The town is listed on the Register of the National Estate and is noted for its historic bridge, original sandstone buildings and convict history.

The town of Ross lies in lands that were traditionally owned by Aboriginal Tasmanians, specifically the Tyrernotepanner (Stony Creek) Nation.

[6] On an expedition in 1821, Governor Lachlan Macquarie passed through the area himself and, as he recorded in his journal, I named our last Night's Station "Ross", in honor of H. M. Buchanan Esqr.

– that being the name of his Seat on Loch-Lomond in Scotland; this part of Argyle Plains on the Right Bank of the Macquarie River being very beautiful and commanding a noble view.

[7]Later that year, a timber bridge was built over the river and subsequently Ross became an important stopover on road journeys between Launceston and Hobart.

Shortly afterward, cattle were being run on Crown land at Ross, to be used as working bullocks, and others were used as milch cows for people holding government posts.

[6] By the time of Australian Federation in 1901, the permanent population had grown to 311 and the wider area had become known as a fine wool growing district.

At this time Ross had four churches, a post and telegraph office, a savings bank, one hotel, and a town hall and library.

The Council Clerk's cottage, situated on the south-west corner of Church and Bridge Streets is a single storey Georgian building.

[14] During World War II, Ross was the location of RAAF No.30 Inland Aircraft Fuel Depot (IAFD), built in 1942 and closed on 14 June 1944.

St John's Anglican Church, on the corner of Badajos Street, was built in 1868 and contains a 100-year-old pipe organ, an oak lectern and a stone pulpit.