← Hobart Marathon·Day trip

Richmond: Convict Sandstone on the Coal River

A short drive to a Georgian village with Australia's oldest stone bridge still in use and a convict gaol, all on level ground by the Coal River.

DurationDay trip
TransitAbout 25 min by car from central Hobart
DepartsHobart CBD

After the Hobart Marathon: Richmond

The Route: Hobart → Richmond → Hobart Logistics: Hire car or organised tour. A 25 km run north-east out of the city and straight back. Marathon Month: April Duration: Day trip

Hobart CBD ──(about 25 mins by car, 25 km)──> Richmond
    ▲                                            │
    └────────────(about 25 mins by car)──────────┘

The Hobart Marathon finishes on the waterfront at Castray Esplanade, and after 42 km that include four climbs through Battery Point, a day of level ground has its appeal. Richmond offers exactly that, about 25 km north-east of Hobart and 20 to 30 minutes away by car across the Derwent.

April in Richmond: autumn in the Coal River Valley, with cool mornings, mild afternoons and noticeably shorter days than in summer. The village is quieter than in the January and February peak, which makes parking and cafés easier.

A car is the practical way to get there. The race partners with SIXT for car hire, and any hire from the city centre or the airport will do; Hobart Airport sits between the city and Richmond, so a car collected on Monday morning can also take you to your flight. Organised tours from Hobart often combine Richmond with other stops if you would rather not drive.

The Bridge and the Riverbank

Richmond Bridge crosses the Coal River at the bottom of the village. Convicts quarried and laid its sandstone blocks by hand between 1823 and 1825, under the watch of soldiers and overseers, and it is Australia's oldest stone arch bridge still carrying traffic. The riverbank on either side is grassed and close to flat, with room to sit and look back at the arches. This is the main recovery walk of the day: short, level and with nothing to climb unless you choose the rise up to the church.

That church is St John's, built in 1836 and Australia's oldest Roman Catholic church. It stands on a low hill across the river from the village. The path up is short but does climb; it is easy to skip on stiff legs and still see the church from the bridge.

A heritage walking trail of about 2.2 km links the bridge, the church and the main street. The village streets are paved and mostly level. Walked slowly with stops, the full loop takes an hour or so; half of it is plenty on the day after a marathon.

Richmond Gaol

Richmond Gaol was built between 1825 and 1840 with convict labour. It is open daily from 09:00 to 17:00 for self-guided visits. The site is compact and mostly on one level, with cells, a courtyard and displays about the prisoners held there. Check current admission prices on the Richmond Gaol website before going.

The main street, Bridge Street, has bakeries, cafés and galleries in Georgian buildings, and it is short enough to walk end to end without strain. Drive back the way you came, about 25 minutes to the city, or carry on to Hobart Airport if the trip is your last morning.