| PORT SORELL - TASMANIA - 7307 | ||||
 |
Population: 1,937, Elevation: 10m Latitude: -41.0956 Longitude: 146.3319 Location: 35km east of Devonport Highway: Off Bass Hwy (1) Nearest Major Town: Devonport Nearest Airport: Devonport Touring Area: Devonport Area |
 |
 Main street of Port Sorell | |
 | ||||
|
Port Sorell, Shearwater and Hawley Beach are rapidly growing beachside residential areas on the Rubicon
River east of Devonport. Port Sorell is the oldest township on the north-west coast and was used
as a port by the van Diemen's Land Company from the 1830s. It was named after Governor Sorell
in 1822. Hawley Beach is a residential and shopping area extending north from Port Sorell along the river and now has a substantial population. It is popular for its safe water beach and fishing. The Narawntapu National Park (formerly Asbestos Range NP) is directly opposite across the river. Trading for wattle bark began in the area in 1834 and a town was layed out and named Burgess after the Police Chief Magistrate. The first permanent settler took up land in 1838 and building of houses and public buildings followed. The growth of nearby Devonport and the closing of the port meant only a few residents remained at the turn of the 19th century. Bushfires detroyed many remaining buildings until, in 1916, a committee was formed to develop the town as a holiday resort. In 1950 it was named Port Sorell and has flourished since. In 1835 when John Batman was sailing from Launceston to Melbourne to found that city, he pulled in to the Rubicon River and Port Sorell to shelter from a vicious gale. Port Sorell, Shearwater and Hawley Beach now comprise one long township following the west bank of the river and creating an excellent holiday region for locals and visitors.
INFORMATION CENTRE: Tasmanian Travel & Information Centre 92 Formby Rd, Devonport. Tasmania. 7310 Ph: 03 6424 8176 HOW TO GET THERE: Coach Operators Redline: Ph: 1300 360 000 Greyhound Pioneer: 132 030 | |||||||||
 |
© Copyright Peter W. Wilkins | |