Bothwell is a small town located on the Highland Lakes Road in the Central Highlands Shire of Tasmania, Australia. In December 1820, Lieutenant Governor William Sorell and surveyor George William Evans claimed that the land was suitable for sheep farming. The first settlers arrived in August 1821, and the population grew steadily during the following decade. St Luke's, the town's first church, opened in November 1831. Bothwell was established as a rural municipality in 1862, and the first councillors were elected in January 1863.

Bothwell is known for having Australia's oldest golf course, located on the Ratho property, as well as the Castle Hotel, which was first licensed in 1829 and is still in operation today.

This website is dedicated to my Smith Family and the history of Bothwell. It includes a timeline of events and occurrences in the town, newspaper articles and advertising from the 19th century, a list of surnames with links to families who lived in the area, transcribed records from the parish registers, and property history with maps and details of who lived where in the township.

My Smith Family
The reason behind this website.

Bothwell Timeline
List of events and occurrences.

19th Century News
Newspaper articles and advertising provide insight into life in Bothwell during the 1800s.

Bothwell Families
Surnames with links to families who lived in the district.

Baptisms, Burials, Census Records & more
Transcribed records from the parish registers.

Property History
Maps and property details reveal who lived where in the township.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Peter Fielding for providing me with research and information over the past 25 years.