Concealed in the foothills of majestic Mount Roland is the enterprising town of Sheffield, where history and art merge to create an entire town of murals.
Almost 1,000 people live in Sheffield, farming sheep, cattle, deer and emus. You can learn about the history of the Kentish district from the murals themselves, or in local museums, but there are also many galleries and studies to browse in. At the Working Art Space you can talk with local artists as they work.
The views from the summit of 1,234 metre Mount Roland are worth the climb. Sheffield is close to an alpaca farm, vineyards, Devil’s Gate Dam and Kimberley’s thermal springs. The beautiful Lake Barrington, created by the Mersey-Forth Hydro Electric Scheme, is an international rowing course and a haven for water sports.
When you get to The Promised Land, you’ll find Tasmazia and the Village of Lower Crackpot, which has its own postcode. With seven mazes, Tasmazia is the largest complex of its kind in the world. It specialises in lavender, honey and pancakes.
Sheffield was explored by Nathaniel Kentish in 1842 but its dense forests meant that it was not settled until1859. It was named by Edward Curr, after his homeland in Yorkshire. The town prospered in 1963 with the Power Development Scheme, but declined when the dams were completed. Sheffield is the centre of the Kentish district, and Mount Roland (named by Captain James Rolland in 1823) is a great source of artistic inspiration.
Sheffield, 30 kilometres south of Devonport, reaches an average maximum temperature of 21 degrees in January and 11.5 degrees in June. Occasionally Mount Roland receives a dusting of snow – a visual delight.
