Re-discovering the Lost Village of Merton in Hobart

Anyone wanting to visit Merton, here is a map. www.google.com/maps/dir/-42.8539796,147.2512114/-4…

Our family has a beautiful Tasmainian history with origins from the 1830s, there are many unanswered questions re their time in Tasmania but the research continues every find exciting. What a beautiful piece of the world is Tasmainia.

I lived in Upper Merton before the 1967 bush fires. Our property shared the fence line with the quarry. We were burnt out, but we rebuilt just down the road opposite the Tolosa Reservoir. (still Upper Merton) As a kid, I grew up all around the area and got to know it quite well. After the firers, about two or three houses still stood. About six houses were rebuilt. I moved to the mainland in 1980, but one of my last trips home, I took a brick from our old house. I t was a great area to grow up. Thanks for the video. How about doing one on a West Coast town called Linda.

More please Angus. As an Hobartian you're revealing our forgotten past.

Loved the video, thanks for putting it together. Found a record of what might lie beyond the log bridge: ‘The Temple’. Erected c1970 by a latter day hermit, Victor ??, a European migrant. Consisted of a series of stone structures, including two cottages, walls and out- buildings were built on the side of Mt Arthur. A narrow foot track leads from the end of a rough 4WD track. The main cottage consisted of stone walls, of 2 storeys, with frame and corrugated iron roof. The complex covered an area of 70-80 sq metres. All materials were carried in. Known to some (anonymous) bushwalkers as ‘Xanadu.’ Burnt in mysterious circumstances when the occupant refused to leave when ordered by Glenorchy Council staff.

We’re very lucky to have someone who puts in the time and effort to research and film these video’s. Much appreciated 🙏

Really interesting, thanks. I had vaguely heard of Merton years ago but never knew how close to Glenorchy it was. Back in 1955 or thereabouts when I lived in Pitcairn Street there were remnant orchards adjoining our back boundary! Now they have gone, of course, starting with the creation of Kenbrae Avenue and then rapid housing development going up the hill.

I live in Tasmania and I love to find out history of the place and I have never known Merton at all and thanks for teaching me this stuff!

Awesome as usual!

Totally agree. Old street directories are very valuable from a historic perspective. Some could even argue that they are more valuable these days than what they were for their intended purpose

Great video once again..

Great videos Angus a lot of Tassies history has been lost for one reason or another which is sad but your videos are a real lesson on Tassie history. Great work.

Visited there yesterday with grandkids and took photos of them on the ruins. My great grandparents (Klug from Germany) had a property called Valleydale and had a tea room there in around 1890 and yes they had to move due to the threat of water contamination of Glenorchy water supply. They moved to Moonah from memory. A historical marker would be great as this is a very significant part of Glenorchy's history.

I lived where the start of the bike track is. Opposite where what I assume is now an area for cars when events are on. One of only three houses from around 1990-1996 until Council demolished the three houses. I’m not sure when the three houses were built. Everything else was obviously gone because of the fires. There certainly are more hidden residue of buildings not shown on your video. I spent my afternoons after school and weekends all through this area. We even had a camping spot way up “under the pines”. There was a large stair case there too. There’s a large “pit” down closer to the rifle range. There’s a plank of wood that we put there in the 90s for animals to use if they fell into the pit. The plank is still there, I only checked a few weeks ago. I could talk about it all for days! I love the Merton history and want to learn more!

Great work mate! Another fantastic video, thank you.

Another brilliant video. As a 'Northerner' I know little about these gems in Hobart, but now, thanks to your channel, I am learning :)

Nice video Angus. I've never heard of Merton before, but I remember that Street Directory.

Really interesting. I grew up in Glenorchy/Chigwell and spent a lot of time at Tolosa st park. Never knew Merton existed.

Love your work! Great research.

Good stuff, I now live in Devon in the west of the UK where a lot of the older houses are built in cob(basically mud and straw rammed down) and I've watched an abandoned house slowly turning back to a pile of earth and straw- and like you said the stone chimney is still standing. Hope you're having a good Easter, Stefan