Towns, Cities, Mountains & Lakes in Tasmania, Australia includes some history plus Bays & Islands Acknowledgement to C J Dennison for his contribution BAGDAD: A rural town on the Midlands Highway 37 Km from Hobart, situated at the foot of Constitution Hill. It is now an area of orchard growing and small mixed farms. However in the days of the horse and buggy, it was an important rest area and horse changing for those continuing their journey up Constitution Hill. The name was given by Hugh Germaine who was renowned for giving names that were in The Bible or the Arabian Nights. Refer Map BARRINGTON: A rich farming area, 23 Km south of Devonport, on the Nowhere Else Road; situated between the Forth and Don Rivers. Exploration of the area, lead by Nathaniel Kentish was made extremely difficult by the heavy timber and rough terrain. A long time was taken to clear the area before settlement could take place. It is now well-known because of the lake. World class rowing events take place on the lake. It was named after a prominent English statesman of the period. Refer Map BATTERY POINT: An historical inner suburb on the east side of Hobart fronting onto the Derwent River. Battery Point has the reputation of being the most complete colonial village in Australia with a lot of the buildings dating back to the 1830s and 40s. It had its beginnings about 1804 belonging to Reverend Bobby Knopwood. Because of the battery of guns set up on the promontory to protect the citizens of Hobart it was known as Battery Point very early. However the guns were never fired in anger. At one time the name was changed to East Hobart but this proved unpopular and was soon reverted. Images BEACONSFIELD: The main town in the West Tamar region and 43 Km from Launceston. In what is mainly a rural district, it was first explored in 1804 by officers under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Patterson. The town began to flourish when gold was discovered in 1869. The towns name had several changes. At first it was called Cabbage Tree Hill, changed later to Brandy Creek, but finally Governor Weld changed it to Beaconsfield in honour of the Earl of Beaconsfield. The buildings with their Romanesque arches are a tourist attraction. Refer Map BEAUMARIS: A small but popular resort area on the Tasman Highway 5 Km north of Scamander. It has excellent beaches and lagoons for water sports and fishing. In the hills behind Beaumaris there is a large pine plantation. Refer Map BEAUTY POINT: A port town in the West Tamar region 6 Km north of Beaconsfield. This was the first deep water berth that was established on the Tamar River and was first to service the gold fields at Beaconsfield. Now it is a general cargo loading berth. Its' first name was Ilfracombe then about 1903 it was changed. The current name for the place is reported to have been because a cow named "Beauty" was buried there around the turn of the century. Refer Map BELL BAY: An industrial district 4 Km south of George Town on the shores of Port Dalrymple. The site is that of the large aluminium producer, Comalco, built there in the 1950s. Bell Bay was recommended as a port as early as 1912. However it was not until 1950, that the Vacuum Oil Co. and the Australian Aluminium Commission (later Comalco), started their installations. In recent times it has been the Tasmanian terminus for ferry service to Victoria. Refer Map BELLERIVE: A suburb of Hobart on the Eastern Shore of the Derwent River, almost opposite Hobart. This was on of the earliest settlements on the Eastern Shore where a ferry service operated between Hobart and Bellerive from the very early times. It was the railhead for the ill-fated Bellerive-Sorell Railway. Originally it was named Kangaroo Point but was changed to Bellerive which is French for "Beautiful River". Refer Map BEN LOMOND: This is Tasmania's second highest mountain at 1572 metres. It is situated about 50 Km south east of Launceston via Blessington. Part of the Ben Lomond National Park operates on a ski village during the season. At one time a Post Office was started at Ben Lomond and the name was changed to St Aubyns, but the office did not last very long. It was named by Matthew Flinders. Refer Map BERRIEDALE: A northern suburb of Hobart about 15 Km from the city centre. It is not known how Berriedale got its name but the Berriedale Inn is on record as being opened in 1834. The first licensee was William Wilson. The settlement grew around the Inn situated at the road junction of Main and Berriedale Roads. In early days, this was the route to Bismark (Collinsvale) and Sorell Creek. BICHENO: A very popular resort town on the east coast. It is an area famous for its' mild climate. Bicheno is situated on the Tasman Highway 185 Km from Hobart. The area pre-dates white settlement. It was used for a number of years by whalers and sealers and was known as Warbs Harbour; a name still retained for the sheltered harbour. Named in honour of James Ebenezer Bicheno, a very popular Colonial Secretary of Van Diemens Land until his death in Hobart in 1851. Map  Image BOAT HARBOUR: A rural settlement situated on the Bass Highway 15 Km west of Wynyard and noted for its' fertile soil. Boat Harbour gets its' name from a sheltered bay nearby called Jacobs Boat Harbour. A Captain John Jacob moored his boat there at one time. Refer Map BOTHWELL: An historical town on the Lake Highway in the central highlands. It is 74 Km from Hobart and the centre for a rural municipality. Bothwell developed in 1807 when Lieutenant Thomas Laycock camped there on his way to Hobart Town from the northern end of the island. Hunters named the river "Fat Doe River" but it was later changed to the Clyde. The name Bothwell was given by Governor Arthur after "Bothwell" in Scotland. The town is classified as an historic town. Refer Map BRANXHOLM: A village on the Tasman Highway 90 Km from Launceston where the highway crosses the Ringarooma River. It was started as a farming district but boomed when tin was discovered in the district. The best known mine was the Ruby Flat field, south of the village. When the metal ran out it reverted to farming. The explorer, James Scott, named it in 1855 in honour of "Branxholm Hall" in Scotland. Refer Map BRIDGEWATER: An outer northern suburb of Hobart, 22 Km from the city centre and situated on the Midlands Highway. A large Housing Department estate was built on the eastern side of the Midlands Highway between 1970 and 1980. The original name for the area was Green Point. Green Point is still in Bridgewater but is the area on the southern side of the bridge along the foreshore. When the convict causeway was built in 1830 the name for the area was changed to North Bridgewater, then when the railway was put through it was changed to Bridgewater Junction and then the word "Junction" was left off the name. It is not known who named it but is generally believed to have got its' name from Bridgewater in Somerset, England. Refer Map - BASKERVILLE: An area on the eastern side of Bridgewater along the Baskerville Road. It became popular when a car racing track was opened in the late 1950s. Since then it has undergone upgrades and is still being used to hold car race meetings. At times the Derwent Valley Railway steam train runs from Hobart to Bridgewater. BRIDPORT: A popular holiday resort town on the north east coast 13 Km and north of Scottsdale. Situated in Anderson Bay, at the mouth of the Great Forester River. In earlier times it was a favourite hiding place for pirates and runaway convicts. Later it became an important port for ships moving cargo to and from places further inland. It was, at one time, connected to Forester by a private railway line. Timber was railed to Bridport and shipped. Bridport is believed to be named after a town in England. Refer Map BRIGHTON: A town on the Midlands Highway 28 Km from Hobart. The place now known as Brighton, is not the first one to have this name. Lachlan Macquarie gave the name Brighton to the place known as Pontville; the name was changed in 1895. The present Brighton is now a fast growing residential area taking over from a rural community. Brighton Military Camp is situated at the northern end of Brighton, almost on the borderline of Pontville. The camp was established on the 13th August 1914 and was under canvas for the duration of World War 1. Since then it has been used to train troops and more recently as a "Safe Haven" for Kosovo refugees. Refer Map BRONTE PARK: This is a small village on the Marlborough Highway 5 Km from the Lyell Highway and 152 Km from Hobart. It was a new style village built by the Hydro Electric Commission soon after World War 2. Set up to house workers and their families working on several hydro schemes that were being built in the area. Refer Map BRUNY ISLAND: A small settlement set around the bay of the same name. It is on the northern end of Bruny Island and 32 Km from Alonnah. Because of the good shelter in Barnes Bay it was the site of the ferry terminal from 1954 to 1983. The origin of the name has never been documented; the earliest record is in the 1829 edition of Ross,s Almanac. Refer Map - ALONNAH: The main town on Bruny Island and is situated on the west coast on the southern end of Bruny Island. It was originally known as Mills Reef but was changed to Alonnah about 1909. Mills Reef is a point of land 1 Km south of the town. Alonnah is part of the Aboriginal name for the island, "Lunawanna-alonnah"; the name Lunawanna being used for another town on the island. - BARNES BAY: A small settlement set around the bay of the same name. It is on the northern end of Bruny Island and 32 Km from Alonnah. Because of the good shelter in Barnes Bay it was the site of the ferry terminal from 1954 to 1983. The origin of the name has never been documented; the earliest record is in the 1829 edition of Ross,s Almanac. BUCKLAND: A small historic village on the Tasman Highway 66 Km from Hobart. A main change and rest station operated there in the horse and buggy days. It was originally called Prossers Plains but in 1846 Governor Franklin renamed it in honour of Dean Buckland. The main attraction in the town is in the Church of St John the Baptist which was built in 1846. The beautiful stained glass window is reputed to date back to the 15th century and was brought from England. Refer Map BURNIE: A city on the north west coast 333 Km from Hobart, Burnie is a major industrial centre and has been growing very fast since the 1930s. It was first settled in 1827 by the Van Diemens Land Company and named Emu Bay. Later the name changed to Burnie after William Burnie, a director of the Van Diemens Land Company. Always a busy seaport with minerals, produce and paper being just some of the things shipped through there. Refer Map

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