| Whitbourne - NL's First Inland Torn
The Town Whitbourne, is located just off the TransCanada Highway on Route 81. It is located at the centre of three possible routes to visit the Avalon Peninsula. Route 80 is one of the two entrances to the Baccalieu Trail, Route 100 and Route 81 lead to the Marine Atlantic Ferry Service in Argentia and other parts of Placentia and St. Mary's Bays, and Route 1, the Trans Canada leads towards the second entrance to the Baccalieu Trail and the capital city of St. John's. As a result, there is a Provincial Visitor Information Centre on the Trans Canada near the town.
Water sports.
Whiteboune, Newfoundland’s first inland town, is named after Sir Richard Whitbourne, one of the most colourful early settlers of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador who wrote a book about Newfoundland that was published in 1620. Sir Richard was appointed by the High Court of the Admiralty to set up the first English law court in the New Word in 1615 in Trinity. He was kidnapped and held by the notorious Pirate Peter Easton in Harbour Grace. He also described a mermaid that he saw in St. John's harbour. Later, he became governor of Renews on the Southern Shore.
Click here for a biography of Sir Richard Whitbourne.
Sir Robert Bond, Prime Minister of Newfoundland from 1900-1908, built The Grange, a country estate and model farm in the town. The Sir Robert Bond Park, which has been maintained on Bond Road, has beautiful walking trails and picnic areas under mature trees and on the banks of Junction Pond. The park is also home of some very rare lichens. The Degelia plumbea belongs to a group of lichens know as Cyanolichens. This lichen usually occurs mainly on hardwood trees and usually in forests that already have populations of other lichens belonging to the genus Lobario. There have been very few identified locations of Degelia plumbeae on the island portion of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Monument to Sir Robert Bond
The town is an important link in wetland conservation in North America. The Hodge River and its associated waterways are used extensively by waterfowl for feeding, nesting and brood rearing. The area has an abundance of aquatic vegetation and associated invertebrates, suitable sites for nesting and adequate cover for protection from predators. As many as 25 broods of waterfowl are produced here annually.
The town had a connection to the railway dating back to the turn of the century. Collections about the role of the town in the railway, the Newfoundland Ranger Force, the sawmill industry, Sir Robert Bond, and early 20th century life are on display at the Whitbourne.
Heritage Museum / Railroader's Memorial.
Whitbourne Museum
Open July 1 to Labour Day
Hours:
Monday, Wednesday, Friday; 10 am to 1 pm and 2 to 6 PM
Sat and Sun, 12 am to 5 PM and 6 to 8 PM
Admission:
Adults $1.00, Children under 12 with an Adult -Free
Tourism Association Members
Inland Knitwear, Crafts, and Souvenirs offers earth toned knitted sweaters, hats, headbands, scarves, mittens, and socks with original Newfoundland motifs such as blueberries, puffins, Newfoundland dogs, moose, and whale's tails. Contact: Darlene Mercer, 8 Bond Road Whitbourne, NL A0B 3K0 Tel (709) 759-2492 Fax (709) 759-2315 Web Site: www.inlandknitwear.com
Pretty's Bed & Breakfast  is reasonably priced and conveniently located in Whitbourne at the beginning of the Baccalieu Trail. Pretty's offers a choice of accommodations with three double rooms and one single room. Contact: Margaret George. 5 Mill Lane PO Box 82, Whitbourne, NL A0B 3K0 Tel: (709) 759-2488
Rodrigues Winery, located in Markland, first opened in 1993. In Newfoundland and Labrador, the Rodrigues Exotique Wine selection is found at the Newfoundland Liquor Corporation stores and Agency stores throughout the province. Winery tours, Wine tasting, and the wine shoppe, La Cave, are year around services. Contact:Lionel Rodrigues PO Box 98 Whitbourne, NL A0B 3K0 Tel (709) 759-3003 Fax: (709) 759- 2086 Web Site: www.rodrigueswinery.com
Town of Whitbourne is Newfoundland's First Inland Town. It was a traditional junction site for the Railway when it was in service, and is still a service centre for the area. The town has a number of sites of interest to visitor's, including: Sir Robert Bond Park, the Heritage Museum/Railway Museum, and the Wetlands Conservation Trail. The Rogrigues' Markland Cottage Winery is near the town. P.O. Box 119, Whitbourne, NL A0B 3K0 Tel: (709) 759-2780
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