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Strahan, population 701, is the only coastal town on the unprotected western side of Tasmania. The British invented this place as the ultimate penal colony. Named after Governor Lachlan Macquarie this 50 kilometres long harbour opens to the sea through the narrow, eddying waters of Hell's Gates and receives the waters of the King and Gordon Rivers.
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On a clear day Macquarie Harbour is like a mirror. Its water is brown from the button grass, which grows on the riverbanks and its shores are heavily wooded. When the convicts lived and worked here, it was common for them to row from Sarah Island to the Gordon River, spend the day cutting down huon pines, and then row back. The harbour may look beautiful but it has seen great hardship and suffering.
Hells Gate was named by the convicts who came to Macquarie Harbour. It captures the dangers of the narrow entrance as well as the idea that it was the entrance to one of the most isolated places on earth.
A convict station was established on Sarah Island. This was an act of craziness as the island had neither a regular water supply water had to be shipped 6 km from Phillips Island each day nor good soil.
| Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park | |
Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park has one of Australias great wild river systems that attract white water rafters from all over the world. Near the junction of the Gordon and the Franklin rivers, the Franklin carves through a belt of limestone where water-eroded caves harbour a rich history of Aboriginal life.
Located 83 kilometres south from Devonport is Cradle Mountain. Cradle Mountain is the central feature of the World Heritage Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. The park covers an area of 124 942 hectares, which is characterised by a rugged, glaciated landscape with over 25 major peaks and a wide range of glacial formations, glacial lakes, valleys and waterfalls.
Central Strahan North West TAS - Tasmania
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Tasmania - Map of Strahan Australia
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