Christina Henri spent the weekend in Oatlands invited by the Southern Midlands Council to hold bonnet making workshops in the town that will subsequently be shown at the Oatlands Spring Festival in October, 2011. Christina would like to thank Rowena for organising her visit. Rowena is a descendent of Mary Reibey who was transported to Australia as a convict, on the Royal Admiral in October 1792. Mary created an enormously successful life for herself and her family. Her accomplishments are remembered with her image included on the Australian $20 note.

Christina’s observations staying in Oatlands:

What a treat, especially it being Spring. Walking along the main street of Oatlands in the evening with the lights, in imitation gas lamps, placed strategically along the street gave the town the air of a bygone era. The Georgian sandstone houses added to the ambience. The Oatlands Lodge, built around 1837, would have seen convict servants assigned to the owners of the property. Today this  stately two-storey Georgian sandstone convict-built residence is a National Trust property. Some of the hand-made bricks in the interior walls bear the thumbprints of the convict workmen.

Run as a guest house, the breakfast visitors are offered is the signature feature of the establishment and if you enjoy log fires, history in every room and hosts that can fill you in on the town’s heritage value and much more then this is where you should be enjoying an after dinner port and connect with the lives of those who spent time in the house during the colonial era.