TASPort & river
Old Beach
The far landing of the Derwent ferry on the first road north.
1818Licensed ferry to Austin’s
WHAT STARTED IT
Old Beach is the eastern landing of the early Derwent crossing above Hobart Town. In 1818 the government licensed a ferry between Austin’s and Old Beach, with a road from the landing to the high road for Port Dalrymple.
WHAT SUSTAINED IT
By 1820 the government road ran from New Town to Austin’s Ferry and on by Old Beach to the Port Dalrymple road. Once the causeway at Bridgewater carried the main road across the river upstream in the 1840s, the crossing lost its through traffic.
TURNING POINTS
1818The Lieutenant-Governor announces a licensed ferry between Austin’s and Old Beach, to be run by Austin and Earle.
1820Government orders describe the road from New Town to Austin’s Ferry, continued by Old Beach to the Port Dalrymple road.
1840sThe causeway at Bridgewater, upstream, becomes the main road crossing of the Derwent.
1970sCommuters begin moving into Brighton municipality, and large housing estates grow nearby at Bridgewater and Gagebrook.
WHAT IT DOES NOW
A growing residential suburb in Brighton municipality, on the Derwent’s eastern shore opposite Claremont and Austins Ferry.