Wattle Hill: Rural Character and History

Wattle Hill is an agricultural locality on Nugent Road, six kilometres north-east of Sorell. Its local history spans a school opened in the 19th century, a brick house built around 1832, and a story from the Second World War. These different periods give the locality a distinct character: a rural setting sits alongside school, building and personal wartime history.

A rural setting on Nugent Road

Nugent Road provides a clear geographical reference. Wattle Hill is on this road, north-east of Sorell; the distance of six kilometres situates the locality in relation to Sorell. Its agricultural character also defines Wattle Hill. When choosing holiday accommodation, this is a useful starting point: consider whether you are looking for a rural locality with a layered local history. This combination makes Wattle Hill distinctive as a possible place to stay, rather than a choice based solely on one historical theme.

School history with an address and date

Wattle Hill Schoolhouse & Hall is at 680 Nugent Road in Wattle Hill. A separate point of reference in time is the Wattle Hill State School, which opened on 1 June 1869. The Schoolhouse & Hall is precisely located by its address; the State School’s opening date provides a separate historical reference point. This makes the school’s history tangible through both a named place and an event with a precise date.

A personal story from wartime

During the Second World War, the Harefield Prisoner of War Hut in Wattle Hill housed Italian prisoners of war who had been captured in North Africa and brought to Australia. Another episode tells of Antonio and Gabriel: the two shared their meals with a local family across the road. Alongside the history of captivity, this brings a specific moment from everyday life into view. The story is distinct from an architectural description or a historical date because it centres on an encounter between the prisoners and a local family.

Nonesuch and its architectural history

Nonesuch adds an architectural point of reference to these stories. The house at 56 Nonesuch Road was built circa 1832. It is a brick house with a gabled roof and brick chimneys. The approximate construction date and the stated building features offer two different points of reference: the date places the house in time, while the roof form, material and chimneys describe its architecture in concrete terms. Those interested in architectural history will find a different perspective on Wattle Hill here than in the personal wartime episode.

Local landmarks on Shrub End Road

Shrub End Road is another named local reference. Downward's Mill Site is on this road; Harefield Dairy is at 296 Shrub End Road in Wattle Hill. Together with Nugent Road, these provide two specific road references for finding your way around the locality. The local history thus encompasses school and architectural history, as well as other named sites, without reducing every theme to the same building or story.

Which aspect of the local history appeals to you?

The timeline helps distinguish the different themes: Nonesuch was built circa 1832, Wattle Hill State School opened in 1869, and the story of the prisoners of war belongs to the Second World War. If you are looking for holiday accommodation, you can assess Wattle Hill through two aspects: its agricultural character and its different strands of history. Nonesuch, with its construction date and architecture, represents an architectural perspective; the story of Antonio and Gabriel brings a personal event to the fore. This comparison can help you choose a location based on the themes that interest you most.

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