Jericho is a rural locality in the local government area (LGA) of

Southern Midlands Southern Midlands is a local government body in Tasmania, covering the southern region of the Tasmanian central midlands. Southern Midlands is classified as a rural local government area and has a population of 6,118, the major localities of ...

in the

Central Central is an adjective usually referring to being in the center of some place or (mathematical) object. Central may also refer to: Directions and generalised locations * Central Africa, a region in the centre of Africa continent, also known as ...

LGA region of

Tasmania ) , nickname = , image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdi ...

. The locality is about south-west of the town of Oatlands. The 2016 census recorded a population of 59 for the state suburb of Jericho.

History

Jericho was gazetted as a locality in 1974. The area was named by the explorer Hugh Germain, a

private Private or privates may refer to: Music * " In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation'' * Private (band), a Denmark-based band * "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorde ...

in the

Royal Marines The Corps of Royal Marines (RM), also known as the Royal Marines Commandos, are the UK's special operations capable commando force, amphibious light infantry and also one of the five fighting arms of the Royal Navy. The Corps of Royal Marine ...

. He was said by James Backhouse in his book ''A Narrative of a Visit to the Australian Colonies'', published in 1901, to carry two books in his saddlebags while traveling: the

Bible The Bible (from Koine Greek , , 'the books') is a collection of religious texts or scriptures that are held to be sacred in Christianity, Judaism, Samaritanism, and many other religions. The Bible is an anthologya compilation of texts of a ...

and the ''Arabian Nights'', which he used as inspiration when he named places. It is a historical village in the centre of Tasmania between

Hobart Hobart ( ; Nuennonne/Palawa kani: ''nipaluna'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Home to almost half of all Tasmanians, it is the least-populated Australian state capital city, and second-small ...

and Launceston off the Midland Highway. Founded in 1816, it is one of the oldest townships in Australia. Jericho Post Office opened on 1 June 1832 and closed in 1962. Like its better-known neighbour, Oatlands, the main road of Jericho contains many fine examples of early colonial sandstone architecture, and constructions including examples of convict cut culverts, bridges and walls, many of which date from the 1830s. The main

Anglican Anglicanism is a Western Christian tradition that has developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the context of the Protestant Reformation in Europe. It is one of th ...

church, St James (built in 1888) contains the grave of Trooper

John Hutton Bisdee John Hutton Bisdee, (28 September 1869 – 14 January 1930) was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. Early life and fam ...

, who was the first Tasmanian to be awarded the

Victoria Cross The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious award of the British honours system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces and may be awarded posthumously. It was previously ...

. The most notable buildings in Jericho are the Commandant's Cottage (built in 1842) and the Probation Station (built in 1840), which was constructed to house the 200 convicts who were used to construct the road linking

and Launceston. The land adjacent to the station was originally known as "Fourteen Tree Plain" and was the site of the second horse race in the colony of

Van Diemens Land Van Diemen's Land was the colonial name of the island of Tasmania used by the British during the European exploration of Australia in the 19th century. A British settlement was established in Van Diemen's Land in 1803 before it became a sepa ...

, held in April 1826, the first being at "Orielton Park" owned by Edward Lord on 5 October 1816 according to ''The Hobart Town Gazette and Southern Reporter'' of that date. The town flourished for a time in the nineteenth century as a

stage coach A stagecoach is a four-wheeled public transport coach used to carry paying passengers and light packages on journeys long enough to need a change of horses. It is strongly sprung and generally drawn by four horses although some versions are draw ...

resting post, but declined in the twentieth century. Now bypassed by the Midland Highway, the state's main north–south highway, it is a sleepy village that retains its colonial charm and is part of Tasmania's Heritage Highway.

Geography

The waters of Lake Tiberias form part of the south-eastern boundary.

Road infrastructure

National Route 1 ( Midland Highway) runs through from south to north. Route B32 (Mud Walls Road) starts at an intersection with Route 1 and runs south until it exits. Route C314 (Stonor Road) starts at an intersection with Route 1 and runs east until it exits. Route C529 (Lower Marshes Road) starts at an intersection with Route 1 and runs north-west until it exits.

References

{{authority control Towns in Tasmania Localities of Southern Midlands Council