Robert Saxton

Tasmania

http://www.discovertasmania.com.au/http://www.tas.gov.au/http://www.tasmania.com/http://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/http://www.eventstasmania.com/home

Sources of Information

Numerous national parks, many of which make up the world heritage listed Tasmanian Wilderness.

Well established tourism industry.

Rich natural and colonial history with well preserved historical towns and cities.

Access by ferry or air travel.

World renowned produce including foods and wines.

Map and features

Salamanca place, Hobart Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), Hobart Convict settlements including: Port Arthur historic site; Sarah

Island (in Macquarie Harbour); the Ross Female Factory; Cascades Female Factory (South Hobart); Richmond; and Maria Island.

Railways including the reconstructed West coast Wilderness Railway

Museums and art galleries including: Tiagarra Aboriginal Cultural Centre; Queen Victoria Museum and Art gallery, Launceston; and the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, Hobart.

National trust homesteads and historical houses (throughout Tasmania).

Wineries, fine food producers and fruit growers throughout Tasmania.

Man made attractions

LauncestonRegional airport

HobartDomestic airport

DevonportRegional airportFerry terminal connecting with Melbourne,

Victoria on mainland Australia.

Major transport gateways

During Aboriginal inhabitation, around 12,000 years ago when, as the last ice age was ending, the sea levels rose and Tasmania was cut off from the mainland by the Bass Strait.

Aboriginal people had inhabited Tasmania for at least 40,000 years before in 1642, a Dutch explorer, Abel Tasman sighted land and named it Van Diemens Land, after the governor of Batavia.

The first European settlers to land in Tasmania was a company from the French explorer, Marion du Fresne’s 1722 expedition.

In 1803 Tasmania was settled by the British as part of NSW. It later became the penal colony of Van Diemen’s Land.

Battles between the settlers and the Tasmanian Aboriginal people decimated the native population, to such an extent that the people of Tasmania were declared ‘extinct’. Though this was true of full blood Aboriginals on the mainland of Tasmania, many still lived on islands, where they had either been born or had fled to amidst the extermination of their people.

In 1856 the name of the land was changed form Van Diemen’s Land to Tasmania and in 1901 with Federation it became the state it is today.

History of Tasmania

New Years Day Australia Day – 26th January Royal Hobart Regatta – 2nd Monday in February Eight Hours Day – 2nd Monday in March Good Friday – 22nd April ANZAC Day – 25th April Easter Monday Easter Tuesday Queen’s Birthday – 2nd Monday in June Recreation Day – 1st Monday November (Northern Tasmania

only) Christmas Day Boxing Day

State Holidays

Processed metalsTourismManufactured goodsWood and paperOreSeafoodMeatDairy productsOther food and drink i.e. fruit, vegetables, beer,

chocolate.ICT

Economic contributors top 10

Australian Open Tennis – Moorilla 7-15th January

Australian Wooden Boat Festival – Hobart 12th Feb

Longford Revival Festival – Longford 1-3rd AprilTarga Rally – Launceston to Hobart 4-10th AprilFestival of Voices – Hobart 6-10th JuneTour of Tasmania – Hobart to Devonport 4-9th

OctoberFalken V8 Supercar Challenge – Symmons

Plains (30min from Launceston) 11-13th November

Major events & customs

Cradle Mountain - Lake St Clair NP: 90min drive from Brunie or Devonport

Cataract Gorge: LauncestonFreycinet NP: surrounds Coles Bay village, East CoastStrahan and West Coast:Flinders Island: fly from Launceston or catch the ferry

from BridportKing Island: fly from Brunie or LauncestonGordon River: West Coast, near StrahanHastings Caves: 90min by car South of HobartMole Ck Karst NP: 40min by car West of DeloraineMount Wellington: within 20min drive from Hobart CBDThe Nut: Stanley

Natural Attractions