ABOUT OATLANDS

Oatlands, one of Tasmania's oldest colonial settlements, is located in the Southern Midlands, an hour’s drive north of Hobart and 75 minutes from Launceston. It was established by Governor Macquarie in 1821 as a military base and administrative centre for the management of convicts, whose labour built the government buildings around which the town then grew.

Today, Oatlands contains Australia’s largest collection of sandstone Georgian buildings – 138 in total. Its best-known landmark is Callington Mill, Australia’s third-oldest windmill and the centrepiece of the Callington Mill Distillery. Visitors come to Oatlands to walk its historic streets, explore its galleries and small shops, camp by Lake Dulverton, and to sample Tasmanian whisky, wine and produce.

Oatlands' preserved Georgian architecture, its golden fields, and its moody weather evoke a haunting sensibility that has inspired many artists and filmmakers (the 2018 Tasmanian Noir film The Nightingale was shot in Oatlands). Numerous artists and artisans live and work in Oatlands and surrounds, and an Artist in Residence program brings in a new resident artist each month.

Located on the shores of Lake Dulverton, Oatlands and the surrounding Southern Midlands also boasts abundant animal life and natural beauty. Landscape painters will find inspiration in the region’s lakeshore, rolling hillscapes, twisted gum trees and immense skies.

Oatlands stands on the unceded lands of Tasmania's palawa peoples. Living and working in Oatlands requires us to think about our relationship with Tasmania’s traditional owners. The township, with all its historic Georgian buildings, is also a site of 19th century colonisation, Aboriginal dispossession and convict slavery. We acknowledge this history and pay our respects to the traditional owners of lutruwita/Tasmania.

Things to do in and around Oatlands

Visit Callington Mill Distillery

Visit Callington Mill Whiskey Distillery cellar door and restaurant or take a guided tour of the distillery

Hunt for antiques

Hunt for antiques at Oatlands Antiques (78 High Street) and for French Provincial treasures at The Jardin Room.

Discover local Galleries

Oatlands is home to numerous artists and makers. An Artistic Affair (67 High Street) is a local gallery showcasing Tasmanian art and craft works, owned and curated by textile artist Rebecca Kissling.