Windermere: St Matthias’ Anglican Church on the Tamar River

Windermere’s notable historic focal point is St Matthias’ Anglican Church; by the water, fishing and various boating activities are also available. If you’re looking for a hotel, this distinction can help you decide what to include in your trip: whether to focus on the church and cemetery or on the activities by the water mentioned here.

St Matthias’ Anglican Church on the Tamar River

St Matthias’ Anglican Church stands in Windermere on the Tamar River; a public boat ramp is next to the church. It is a heritage-listed landmark in northern Tasmania and is one of Australia’s oldest rural churches. It has been in continuous use since its founding, and a peaceful cemetery surrounds it.

These features place the church site in different contexts: its heritage listing marks its importance as a landmark, the comparison of its age puts St Matthias in a national perspective, and its continuous use adds an ongoing role to its historical significance. Age and continuous use are two distinct aspects of the church’s history.

Cemetery and audio tour

The cemetery currently has 54 identified graves and 121 additional unmarked graves. The count may change as research progresses. A 20-minute smartphone audio tour of the cemetery offers insights into the lives of pioneer families; check its availability before your trip.

The figures and the tour offer different perspectives: the graves reflect the current state of documentation, while the audio tour focuses on the life stories of pioneer families. The 20-minute duration refers to the tour itself, not the total time spent at the cemetery.

Fishing and boating by the water

Windermere Pontoon is suitable for fishing and for getting on and off boats. The concrete ramp beside Windermere Pontoon is suitable for launching small to medium-sized recreational craft. Fishing is listed as an activity at Windermere Jetty. These uses differ: at the pontoon, they involve fishing and getting on and off boats; at the ramp, they involve launching the stated sizes of craft. Check the condition of the pontoon and ramp on site.

Windermere Road and trip planning

The scenic drive along Windermere Road is an easy detour from the East Tamar Highway. If you include the East Tamar Highway in your route planning, you can consider Windermere as a detour. Road conditions can change; check them before driving.

For practical planning, the information about the audio tour and the ramp answers different questions: the 20 minutes indicate the duration of the audio offering, while the ramp is described in terms of suitable vehicle size. This lets you plan a cultural and historical activity with a defined duration separately from launching a craft.

Discover more destinations: Mole Creek, Triabunna, Beaconsfield, New Norfolk, Sandford, Hagley, Cranbrook, Grassy.

For the main travel overview: Tasmania.