42-554: Zeehan / ˈ z iː ə n / is a town on the west coast of Tasmania , Australia 139 kilometres (86 mi) south-west of Burnie . It is part of the West Coast Council , along with the seaport Strahan and neighbouring mining towns of Rosebery and Queenstown . The greater Zeehan area was inhabited by the indigenous Peerapper and Tommeginne clans of the North West group for over 10,000 years prior to
84-638: A considerable record of the region, which regularly appears in either their own or on generally accessible websites on the Internet. The Tasmanian West bioregion comprises the West Coast region and the South West region. The gazetted locality/suburb named "West Coast" covers a largely uninhabited region between the Arthur River and Queenstown , and does not include the populated towns in
126-543: Is adjoined by the localities of Arthur River , Couta Rocks, Cradle Mountain , Gormanston , Granville Harbour , Guildford , Lake Margaret , Lileah, Luina, Mawbanna , Middlesex, Nelson Bay, Parrawe, Queenstown , Roger River , Savage River , Southwest , Strahan , Temma, Togari, Trial Harbour , Trowutta , Tullah , Waratah , and West Takone . The locality contains the following road routes: • A10 • B24 • B27 • B28 • C132 • C214 • C218 • C247 • C248 • C249 • C252 The A10 route ( Zeehan Highway ) enters from Queenstown in
168-455: Is at Strahan , with the airstrip at Queenstown no longer a current registered landing ground. In the 1970s a regular service to the east coast was run by Airlines of Tasmania . All transport services to the west coast are subject to interruption by severe weather. In addition to closures of air and marine service, the roads to the west coast may be blocked for days at a time by ice and snow during severe winter conditions. The consequence of
210-522: Is common. The temperatures are much lower inland from the coast with maximums in winter often failing to surpass 0 °C (32 °F). Typically, the snow line in winter is around 900 metres (3000 ft), however sea level snow falls several times each winter as well. Summer is mild with maximum temperatures averaging between 17 °C (63 °F) and 21 °C (70 °F), though some days still fail to reach 10 °C (50 °F). Despite snowfall usually occurring in winter, it has been known to fall in
252-647: Is the Gaiety Theatre, Grand Hotel and the West Coast Heritage Centre (formerly known as the West Coast Pioneers Museum ) located within the former Zeehan School of Mines and Metallurgy building. The West Coast Heritage Centre features examples of Tasmania's mineral emblem, the valuable crystal crocoite , as well as other geological specimens and historic mining artefacts. The famed concert pianist Eileen Joyce
294-486: The 2011 census , Zeehan had a population of 728. The town was subject to several acts of arson in the 2010s, one of which saw damage to historic buildings dating back to the 1890s. The township has had its share of criminal characters-with various acts of manslaughter, assault and aggravated burglary in its history both past and present. During the COVID-19 pandemic, ten parcels of land, some as cheap as $ 8000, were sold by
336-561: The British colonisation of Tasmania . They were greatly coastal peoples, residing in small numbers on a diet consisting of muttonbirds , seals , swan eggs and cider gum, and constructed bark huts when strong westerly winds brought about rain and icy temperatures. On 24 November 1642, Dutch explorer Abel Tasman became the first European explorer to sight and document the Heemskirk and West Coast Ranges. Tasman sailed his ships close to
378-539: The Mount Lyell Company trucked its copper ore to the Emu Bay Railway terminus at Melba Flats , a few kilometres east of Zeehan. Dundas Mining's Avebury nickel mine, Zeehan Zinc's Comstock Mine and Bluestone Tin's Renison Bell tin mine are significant economic contributors to the community, but the majority of the town relies on tourism for its survival. In 2018, construction began on
420-584: The Mount Lyell Railway connected to Queenstown . Also at early stages of the town's history, a series of timber trams spread out from Zeehan towards the Pieman River as well as a number of other locations. Some of the smaller railway operations east of Zeehan were unique. One had the honour of having the first Garratt locomotive designed and built for its operations. After the government rail connection between Zeehan and Strahan closed,
462-478: The regions of Tasmania in Australia . It is mainly isolated rough country and is associated with wilderness , mining and tourism . It served as the location of an early convict settlement in the early history of Van Diemen's Land , and contrasts sharply with the more developed and populous northern and eastern parts of the island state. The west coast has a much cooler and wetter climate when compared to
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#1732780042298504-478: The $ 280 million Granville Harbour Wind Farm , Tasmania's tallest wind farm, located 35 km north-west of Zeehan. It took Tasmania to 100 percent renewable energy, and in 2020, it was Australia's best performing wind farm. In 2022, Avesbury mine opened - bringing new opportunities for the town of Zeehan and surrounds. The main streetscape of Zeehan is one significant feature of the town, featuring many boom-time and pre-Federation buildings. Among these attractions
546-485: The 1960s, when the last mines, Montana and Oceana were closed. The population of Zeehan-Dundas peaked at 10,000 in about 1910, over ten times the current population. In the 1970s it saw increased activity due to operations at the nearby Renison Bell tin mine, and again in the 1990s. It had its own council until the early 1900s, and has since merged with surrounding councils to form the Municipality of West Coast. At
588-719: The Renison Associated Tin Mines NL. In the 1970s, Renison Bell gave its name to the historical conglomerate RGC (Renison Goldfields Consolidated) which once owned and operated mines in Tasmania , Western Australia , Queensland , Northern Territory , Florida , West Virginia , Papua New Guinea , and Indonesia . RGC sold the Renison Bell Mine to Murchison United NL a Brisbane-based Australian company, in August 1998. Murchison United operated
630-653: The Rension Bell Mine during the period of lowest tin prices in history. In July 2003, Murchison United went into administration and the mine production ceased. April 2004 saw the purchase of Renison Bell by Bluestone Tin Limited. Bluestone Tin Limited operated the mine and mill at Rension Bell, under continuing low tin prices, until placing the operation into 'care and maintenance' in September 2005. Bluestone Tin Limited, now part-owned by Metals X Limited as part of
672-489: The West Coast Council as a means to attract new residents. It is hoped tourism will continue to bolster the local economy, with a new takeaway (Wildz Takeaway) open on the main road, and the creation of The Western Echo newspaper. A History of the West Coast model railway and diorama display is now open opposite the museum and is being built as a tourist attraction. The area has also seen an influx of visitors since
714-460: The West Coast region. It is in the local government areas of Circular Head (34.6%), Kentish (0.3%), Waratah-Wynyard (27.1%), and West Coast (38%). Its central point is about 137 kilometres (85 mi) west of the town of Sheffield . The 2016 census has a population of nil for the state suburb of West Coast. The Southern Ocean forms part of the western boundary. The locality encircles Corinna , Renison Bell , Rosebery and Zeehan , and
756-730: The area has suffered from dangerous levels of environmental pollution for over a century. Zeehan is connected with the north coast of Tasmania by the Murchison Highway , to Strahan by the Zeehan-Strahan Road , and Queenstown by the Zeehan Highway . Zeehan was an important railway location—the end of the Emu Bay Railway , and the beginning of the government-owned Strahan-Zeehan Railway service that connected to Strahan and Regatta Point , where
798-577: The coastal area which today encompasses the Southwest Conservation Area , south of Macquarie Harbour , but was unable to send a landing party ashore due to poor weather and did not make contact with any South West Tasmanian groups. In their circumnavigation of Tasmania between 1798 and 1799, George Bass and Matthew Flinders named the Heemskirk Ranges mountains Mount Heemskirk and Mount Zeehan after Tasman's ships,
840-495: The creation of the world heritage wilderness area, a steady number of small publications concerning the history and features of the region have been produced. For a brief time in the early 20th century the west coast had population and political power on a parity with Hobart and Launceston . Following the demise of most of the Zeehan mines, the west coast population has either remained static, or declined relative to other parts of
882-405: The east coast. Frequent low pressure systems hit the west coast causing heavy rain, snow, and ice. The West Coast Range blocks these systems from impacting the east, therefore making the West Coast a rain catchment with some areas receiving over 2,000 millimetres (79 in) of rain a year. In winter temperatures at sea level hover around 10 °C (50 °F), and when not raining, morning frost
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#1732780042298924-511: The establishment of several mountain biking trails around Zeehan, Trial Harbour and Queenstown. In 2021, a study of the levels of pollution in the lakes of northwest Tasmania found a level of contamination with lead copper, cadmium and arsenic equal to the most severely polluted lakes in the world. Owen Tarn and Basin Lake near Queenstown were the worst, but Dove Lake , Lake Dobson, Lake Cygnus, and Perched Lake were also affected. These lakes are in
966-474: The island. The environment is described with particular historical understanding by C.J. Binks in " Explorers of Western Tasmania ", Chapter 2 - "A Sketch of the Western Country". (See also West Coast Range ) The convict era is introduced in articles about Macquarie Harbour Penal Station , Convicts on the West Coast of Tasmania , and Hell's Gates . The reliance on the railways can be found in
1008-538: The isolation, and the ways that the communities coped with the difficulties, were little examined prior to the 1990s, except for parts of Tim Bowden 's 1979 Radio Documentary " The West Coasters ", and various references in Geoffrey Blainey 's " The Peaks of Lyell " book and the important works of C.J. Binks and Kerry Pink . Since the rise of tourism on the west coast, the Franklin Dam issue and
1050-614: The locality to Trial Harbour. Renison Bell Renison Bell is an underground tin mine and locality on the West Coast of Tasmania , Australia . In 1890, tin-bearing gossan was found near Argent River by George Renison Bell . He claimed land and formed the Renison Bell Prospecting Association. Renison Bell Post Office opened on 1 July 1908 and closed in 1976. In 1934, "Paddy" O'Dea amalgamated adjoining leases and mines into
1092-500: The main holdings of the record, while the late Eric Thomas's collection in the 'Galley Museum' in Queenstown is on a par with both. Some examples of collections: Due to the rise of tourism in the 1990s, a considerable number of DVDs and videos are commercially available of the region. These DVDs and videos often cover areas which had been inaccessible as recently as 30 or 40 years ago. Additionally, tourists and hikers have gathered
1134-423: The middle of summer. Many outsiders have had difficulty understanding the isolation of the west coast, and the small communities, and the historical context to that isolation. Initially the only way in and out was by sea, and no serviceable roads to either the north or east existed until the 1930s (east) or the 1960s (north). Railways were the main land connection from the 1920s to the 1960s - though that connection
1176-543: The mountainous areas up to 130 kilometres (81 mi) downwind from Zeehan and Queenstown and have been adulterated by atmospheric pollution mainly caused by open cut mining proceeding uninhibited till finally controlled by the Environment Protection Act of 1973. Recent bushfires have caused an increase in atmospheric mercury levels to three or four times the pre-industrial level due to the release of mercury previously locked in trees. Evidence indicates
1218-730: The northern boundary and runs south and west before exiting to Couta Rocks. Route C218 (Roger River Road / Sumac Road / Rapid River Road / Tayatea Road / Trowutta Road) enters from Roger River to the north and follows a circular path through the northern part of the locality before returning to Roger River. Route C247 (an extension of Corinna Road) starts at an intersection with C249 in Corinna and runs north-east until it exits to Savage River. Route C132 (Belvoir Road) starts at an intersection with A10 and exits north-east to Guildford. Route C248 (Trial Harbour Road) starts in Zeehan and runs southwest through
1260-399: The school was no longer a safe locale for residents to gather. 2023 crime drama, dark comedy series, Bay of Fires , starring Marta Dusseldorp was filmed at locations in Zeehan, Queenstown and Strahan in 2022. Zeehan has a cool, wet oceanic climate ( Cfb ) with mild damp summers and chilly, long, rainy winters. West Coast, Tasmania The West Coast of Tasmania is one of
1302-473: The separate article West Coast Tasmania Railways . The mining history was captured first in Charles Whitham 's Western Tasmania book - and Geoffrey Blainey 's Peaks of Lyell and the books that have followed. See also the list at West Coast Tasmania Mines for a list that includes historical names and locations - many now long abandoned. The vast tracts of forest ( Huon Pine , among others) in
Zeehan - Misplaced Pages Continue
1344-510: The south and runs generally north-west until it reaches Zeehan, where it becomes the Murchison Highway and runs north-east through Rosebery, and then turns north until it reaches the north-eastern boundary, where it exits to Guildford. At Queenstown the Lyell Highway changes from A10 to B24 and runs south and west to Strahan, following part of the southern boundary of the locality. Route B27 (Henty Road) enters from Zeehan and runs through
1386-659: The south-west corner to Strahan. Route B28 (Anthony Road) starts at an intersection with A10 and runs north-east to Rosebery, where it rejoins A10. Route C252 (Pieman Road) starts at an intersection with A10 on the northern boundary of Rosebery and runs west to Lake Pieman , where it ends at an intersection with C249. Route C249 enters from Zeehan as Heemskirk Road and runs north-west and north to Lake Pieman, where it becomes Corinna Road and continues north through Corinna, where it becomes Norfolk Road and continues north until it ends at an intersection with C214. Route C214 (Blackwater Road / Rebecca Road) starts at an intersection with C218 on
1428-460: The town was threatened by bushfires from two directions. However, the alert was later removed. There were also bushfires in February 1890 (diary of Edward Jennings and this http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13761103 ). Bushfires also threatened Zeehan in 2019- with the fire coming approximately 2 kilometres from the town. Residents were evacuated to Queenstown and Strahan after it was decided that
1470-529: The town's peak and the town stock exchange had 60 members. With a main street over 3.2 kilometres (2.0 mi) long, the township claimed over 20 hotels, several pubs, a hospital, and two theatres, the Gaiety Theatre and Theatre Royal. It developed a friendly rivalry with Queenstown , and while the silver boom lasted it was known as the Silver City . In the first decade of the twentieth century it
1512-474: The warship Heemskerck (itself named after Jacob van Heemskerck , whose surname means "from Heemskerk ") and the 200-tonne (200-long-ton; 220-short-ton) fluyt Zeehaen (Old Dutch for "Sea Rooster") in honour of Tasman's voyage of exploration. Although Dutch in origin, Bass and Flinder's Anglicised naming of Mount Heemskirk and Mount Zeehan created some of the oldest British place names in Tasmania. Tin
1554-575: The west and south west regions as its 'last frontier' for the remaining catchments for its power development schemes. As most of the European activity on the west coast (after the convict era) lies within the invention and use of the camera, most aspects of west coast history have been captured on film. The Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery , and the State Library of Tasmania in Hobart are
1596-629: The west coast region have been subject to fire, and exploitation - as well as significant areas now under conservation. The history of the West Coast Piners who utilised the Franklin River and Gordon River and their tributaries is a vital part of west coast history. The legacy of the Hydro Electric Commission (The Hydro) on the west coast is a complex one, due to its sense in the 1940s to 1980s considering
1638-489: Was born in Zeehan, and Eileen Joyce Memorial Park in Zeehan was named in her honour. Reverend Dorothy McRae-McMahon , Australia's first openly gay clergy member and human rights activist was born in Zeehan. Parts of a 1925 Australian silent film, Jewelled Nights were shot on Savage River, north of the town in the Tarkine rainforest. Bushfires were reported near Zeehan in 1896, 1908, 1977, 1980 and 2006. In November 2012
1680-509: Was discovered nearby at Mount Bischoff in 1871 and at Mount Heemskirk in 1879. Deposits of silver and lead were discovered in the area by Frank Long in 1882 and Mount Zeehan Post Office opened on 1 August 1888. The township was named Zeehan in 1890 and over the following decades, quickly expanded due to its proximity to the Zeehan mineral field . The peak period for mining was up to the First World War , when 159 companies operated at
1722-654: Was the third largest town in Tasmania, after Hobart and Launceston . Sharing a mineral field and railway, the mining locality of Dundas was historically paired with Zeehan. A port was established at Trial Harbour for Zeehan, however its exposure to the Roaring Forties made the site a vulnerable anchorage. After the construction of the Strahan–Zeehan Railway , Strahan became Zeehan's favourable port. The mines earned some two hundred thousand dollars per year for two decades, before progressively declining till
Zeehan - Misplaced Pages Continue
1764-498: Was with the north coast, rather than the more populous southeast. The treacherous conditions at Hells Gates at the mouth of Macquarie Harbour , and ocean travel along the exposed western side of Tasmania have made marine travel a dangerous pastime even to the current day, despite modern technology. Memorial plaques to recent lost sailors on the wall at the northern edge of the Strahan wharf illustrate this. The current airstrip
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