Meander Valley Council
About the profile areas
The 2023 Estimated Resident Population for Meander Valley Council is 21,449, with a population density of 6.45 persons per square km.
Location and boundaries
The Meander Valley Council area is located in northern Tasmania, with its' geographic centre about 50 kilometres west of the Launceston CBD. The Meander Valley Council area is bounded by the Kentish Council area, the Latrobe Council area and the West Tamar Council area in the north, the City of Launceston and the Northern Midlands Council area in the east, the Central Highlands Council area in the south, and the West Coast Council area in the west.
Traditional Owners
The original inhabitants of the Meander Valley Council area were the Pallittorre Aboriginal people.
Name origin
The Meander Valley Council was named to describe the valley of the Meander River.
Important
|
Population21,449 2023 ABS ERP |
Land area3,326 square km |
Population density6.45 persons per square km |
Settlement history
European settlement dates from the early 1800s, although population was minimal until the mid 1800s, with growth through to the late 1800s. Land was used mainly for grazing and farming. Gradual expansion took place from the post-war years, particularly from the 1960s. The population increased rapidly during the early 1990s, with more gradual growth from the mid 1990s. Recent growth has been mainly in the eastern settlements of Prospect Vale, Blackstone Heights and Hadspen.
Land use
The Meander Valley Council area includes rural, rural-residential areas and growing urban areas in numerous townships and villages. The main urban areas are located in the east, closest to Launceston, in Prospect Vale and Hadspen. Small townships include Bracknell, Carrick, Chudleigh, Deloraine, Hagley, Meander, Mole Creek and Westbury. Rural land is used largely for agriculture, with some forestry. Tourism is also an important industry. The Council area encompasses a total land area of about 3,800 square kilometres.
Transport
The Meander Valley Council area is served by the Bass Highway, the Lake Highway and the Meander Valley Highway.
Major features
- Major features of the Council area include the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area,
- Mole Creek Karst National Park,
- Walls of Jerusalem National Park,
- Cradle Mountain - Lake St Clair National Park,
- The Great Western Tiers,
- Devils Gullet,
- King Solomons Cave,
- Marakoopa Cave,
- Liffey Falls,
- Meander Falls,
- Country Club Tasmania,
- Ashgrove Cheese,
- Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm,
- Melita Honey Farm,
- Pearns Steam World,
- Tasmanian Copper & Metal Art Gallery,
- Trowunna Wildlife Sanctuary,
- Westbury Maze,
- 41° South Salmon & Ginseng Farm,
- Carrick Speedway,
- Lake Trevallyn,
- The Meander River and numerous state forests.
Included areas
- The Meander Valley Council area includes the localities of Birralee (part),
- Blackstone Heights,
- Bracknell (part),
- Bridgenorth (part),
- Carrick,
- Caveside,
- Central Plateau (part),
- Chudleigh,
- Cluan,
- Cradle Mountain (part),
- Dairy Plains,
- Deloraine,
- Dunorlan,
- Elizabeth Town,
- Exton,
- Frankford (part),
- Golden Valley,
- Hadspen,
- Hagley,
- Jackeys Marsh,
- Kimberley (part),
- Lake St Clair (part),
- Liena (part),
- Liffey (part),
- Longford (part),
- Mayberry,
- Meander,
- Mersey Forest (part),
- Middlesex (part),
- Mole Creek (part),
- Moltema,
- Montana,
- Mount Roland (part),
- Needles,
- Oaks,
- Osmaston,
- Parkham (part),
- Prospect Vale,
- Quamby Bend,
- Quamby Brook,
- Red Hills,
- Reedy Marsh,
- Riverside (part),
- Rosevale (part),
- Sassafras (part),
- Selbourne (part),
- Travellers Rest,
- Walls of Jerusalem (part),
- Weegena (part),
- Weetah,
- Westbury,
- Western Creek,
- Westwood and Whitemore.