eccentric
conservationist who gave up city life to live in a small shack, close
to nature. He bequeathed his property to the Railton community with the
instruction that it be conserved as a bird and fauna sanctuary.
Henry Somerset Orchid Reserve is renowned for the diversity of native
terrestrial orchids, some of the orchids are listed as rare and
endangered species. Moreover, some of the orchids are not only endemic
to the state of Tasmania, but to the local area. A walk takes
approximately 45 minutes and starts from the carpark off Railton Road.
Warrawee Forest Reserve has a five kilometre walk with access to
barbeque facilities, tables and three ponds stocked with trout.
Platypus can sometimes be viewed on tours conducted early in the
morning or at dusk with the Latrobe Landcare Group. Tours should be
pre-booked a day or two before arriving at the reserve.
No where Else ... and Paradisde!
As the signpost outside the Visitor Information Centre suggests,
there are some in the vicinity of Sheffield with unusual and often
quaint names like Paradise, Gentle Annie, Promised Land and No Where
Else. There is very little at these localities today, but they are well
worth a visit, if only for a photo of their unusual signposts and the
beautiful scenery that inspired many of these names.
There are a number of waterfalls near the village of Moina. Arm, Forth,
Hogg Creek, Bridal Veil, Champagne and No Name Falls are all within
easy reach of Sheffield. Walking tracks to each falls vary in length
for an easy 20 minutes (Arm Falls) to a moderate two hour (Bridal Veil).
Lake Barrington
Lake Barrington is ideal for water-based activities such as swimming, rowing, water skiing, power boating and canoeing. Picnic areas with sheltered tables, BBQs and toilets are available within the reserve. A kiosk operates on weekends in summer and during major sporting events.
Surrounding Area
Mt Roland Lookout
The summit of Mount Roland offers a 360º vista of the surrounding countryside. There are two tracks to the summit which provide spectacular 360 degree views to Bass Strait, Cradle Mountain and Barn Bluff. Mount Roland stands at 1234 metres above sea level.
Redwater Creek Railway
Redwater Creek Steam and Heritage Society currently has over 1km of track. Its train is hauled by a 1906 Krauss 610mm gauge steam loco and consists of Tasmanian heritage coaches. Steam train rides operate on the first full weekend of every month from the original Sheffield railway station. Trains run every half hour from 11am until 4pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Cradle Mountain Lake St Clair National Park
Sheffield is the closest town to Cradle Mountain, one of Tasmania’s most famous natural landmarks and the mecca for bushwalkers and cross country hikers. Cradle Mountain forms the northern end of the wild Cradle Mtn. – Lake St Clair National Park, itself a part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. The familiar jagged contours of Cradle Mountain epitomise the feel of a wild landscape, while abundant wildlife, icy streams, alpine heathlands, colourful deciduous beech and ancient pines reflected in still glacial lakes entice many visitors to stay and explore.
Village of Lower Crackpot
The World of Tasmazia is a crazy complex located in the wonderfully named town of Promised Land. Tasmazia includes 8 mazes, featuring The Great Maze, reputedly the world’s largest, as well as The Village of Lower Crackpot. This whimsical model village built to 1/5th scale.
