With its gentle rolling hills, meandering streams, abundant orchards and tumble-down sheds, a stroll through the back roads around the small township of Ranelagh in Tasmania’s Huon Valley soothes the senses and reveals a wealth of hidden delights.
The sights and smells of late summer brings to mind scenes from rural England, intertwined with a quintessentially Australian flavour. A region favoured by those who enjoy a measure of self sufficiency, the landscape of the Huon Valley is threaded into a diverse tapestry of native bushland, horticultural crops and small landholdings.
Mountain River, which begins 25 kilometres to the north at the back slopes and bushland of kunanyi/Mount Wellington gradually makes its way down to the valley, passing through the agricultural productions around Ranelagh and Huonville before finally discharging into the broad sweep of the Huon River.
‘Solitary walks express the independence that literally takes the heroine out of the social sphere of the houses and their inhabitants, into a larger, lonelier world where she is free to think: walking articulates both physical and mental freedom.’ – Rebecca Solnit, Wanderlust: A History of Walking
As summer gradually transitions to autumn, rows of apple trees hang ever lower under the growing burden of the new seasons’ crop. The Huon Valley is a well-known apple producing region with a long history, and many of the orchards around Ranelagh supply fruit for cider and juice production.
Despite its small size, and with a local population numbering just over 1,000 people, Ranelagh boasts numerous stunning buildings from the 19th century, a quaint fortnightly craft market and even a couple of surprisingly popular spots to grab a bite to eat. Amesbury House, on Ranelagh’s main road, is an example of one of these early residences. It was established in 1879 by the Frankcomb family, who began growing apples in Ranelagh in 1846.
A splash of sunshine yellow and stunning wrought-iron detail on the doors of Ranelagh’s St James Anglican Church readily captures the eye (and often camera) of anyone passing by this heritage-listed building. Built in 1896, the church was designed by James Fagg and built to replace the previous church which had been destroyed in a bushfire in 1885.
And finally, a trip to Ranelagh wouldn’t be complete without stopping by Summer Kitchen Bakery, which has been making a name for itself throughout the Huon Valley and beyond since it opened in 2012. Lauded for their hand-crafted sourdough loaves and delicious pastries, Summer Kitchen boasts a constant stream of traffic passing through its doors, with locals and tourists alike making a beeline for the alluring samples of baked goods on offer.
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