Our time at Rosevears was almost at a end. We had been as busy as Liz's affliction would allow in terms of sight-seeing.
Her condition did put the kibosh on one planned venture. The reputedly excellent cellar doors of the Tamar Valley wineries were not darkened by the Mobile Marshies whilst the taste buds of one of the duo were seriously below par. This probably did wonders for the treasury and became another item on the 'return list'!
Before leaving this delightful part of Tasmania, we did make one last sortie, to the oddest little spot a couple of kilometres off the West Tamar Highway and only about five from our digs. We had passed the turn-off sign innumerable times whilst driving in and out of Lonnie, but had not detoured until today.
Grindelwald, a Swiss inspired, purpose built village developed around an artificial lake, is the creation of Roelf Vos, a most extraordinary man about whom I'll have a bit to say shortly.
Thanks to 'tamarvalleyrestort' we can begin our quick tour with this aerial shot showing the resort building (at the right) and the village shopping centre and associated buildings at the edge of the lake. At the top right of the photo you can just make out the waters of the Tamar Estuary.
So just how did all this come about and who on earth was Roelf Vos?
I think it could be reasonably said that Vos was one of modern Tasmania's real characters. Born in Holland in 1921 he emigrated with his family to Tassie in 1951 because of his concerns about the future of post war Europe. This is something about which I venture he was qualified to have an opinion......he served with the Dutch Resistance during WW2.
Using the experience he had gained in Holland as a qualified draper he first established two small gift shops in Deloraine and George Town. These were only moderately successful, and realising the potential for food retail (and the fact that his limited capital was more suited to the rapid turnover model), he moved his family from Deloraine to Launceston and, in 1958, established northern Tasmania's first self-service grocery in Wellington Street.
At age 34, Roelf Vos was ahead of his time and on his way.
At age 34, Roelf Vos was ahead of his time and on his way.
The Wellington Street store was the first of what became a chain of thirteen supermarkets employing over five hundred people. This was no fluke. Vos was noted for his business acumen, work ethic, ceaseless optimism, appreciation of the abilities of others, and innovative advertising. One example of this was his idea to paint footprints on Launceston streets to attract customers to his first store.
Another facet of the advertising developed by Vos was his store slogan.
Look familiar? It should, and there's a good reason for this. After suffering two heart attacks in 1982, Vos sold out to???? you guessed it...none other than Woolworths. Notwithstanding this change of ownership, the stores continued to trade for the next twenty years under the Vos banner. They were universally known as 'Vossies'.
And just in case you were a little slow out of the blocks, here's the connection!!
In addition to establishing and running this chain of supermarkets, which were reputedly turning over more than $40 million annually when he sold, the ever enterprising Mr Vos was also the driving forced behind the establishment of Statewide Independent Wholesalers, a buying group that helped cut prices for its members.
What a powerhouse of a man. But having sold up, the redoubtable Roelf was not finished with business just yet.
He had previously taken his wife on holiday to Switzerland where they chose to stay at the charming little alpine town of Grindelwald, and after quitting his supermarkets he turned his hand to property development.
The quaint little town in the Tamar Valley we were about to visit was the result. His concept included a residential subdivision as well as the establishment of viable businesses and although he attracted some criticism for the potential incongruity of the outcome and the prescriptive design controls essential to achieving his desired result, Vos's scheme was a commercial success.
From what we saw as we made our way towards the commercial centre of the development, there was little doubt that the restrictions on housing style and design
Another facet of the advertising developed by Vos was his store slogan.
Look familiar? It should, and there's a good reason for this. After suffering two heart attacks in 1982, Vos sold out to???? you guessed it...none other than Woolworths. Notwithstanding this change of ownership, the stores continued to trade for the next twenty years under the Vos banner. They were universally known as 'Vossies'.
And just in case you were a little slow out of the blocks, here's the connection!!
In addition to establishing and running this chain of supermarkets, which were reputedly turning over more than $40 million annually when he sold, the ever enterprising Mr Vos was also the driving forced behind the establishment of Statewide Independent Wholesalers, a buying group that helped cut prices for its members.
What a powerhouse of a man. But having sold up, the redoubtable Roelf was not finished with business just yet.
He had previously taken his wife on holiday to Switzerland where they chose to stay at the charming little alpine town of Grindelwald, and after quitting his supermarkets he turned his hand to property development.
The quaint little town in the Tamar Valley we were about to visit was the result. His concept included a residential subdivision as well as the establishment of viable businesses and although he attracted some criticism for the potential incongruity of the outcome and the prescriptive design controls essential to achieving his desired result, Vos's scheme was a commercial success.
As to the visual outcome.....well, I'll invite you to make your own judgement. This was the view across the lake which greeted us from the roadway as we drove into this quaint little village.
From what we saw as we made our way towards the commercial centre of the development, there was little doubt that the restrictions on housing style and design
had been strictly enforced.
As we pulled into the car park adjacent to the chalet style building which is the Tamar Valley Resort, the scope of Vos's vision become more apparent.
As we pulled into the car park adjacent to the chalet style building which is the Tamar Valley Resort, the scope of Vos's vision become more apparent.
The pathway to the entrance to the shopping precinct, heralded by this very Swiss style tower, took us through beautifully laid out and manicured gardens,
and past a small reminder of the underlying commercial imperative of this entire development, the mini golf course, laid out as you can see in one of the most impressive settings we had ever come across for a round of 'putt putt'.
I was still admiring the course when my now quite chirpy travelling companion exhibited an unusual display of touring impatience....and I guessed why.......
there were shops on offer to be explored!
The archway through the entrance tower had brought to this 'village square' in which Vonda Anne's was just one of many shops and cafes lying in wait for tourist types like us.
Here is another view of this cluster of commercial premises, looking back to the tower through which was had just walked. Whilst Liz did what Liz does in these circumstances.....prowls the aisles, I headed back to tower,
where, as I had hoped, a stairway gave me access to an upper balcony and this overview of the village.
As we wandered on through we were again reminded of the fact that this was indeed the Festive Season.
Attention to detail was obvious throughout, although we would have been more impressed if this water wheel had actually been turning.
Having resisted the lure of the village cafes till now, the inviting smells wafting from the Village Bakery almost did us in. But no, we pressed on
past the children's adventure playground and the resort motel units beyond,
and back to our waiting Cruiser for the short return drive to Rosevears.
What an unusual little development we had seen, one which, despite the criticisms is continuing to attract more and more residents to the expanding housing areas nearby.
And our verdict......cleverly conceived and excellently executed, but it did not have us racing home to plan a permanent move to Tasmania.
Having said that, however, I remain very pleased that this visit became the catalyst for the research which resulted in discovering the story of one of modern Tassie's most remarkable men.
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