In the 19th century Tasmania’s historic Midlands was home to pioneering farmers, convict workgangs and bushrangers. It was also the home of the colony’s most notorious hangman, Solomon Blay.
The town of Oatlands, on Tasmania’s historic Midland Highway, has the largest collection of Georgian sandstone buildings in Australia – 87 on the main street alone. But don’t let the beauty of the town’s golden-toned buildings fool you; Oatlands was once home to the island’s most feared hangman, an ex-convict named Solomon Blay.
Established as a military post in the 1820s, Oatlands was strategically positioned on the route from Hobart Town to the northern settlement of Port Dalrymple (now George Town). In addition to working the gallows at the local Oatlands jail Blay also performed his trade at the Hobart Penitentiary, over 80 kilometres (50 miles) away.
According to local legend Blay’s wages were so low that he could not afford a horse and he was so reviled that no stagecoach would pick him up. Not only was his job as hangman one of the worst occupations in colonial Van Diemen’s Land, but Blay was so despised he would have to walk, swag on back, for three days to reach Hobart Town and the gallows at the Old Hobart Penitentiary (the very same gallows are still on display at the Campbell Street site).
An eerie reminder of Solomon Blay lingers today on the Midland Highway, just south of Oatlands. A bronze silhouette sculpture of Blay can be seen in a paddock off the new highway, depicting the path well trod by Blay on his way to Hobart to perform his gruesome work.
There are five more silhouettes to discover along the Midland Highway, as part of the Shadows of the Past heritage project. Created by local artist Folko Kooper, each silhouette reflects a historic event or figure from the region, including a convict chain-gang and a stagecoach.
More information
The Midland Highway is also known as the Heritage Highway, linking Hobart in the south and Launceston in the north.
Oatlands is 79 km north of Hobart and 115 km south of Launceston.
The Old Hobart Penitentiary is located on the Penitentiary Chapel Historic Site, Corner Brisbane and Campbell Streets, Hobart
Telephone: +61 3 6231 0911
Open