The Enigmatic Art of the Ross Bridge Tasmania | Dr Jennie Jackson | 2026 | Signed by Author [NEW – SC]

A close study of the 186 carved decorations on the Ross Bridge — the convict-built sandstone bridge that has spanned the Macquarie River at Ross since 1836, and one of the most visited historic sites in Tasmania. The carvings were the work of Daniel Herbert, a transported convict who was a stonemason by trade.

Who and what Herbert carved into the bridge's panels has intrigued historians and visitors for nearly two centuries — faces, animals, Celtic knotwork, heraldic devices and other motifs are carved into the architectural decorations, but their precise meaning and sources remain debated. Dr Jennie Jackson's research examines the carvings systematically, with colour photographs of all 186 panels, to shed new light on Herbert's intentions and the iconographic sources he may have drawn on.

Signed by the author.

At 175 pages with colour photographs throughout and a full index, it is the most thorough examination of the Ross Bridge carvings yet published. A good gift for anyone interested in Tasmanian convict history, colonial art and craft, or the history of Ross and the Northern Midlands.

BOOK DETAILS

• Softcover book.
• Published 2026. New copy. Signed by the author.
• 175 pages, indexed.
• Colour photographs throughout.

DELIVERY & IN-STORE PICKUP

• Combined Shipping: Sourcing multiple titles for your Tasmanian history library? The Book Cellar offers combined flat-rate parcel delivery across Australia. Secure your books using our online checkout, or phone the bookshop directly on 03 6381 1545 to coordinate multi-volume shipping.
• Free Instore Pickup: Located in Tasmania or travelling the Midland Highway? Select "Instore Pickup" at checkout to pay no postage and collect your items directly from the counter at The Book Cellar, underneath Foxhunters Return in Campbell Town -— just 15 minutes from Ross Bridge itself.