_edited.png)
Sheffield, Tasmania - The Town of Murals at the Foot of Mount Roland
- Mar 14, 2022
- 4 min read
Updated: Jan 28
Sheffield, Tasmania - The Town of Murals at the Foot of Mount Roland
Nestled beneath the dramatic slopes of Mount Roland in Tasmania’s north-west, Sheffield is a small country town with a big creative heart. Best known as Tasmania’s much-loved Town of Murals, Sheffield has transformed its streets into an open-air gallery, with more than 100 hand-painted murals celebrating the region’s history, landscapes, and colourful local characters.
With its heritage-lined main street, welcoming cafés, and mountain backdrop, Sheffield is a place that invites you to slow down, wander, and soak up both art and scenery. Located just 30 kilometres from Devonport and around 90 kilometres from Launceston, it’s an easy stop on a north-west Tasmania road trip — or a relaxed base for exploring the surrounding region.
Exploring Sheffield’s Murals
A great place to start is Mural Park, located behind the Sheffield Visitor Information Centre. This leafy open space showcases some of the town’s most detailed and vibrant artworks, offering a wonderful introduction to Sheffield’s mural story.
The murals depict scenes of early settlement, farming life, dramatic mountain landscapes, and moments from the town’s past, each painted with care and creativity. From here, murals continue throughout the town — across building walls, shopfronts, laneways, and unexpected corners — turning an ordinary stroll into a constantly changing art walk.
Many of the murals are created during Sheffield’s annual International Mural Festival, which attracts artists from across Australia and overseas. Each year, new works are added, ensuring the town’s gallery continues to evolve.
A Charming Country Town Atmosphere
Beyond the murals, Sheffield’s town centre is a pleasure to explore. The main street is lined with heritage buildings, cosy cafés, bakeries, art studios, and quirky gift shops, making it easy to linger a little longer.
With Mount Roland rising steeply behind the town, Sheffield feels distinctly Tasmanian — a place where creativity, agriculture, and mountain landscapes come together beautifully.
Attractions near Sheffield
Cradle Mountain sits in the heart of the stunning Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area in Tasmania, a place where ancient rainforests meet snow-capped peaks, glacial lakes, and sweeping alpine moorlands. No matter the season, it’s a magical spot to explore and a fantastic place to spot native wildlife.
During our self-drive day trip to Cradle Mountain, we wandered down to the Dove Lake Boathouse, discovered the lovely Pencil Pine Falls along the rainforest walk, and even spotted some adorable wombats at Ronny Creek. We also wandered along the Enchanted Walk and wrapped up our adventure with the fun and fascinating Devils at Cradle experience. It’s a day full of natural beauty, wildlife, and a little bit of Tasmanian magic.
Bridal Veil Falls and Champagne Falls are accessed from the Lemonthyme Lodge Wilderness Retreat near Moina, Tasmania. Lemonthyme Lodge Wilderness Retreat is 39 Kilometres from Sheffield. Bridal Veil Falls is a beautiful single-drop waterfall that cascades 21 metres down the rock face and into Bulls Creek.
Forth Falls is a scenic and easy-to-reach waterfall located in northwest Tasmania, just outside the town of Forth. Surrounded by lush forest and fern-filled gullies, the falls cascade down a rocky cliff into the Forth River below, creating a peaceful and photogenic spot. Forth Falls is a series of stunning waterfalls and cascades where Forth Falls Creek flows into Lake Barrington.
Minnow Falls is a picturesque and lesser-known waterfall located in the foothills of Mount Roland near Sheffield in northwest Tasmania. Reached via a short bushwalk through native forest, the falls cascade down a rocky escarpment into a peaceful gully below. The start of the walking track is located approximately 10 kilometres south of Sheffield (around a 15-minute drive).
Minnow Falls is a fantastic multi-tiered waterfall on the eastern side of Mt Roland. It has three main drops: the 60-metre upper, 80-metre middle, and 50-metre lower falls. The water from the Minnow River flows 227 metres down the mountain in a series of falls, cascades, chutes, and minor drops
Redwater Creek Falls are two lovely small waterfalls that are seasonal and are best seen after heavy rains in the area. The waterfalls are on the Redwater Creek between Railton and Sheffield. There are also some great small caves to explore in the hills behind the waterfalls.
Why Sheffield Is Worth Visiting
Sheffield is much more than a pretty country town — it’s a place where art, history, and landscape come together in a way that feels genuinely special. Whether you’re wandering the murals, enjoying a relaxed café lunch, or using the town as a base to explore waterfalls and wilderness nearby, Sheffield offers a creative and welcoming slice of north-west Tasmania.
It’s the kind of place that encourages you to slow down, look closely, and appreciate the stories painted on every wall.
Comments