Bothwell

What’s special about Bothwell?

• Home to the oldest golf course in the Southern Hemisphere.
• More than 50 stone cottages, houses and official buildings.
• Home to the Australasian Golf Museum.

Step back in time as you wander through the wide streets, passing 19th century buildings, clustered around Queens Park. Play a round of golf at Ratho, the first golf course, laid in the mid-1830s. This is a unique golfing experience -  a course with square putting greens and fairways maintained by grazing sheep. Visit the Australasian Golf Museum nearby.

Head down to the Clyde River, where Australia’s first herd of Aberdeen Angus cattle once grazed. True to its Scottish heritage Bothwell has one of Australia's top whiskey distilleries, Nant Distillery. Sample the fine single malt whiskeys made using pure local Highland waters.

The area is also popular with those who love to fish for the elusive brown trout, and The Priory Country Lodge offers fine country accommodation.

More things to do:

Thorpe Watermill
St Michael and All Angels Church
Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park

The story of Bothwell:

In 1806, it is believed Lieutenant Thomas Laycock was the first European in the area and by 1821 settlers had moved onto land by the Clyde River. It is widely accepted that Edward Nicholas was the first European settler, who built Nant’s Cottage. The cottage was used by the Irish political exiles, John Mitchell and John Martin, during their imprisonment in the 1850s.

Travel directions:

Bothwell is close to one hours’ drive (73 kilometres/45 miles) northwest of Hobart.