The area was commonly known as the Cape of L' Agulhas . More than a century later, in 1772, a French expedition led by Marc-Joseph Marion du Fresne landed at (nearby but different) Blackmans Bay, and the following year Tobias Furneaux became the first Englishman to land in Tasmania when he arrived at Adventure Bay, which he named after his ship HMS Adventure. Several of the states lakes, notably Lake King William, are artificial reservoirs created as a part of hydroelectric power development. Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego, or simply Tierra del Fuego, is a territory where it is hard to distinguish myth from reality, pure legend from objective truth. The state encompasses the main island of Tasmania, the 26th-largest island in the world, and the surrounding 1000 islands. Throughout the 1980s, strong environmental concerns saw the building of the Australian Antarctic Division headquarters, and the proclamation of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. [109], Tasmania is a hotspot for fungal diversity. [citation needed], Lake Pedder and Mount Anne from Western Arthurs, Cradle Mountain from the shore of Dove Lake, Sub-Antarctic Garden, Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, Hobart, "Tasmanian people" redirects here. GPS Coordinates-43.57222,146.91421 Read more from Wikipedia Average annual precipitation exceeds 100 inches (2,500 mm) on the western ranges and declines eastward to less than 20 inches (510 mm) in some places; along the north coast it exceeds 30 inches (760 mm) in all locations. The strait was named after George Bass, after he and Matthew Flinders passed through it while circumnavigating Van Diemen's Land in the Norfolk in 179899. South Cape Bay is accessed via the eastern end of the 7 day. [130] Stunning! These are also considered distinct from the more common wet sclerophyll forests, though these eucalypt forests often form with rainforest understorey and ferns (such as tree-ferns) are usually never absent. It is now believed that the name is more properly applied to Cape Barren Island,[27] which has had an official dual name of "Truwana" since 2014. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Esperance Adventures leads immersive kayak tours around the Huon River, Port Esperance and Recherche Bay, which include riveting tales of the Aboriginal and colonial history of the region (fun or maybe not so fun fact, the European settlers kept their cattle on a remote island in the middle of Port Esperance and would swim their cows back and forwards across the bay. Settlers responded vigorously, resulting in many mass-killings. [173], In basketball, Tasmania was first represented in the National Basketball League (NBL) by the Hobart Devils, although the team folded in 1996. The southernmost point of Australia lies within the Wilsons Promontory National Park, its scenic coastal tracks and stunning beaches have made it a longtime playground of Melbournites and visitors from far and wide. Wed spent so much time trying to get on top of things. In the House of Representatives, Tasmania is entitled to five seats, which is the minimum allocation for a state guaranteed by the Constitutionthe number of House of Representatives seats for each state is otherwise decided on the basis of their relative populations, and Tasmania has never qualified for five seats on that basis alone. To get there, you must travel two hours south from Hobart until the end of Australia's southernmost road. [35], A smaller colony was established at Port Dalrymple on the Tamar River in the island's north in October 1804 and several other convict-based settlements were established, including the particularly harsh penal colonies at Port Arthur in the southeast and Macquarie Harbour on the West Coast. As well as this, they engaged in amicable relations with the locals and environment, gifting the area a "French garden", in which "the relatively extensive, well-documented (both pictorially and written) encounters [] between [them] provided a very early opportunity for meetings and mutual observation". As well as a diverse First Nations geography, where remnants are preserved in rough form by European documentation, Tasmania is known as a place for unorthodox place-names. The main island is roughly heart-shaped, with a maximum length and width of about 200 miles (320 km), and its latitude and climate are broadly comparable to those of northern California and northwestern Spain. Geographically and biological isolated, Tasmania is known for its unique endemic flora and fauna. Due to its natural environment and clean air, Tasmania is a common retirement selection for Australians. The first season of the television series The Mole was filmed and based mainly in Tasmania, with the final elimination taking place in Port Arthur jail. By the 1998 election, the number of seats had been reduced down to 25, or 5 per each electorate. Tasmania has changed so much since I last visited, it has become very trendy and a bit of a foodie heaven. [136] This was despite growth in population (five-fold since responsible government) and an increase in the voting percentage required for a majority government. The Privy Council also approved the colony changing its name from "Van Diemen's Land" to "Tasmania", and in 1856 the newly elected bicameral parliament sat for the first time, establishing Tasmania as a self-governing colony of the British Empire.[64]. Nothofagus gunnii, commonly known as Australian beech, is Australia's only temperate native deciduous tree and is found exclusively in Tasmania.[101]. Macquarie Island is an island in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, about halfway between New Zealand and Antarctica. This is when you begin to hear the low, insistent rumble of the Southern Ocean, crescendo-ing as you round each bend. Unusual trees such as cider gum (Eucalyptus gunnii) had their manna used to make a syrup or an alcohol (cider). [166][167] Tasmania has been home to some early and prominent Australian composers. The state capital and largest city is Hobart, with around 40 percent of the population living in the Greater Hobart area.[17]. During the 15 years until 2010, new agricultural products such as wine, saffron, pyrethrum and cherries have been fostered by the Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research. Hun Rive Country Cottage has three bedrooms to suit couples, families or small groups. Regular passenger train services in the state ceased in 1977; the only scheduled trains are for freight, but there are tourist trains in specific areas, for example the West Coast Wilderness Railway. The state encompasses the main island of Tasmania, the 26th-largest island in the . [130], According to the 2021 Census, 50.0% of the Tasmanian population identified as having no religious affiliation. [133], In April 2022, former deputy premier Jeremy Rockliff became Premier after Gutwein announced his retirement from politics. At Flinders' recommendation, the Governor of New South Wales, John Hunter, in 1800 named the stretch of water between the mainland and Van Diemen's Land "Bass's Straits". [190] ", The Black War (The Cornwall Chronicle, Launceston: 8 Sep, 1860, p.3), The Black Natives (Hobart Town Gazette, 11 Nov 1926, p.2), "Urbanisation Cultural Artefact Companion to Tasmanian History", "MONA takes top billing Trips The Mercury The Voice of Tasmania", "Charting the COVID-19 spread in Australia", "Public Health Emergency for Tasmania declared", "Mystery still surrounds origin of iconic button grass plains", "BUREAU OF BIODIVERSITY AWARENESSFEATURE ARTICLEISSUE ONEMAGAZINE The Last Deciduous Tree in Tasmania", "Climate Statistics: Hobart (Ellerslie Road 19912020 normals)", "Climate statistics: Hobart (Ellerslie Road)", "Why don't we have more native deciduous trees in Australia? However, Bishop and Clerk Islets, south of Macquarie Island. Many of these species, such as the platypus are larger than their mainland relatives. It is known for its ecotourism for these reasons, and is considered an idyllic location for Australians considering a "tree-" or "sea-change", or are seeking retirement because of Tasmania's temperate environment and friendly locals. About 2,500 kilometres (1,300 nautical miles) south of Tasmania island lies the George V Coast of Antarctica. [148] Somehow). These can be found in small creeks, alpine streams, rapid rivers, or off precipitous plunges. In Australia, 2022 started off quite differently from previous years. [66] Hydro's influence culminated in the 1970s when the state government announced plans to flood environmentally significant Lake Pedder. This resulted in the reduction of the Greens' number of seats from 4 to 1, and increased the proportion of seats held by both the Labor and Liberal parties. Scattered across Tasmania are many vineyards,[175] and Tasmanian beer brands such as Boags and Cascade are known and sold in Mainland Australia. Local government elections take place every four years and are conducted by the Tasmanian Electoral Commission by full postal ballot. If youre lucky you might spot a pademelon. Our journey took us to the pointy end of the island, to its southernmost point of the South Cape Bay Walk. Well, at latitude of 43 degrees 39 minutes, it's South East Cape, in far-southern Tasmania. Other trees such as wattles (acacias) like blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon) and mimosa (Acacia dealbata) could have their seeds eaten or crushed into a powder. The Kettering Incident, filmed in and around Kettering, Tasmania, won the 2016 AACTA Award for Best Telefeature or Mini Series. Governor Hunter thus wrote to Joseph Banks in August 1797 that it seemed certain a strait existed.[86]. [49][50] Arthur declared martial law in the colony in November that year, and this remained in force for over three years, the longest period of martial law in Australian history. At the 2002 state election, the Labor Party won 14 of the 25 House seats. With an area slightly larger than that of Sri Lanka, Tasmania is the smallest of Australias states. Famous Tasmanian cricketers include David Boon, former Australian captains Ricky Ponting and Tim Paine. These include the Hobart Southern Outlet, Launceston Southern Outlet, Bass Highway reconstruction, and the Huon Highway. It consists of the main island as well as at least a thousand neighbouring islands within the state's jurisdiction. Structurally, Tasmania constitutes a southern extension of the Great Dividing Range. Tasmania (/tzmeni/; Palawa kani: lutruwita) is an island state of Australia. When you finally hike the last few metres, nature has designed the reveal to be as dramatic as a red curtain parting on a Broadway opening night. Population (2021) 557,571. Owing to persecution by farmers, government-funded bounty hunters and, in the final years, collectors for overseas museums, it appears to have been exterminated in Tasmania. This is a part of the also-receding global stereotype that all Australians are or were derived from criminals, even as most convicts were transported for petty crimes. [15] It is located 240kilometres (150miles) to the south of the Australian mainland, separated from it by the Bass Strait, with the archipelago containing the southernmost point of the country. About 4.5% of people in Tasmania follows non-Christian religion mainly Hinduism (1.7%), Buddhism (1.0%) and Islam (0.9%). Until 1856, however, the island was known as Van Diemens Land, named for Anthony van Diemen, the governor of the Dutch East Indies who had sent Tasman on his voyage of exploration. It took a trip to Tasmanias remote, southernmost tip to remind me of the humbling, life-affirming joy of spending a little time sitting at the bottom. After hostilities between settlers and Aboriginal peoples ceased in 1832, almost all of the remnants of the Indigenous population were persuaded or forced by government agent George Augustus Robinson to move to Flinders Island. [2] Much sea traffic passes near it, and many ships and boats have been wrecked or grounded there. ", "Clean, green and leaning on the mainland", "Tasmania Employment by industry (Total)", "Reconstructing the Star Knowledge of Aboriginal Tasmanians", "National Heritage Places Recherche Bay (North East Peninsula) Area", "Tasmanian Natural History Society (18381849)", "How Tamworth beat the big smoke and became the first city of light", "Subscribe to The Australian | Newspaper home delivery, website, iPad, iPhone & Android apps", "Bridget Crack Rachel Leary 9781760295479 Allen & Unwin Australia", "Angelica Banks Allen & Unwin Australia", "MONA puts Tassie on map Tasmania News The Mercury The Voice of Tasmania", "Beathoven and The Innocents Official Web site", "Fanny Cochrane Smith's Tasmanian Aboriginal songs and language preserved forever", "SONGS OF THE TASMANIAN ABORIGINES AS RECORDED BY MRS. FANNY COCHRANE SMITH", "The life, love and legacy of Peter Sculthorpe (19292014)", "Kings Win First Championship in 17 Years with Record Crowd", "Tasmania Tours, Vacation Packages & Travel Experiences", "Favouring curry a long-time Tasmanian trait", "Coronavirus restrictions see 1930's Central Cookery Book become a bestseller", "Sheep why vodka wins top Australia award for third year in a row", "What is the National Penny Farthing Championship? It has developed through many subsequent waves of immigration. Under British rule the island was initially part of the Colony of New South Wales but became a separate colony under the name Van Diemen's Land (named after Anthony van Diemen) in 1825. [114], Protected areas of Tasmania cover 21% of the island's land area in the form of national parks. [83], The next European to enter the strait was Captain James Cook on HMS Endeavour in April 1770. After the end of World War II, the state saw major urbanisation, and the growth of towns like Ulverstone. [76] This environment gives rise to the cypress forests of the Central Plateau and mountainous highlands. [111][112] In Tasmania, there are about 90 endangered, vulnerable, or threatened vertebrate species classified by the state or Commonwealth governments. There are lots of gorgeous BnBs around Dover, the closest main town to the South Cape Bay Walk (about an hours drive from your starting point). The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race is an annual event starting in Sydney, NSW, on Boxing Day and finishing in Hobart, Tasmania. [131] Hodgman then won a second term of government in the 2018 state election, but resigned mid-term in January 2020 and was replaced by Peter Gutwein. The Boathouse is a private paradise surrounded by bush and with a walkway to its own beach. It was officially renamed Tasmania in honour of its first European discoverer on 1 January 1856.[26]. Rugby League Football is also played in the area, with the highest level of football played is in the Tasmanian Rugby League competition. Includes those identifying as, Boyce, James, 'The social and Environmental impact of the introduction of the dog to Tasmania' in, smallest economy of the Australian states and territories, Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia (IBRA), giant habitat trees and the large animal species, Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research, Category:Television shows set in Tasmania, Omission of Tasmania from maps of Australia, "Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre Official Aboriginal and Dual Names of places", "National, state and territory population March 2021", "5220.0 Australian National Accounts: State Accounts, 201920", "6524.0.55.002 Estimates of Personal Income for Small Areas, 20112016", "Proclamation of Tasmanian Devil as Tasmania's Animal Emblem", "Proclamation of Tasmanian floral emblem", "Proclamation of Tasmanian mineral emblem", "3218.0 Regional Population Growth, Australia, 201617: Main Features", "Convicts and the British colonies in Australia", "Estimated full time employment | Tasmania | economy.id", "Complete National Parks and Reserves Listings", "Appendix 2: Select chronology of renaming", "Aboriginal and Dual Names of places in lutruwita (Tasmania)", The Fate Of The Aboriginal Inhabitants (Sydney Morning Herald, 21 Feb 1867, p.8), "Tasmania's Black War: a tragic case of lest we remember? There are also many berries such as snowberry (Gaultheria hispida), fruits such as heartberry (Aristotelia peduncularis), and vegetables such as river mint (Mentha australis), though no crops like maize that are used for large production. In 1901 it became a state of Australia through the process of the federation of Australia. Tasmanians voted in favour of federation with the largest majority of all the Australian colonies. Dover is a two-hour drive south of Hobart, and the start of the South Cape Bay Walk is another hours drive south of Dover. The MS Princess of Tasmania began her maiden voyage in 1959, the first car ferry to Tasmania. Self contained, two bedroom nature based retreat or budget cabins for couples or small groups. A distinctive type of moorland found across the west, and particularly south-west of Tasmania, are buttongrass plains, which are speculated to have been expanded by Tasmanian Aboriginal burning practices. The colloquial expression for the state is "Tassie". 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