Traditional Owners

The original inhabitants of the West Tamar area were the Leterremairrener and Pangerninghe Aboriginal people.

Settlement history

European settlement dates from 1804, when the first land grants were made. Population was minimal until the 1850s, with land used mainly for grazing, farming, timber-getting and ship building. Growth took place from the late 1870s into the 1910s, spurred by gold mining in Beaconsfield and orcharding. Gradual expansion took place from the post-war years, particularly from the 1960s. Growth continued from the 1980s, with the population rising from less than 14,000 in 1981 to about 17,000 in 1991, and then continuing to rise to nearly 23,000 in 2016.

Land use

The West Tamar Council area includes rural areas and growing urban areas in numerous townships and villages, particularly areas in the south, closest to Launceston. Rural land is used mainly for agriculture (particularly fruit growing), aquaculture and viticulture, with some gold mining. Tourism is also an important industry. The Council area encompasses a total land area of about 690 square kilometres.

Transport

The West Tamar Council area is served by the Batman Highway and the West Tamar Highway.

Major features

• Major features of the Council area include the Tamar River,
• Narawntapu National Park,
• Tamar Island Wetlands,
• Holwell Gorge,
• Notley Fern Gorge,
• Trevallyn Nature Recreation Area,
• Trevallyn Dam,
• Lake Trevallyn,
• Trevallyn Power Station,
• Beaconsfield Mine and Heritage Centre,
• Platypus House,
• Seahorse World,
• Tasmania Zoo,
• Glengarry Bush Maze and Tearooms,
• Lavender House - The Perfumery,
• Grindelwald Swiss Village,
• York Town Historic Settlement Site,
• Australian Maritime College (Beauty Point Campus) and numerous wineries and vineyards.

Included areas