Geeveston

Geeveston is a small town in the south of Tasmania in Australia on the Huon River, 62 km south west of Hobart, making it Australia's most southerly administrative centre. The town takes its name from William Geeves, an English settler who was given a land grant by Lady Jane Franklin in the area then known as Lightwood Bottom (after a type of timber prevalent in the area). The settlement Geeves set up was renamed Geeves Town in 1861, and the name eventually became Geeveston.[2] Geeveston is for local government purposes included in the area of the Huon Valley Council and is part of the division of Franklin for both Australian House of Representatives and Tasmanian House of Assembly electoral purposes.

Geeveston
Tasmania
Geeveston bakery with wood carvings
Geeveston
Coordinates43°10′S 146°56′E
Population616 (2016 census)[1]
 • Density23.7/km2 (61/sq mi)
Established1842
Postcode(s)7116
Elevation115 m (377 ft)
Area60.2 km2 (23.2 sq mi)
Location
  • 62 km (39 mi) SW of Hobart
  • 12 km (7 mi) W of Cygnet
LGA(s)Huon Valley Council
State electorate(s)Franklin
Federal Division(s)Franklin

Geeveston is on the Huon Highway, and is the gateway to the Hartz Mountains National Park. It is the centre of Tasmania's apple and fruit-growing industry, and has also been highly reliant on the timber industry since the late 19th century. A pulp mill was opened in the town in 1962, and was Geeveston's largest employer until the plant closed in 1982, devastating the area economically.[3] The Forest & Heritage Centre, a tourist centre which details the history of the timber industry in the area, is located in Geeveston. Since 2016, the town has hosted the filming of the comedy series Rosehaven.

History

Geeves-Town Post Office opened on 1 June 1876 and was renamed Geeveston in 1888.[4]

See also
  • Tahune Airwalk

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Geeveston (Urban Centre Locality)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  2. Geeveston, The Sydney Morning Herald, February 8, 2004.
  3. Courtney, Pip: Positive approach regenerates timber town, Landline (ABC TV), August 22, 2004.
  4. Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
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