Buckland: Church, History and Old Convict Road

Historical traces in Buckland

Buckland offers a range of historical traces: a church modelled on an English church, the Buckland Inn, built from locally hand-hewn sandstone, and the Old Convict Road leading to the ruins of the Probation Station. Church architecture, building materials and convict craftsmanship give the town several distinct themes. When planning a holiday rental, you can consider which of these stories you would like to explore and which should be the focus of your stay.

A church modelled on an English church

Buckland Church was completed in 1846 and is a replica of the parish church in Cookham Dean, Sussex. It is considered the most authentic example of early medieval English church architecture in Tasmania. This brings together two historical periods: the church’s completion dates to the 19th century, while its architectural classification points to early medieval English church building. If you are interested in architectural history, it is worth considering the construction date and the model separately; this very connection makes the church a distinctive historical feature of Buckland.

Local history and building materials

The Buckland Inn was built in 1841 from locally hand-hewn sandstone. Here, the construction date and material take centre stage, while the church offers a different historical perspective through its design as a replica and its architectural classification. Buckland was first settled in 1820 and was originally known as Prosser Plains. This sequence—from the first settlement to the construction of the inn and then the completion of the church—provides a brief timeline of local history.

The Old Convict Road and its ruins

The Old Convict Road is a flat, easily accessible walking track. It begins in Orford and ends at the ruins of the Probation Station in Buckland. The route showcases examples of convicts’ manual labour and their ingenuity in construction. If you include the track in your plans, take Orford into account as the starting point. The walk offers a different way to explore local history than the buildings do: here, the walk itself and examples of convict labour are the focus.

A break at the playground

For an active break, Buckland Playground is right next to the Buckland Inn. It offers dogs and children space to run around—a different focus from architectural history and the walking track. If you plan to visit the playground, briefly check beforehand that it can be used as you expect; facilities can change.

Choose a holiday rental to suit the focus of your visit

When looking for a holiday rental in Buckland, you can first decide which part of your stay matters most to you: church architecture and building history, the Old Convict Road or a break at the playground. Orford should be included in your plans as the starting point for the walk; the ruins of the Probation Station are in Buckland. This allows you to consider the different aspects of the town separately when planning your visit.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Winkleigh, Queenstown, Deviot, West Kentish, Wattle Hill, Stanley, Lalla, Bothwell.

For the main travel overview: Tasmania.