Pontville – History on the Jordan River

Pontville combines early settlement history with historic buildings and the riverside landscape of the Jordan River. Founded as a garrison town in 1821, the settlement is one of Tasmania’s oldest. This gives you different points of focus when planning your trip: the bridge, preserved houses and church tell the story of the town, while a riverside trail and the distillery appeal to other interests. If you’re looking for hotels in Pontville, you can consider which of these aspects matter for your stay.

Historic buildings in Pontville

The Jordan River Bridge was built in 1842 and is one of the few surviving bridges in Australia from the first half of the 19th century. Pontville is also home to several of Australia’s 50 oldest surviving houses. The bridge offers a single, clearly dated point of reference; the houses draw attention to several early buildings in the town. Together, they show different aspects of Pontville’s historic character.

The unusual Romanesque St Mark’s Church also shapes Pontville’s character. In the broader Brighton Council destination, it is described as a Romanesque sandstone building designed by convict architect James Blackburn and completed in 1841. Pontville is also a significant colonial-era village within the Brighton Council area. The dates of 1841 for the church and 1842 for the Jordan River Bridge place both buildings in the same period without conflating their different functions.

Riverside landscape and trails

Pontville sits on a hill overlooking the Jordan River and a broad plain. The river and plain provide a different setting from the historic buildings. The plain beside Pontville was once a travel and transit route used by the Palawa between northern and southern Tasmania. This earlier connection offers a distinct timeframe alongside the town’s history and today’s views of the landscape.

The Jordan River Trail follows the river for 4.5 kilometres and heads south to the neighbouring town of Brighton. In the broader Brighton Council destination, the same trail is also described as an easy riverside walk along the Jordan River, with a detour into Pontville’s historic precinct. Its length, direction and detour offer different points of reference for planning your walks. Check local advice before setting out.

Distillery tours and tastings

LARK Pontville Distillery is located in Pontville. Tour times are listed as 12 pm and 2 pm; check before your visit whether either time is offered on your travel date. Tastings of Lark whisky or Forty Spotted gin are offered at the Cellar Door. Confirm this offering in advance too. A tour and a tasting provide different ways to focus your visit if you’d like to add local spirits production to your stay.

The wider Brighton Council area

The broader Brighton Council destination also includes vineyards and wineries in and around Tea Tree in the Coal River Valley, particularly those producing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Local wine trails and vineyards are also highlighted across the Brighton area and beyond. This offers other regional interests alongside Pontville’s historic character. If wine is one of your travel interests, check visiting options with individual wineries in advance.

Discover more destinations: Berriedale, Sandy Bay, Risdon, Lauderdale, New Town, Clifton Beach, Glenorchy, Lindisfarne

For the broader travel overview: Hobart.