Where did your ancestors live in the late 1800s? Follows is a list and brief description of the townships in Tasmania as described in 1877.
This information may help those who are tracing the path of their ancestors within Australia. Basic information such as location and the main activities in the district may indicate why an ancestor went to the location. There is more information on each place available in the source material such as the buildings, businesses and population at each in the 1870s and in many cases, the means of travel to, or communication with, the town.
ANTILL PONDS, a post town in the county of Somerset, electoral and police district of Oatlands, 61 miles N. of Hobart Town.
APSLEY, a small township in the county of Monmouth, electorate of Cumberland, and police district of Bothwell, distant 9 miles from Bothwell, and 36 miles NW. of Hobart Town.
AVOCA, a township and telegraph station in the county of Cornwall, electorate and police district of Fingal, situated at the confluence of the St. Paul’s and South Esk rivers, 99 miles NW. of Hobart Town, and 48 miles S. from Launceston.
BELLERIVE (Kangaroo Point), a suburb of Hobart Town, 2 miles distant, prettily situated on the banks of the Derwent. It is in the county of Monmouth.
BICHENO, a post town in the county, electorate and police district of Glamorgan, 98 miles NE. from Hobart Town, and 105 miles from Launceston.
BISHOPSBOURNE, a village on the river Liffey, in the county of Westmoreland, electorate of Ringwood, and police district of Longford, about 8 miles W. of Longford. It is 123 miles distant from Hobart Town, 24 miles W. from Launceston.
BLACKBOY, or Mathinna, a gold-mining township, in the county of Cornwall, and police and electoral district of Fingal, 134 miles NE. of Hobart Town, about 17 miles from Fingal, and 84 miles SE. from Launceston. Mining town.
BOTHWELL, pleasantly situated on the river Clyde, is a money-order office, post town, and telegraph station, in the county of Monmouth, and electorate of Cumberland, 45 miles NW. of Hobart Town, and about 100 miles from Launceston. It stands upon a flat, at a considerable elevation above the sealevel, having for a background a range of lofty mountains, densely wooded.
BRACKNELL, a township in the county of Westmoreland, police and electoral district of Westbury, 12 miles from Westbury, 27 miles SW. of Launceston, and about 130 miles N. of Hobart Town.
BREADALBANE, a village in the county of Cornwall, electorate of Morven, and police district of Evandale, about 7 miles S. of Launceston, at the junction of the Evandale road with that to Hobart Town.
BRIDGEWATER, a township on the river Derwent, in the county of Buckingham, and police and electoral district of New Norfolk, 12 miles N. of Hobart Town. Here the river is crossed by a causeway and bridge nearly a mile in length.
BRIGHTON, a rural municipality in the county I of Monmouth, containing the townships of Pontville and Elderslie.
BROAD MARSH. See Elderslie.
BROWN’S RIVER, a post town 10 miles S. of Hobart Town.
BUCKLAND, a postal centre and telegraph station 34 miles from Hobart Town, and 155 miles from Launceston. It is in the county of Pembroke, electorate of Sorell, and police district of Spring Bay.
BURNIE, a post and money-order township, telegraph station, and port of clearance in the county of Wellington, situated on the shore of Emu Bay, in the electorate of Wellington, and police district of Emu Bay, about 102 miles NW. of Launceston, 55 from and 214 from Hobart Town.
CAMPANIA, the railway station for Richmond, from which it is 5 miles distant. Hobart Town is 27 miles S.
CAMPBELLTOWN, a very pretty township, built on the slope of a hill, on the banks of the Elizabeth river, which flows through it, in the county of Somerset, 80 miles distant from Hobart Town north, and 40 miles SE. of Launceston. The surrounding country is very fertile, but at present is mainly utilized for sheep-grazing purposes. A large breadth of land is under cultivation, principally for the cereals. The township is both a money-order office and telegraph station.
CARRICK, a township in the rural municipality of Westbury, and county of Westmoreland. Launceston is distant 11 miles SW., and 131 miles N. from Hobart Town. Agricultural district.
CHUDLEIGH, a village in the county of Westmoreland, and police and electoral district of Deloraine, 10 miles west from Deloraine and 41 miles SW. of Launceston. It has a rich dairy and agricultural country round it. In the vicinity are some remarkable caves.
CIRCULAR HEAD See Stanley.
CLEVELAND, a small township in the county of Somerset, on the main road, 30 miles S. of Launceston and 90 miles N. from Hobart Town. It is in the electorate and municipal district of Campbelltown. The country around is almost exclusively pastoral.
CRESSY, in the county of Westmoreland, electorate od Ringwood and police district of Longford, is a village in the agricultural district of the same name, about six miles S. of Longford and 21 miles S. of Launceston.
DELORAINE, a township situated on both sides of the Meander, in the county of Westmoreland, electorate and police district of Deloraine, 150 miles NW. of Hobart Town and 30 miles from Launceston, SW. The surrounding country is fertile and well watered, and suitable alike for grazing and agricultural purposes. The leading crops are wheat, oats, and potatoes with some acres were taken up by orchards.
ELIZABETH TOWN. See New Norfolk.
ELDERSLIE, or Broadmarsh, a small village situated in the county of Monmouth, electoral and police district of Brighton, about 15 miles from Pontville. It lies 31 miles NW. of Hobart Town.
EMU BAY, a post town 70 miles NW. of Launceston.
EVANDALE, a township, 11 miles from Launceston, SE., 118 miles N. of. Hobart Town. It is a money-order office, railway and telegraph station, and is in the county of Cornwall and electorate of the Morven.
EXTON, a small postal township and railway and telegraph station on the Launceston and Western line, in the county of Westmoreland, distant about 4 miles from Westbury (same electorate), 147 miles NW. of Hobart Town, and 24 miles from Launceston.
FALMOUTH, a township and telegraph station on the east coast, in the county of Cornwall, and electorate and police district of Fingal, 22 miles from Fingal, 88 miles E. from Launceston.
FINGAL, a township and money-order office and telegraph station in the county of Cornwall, 120 miles NE. of Hobart Town, 66 miles SE. from Launceston. In this district are the Mangana and the Black Boy goldfields, and the Mount Nicholas coal seams.
FORMBY, a post town on the river Mersey, in the county of Devon, electorate of East Devon, and police district of Port Sorell, 70 miles NW. from Launceston, and 191 miles from Hobart Town.
FRANKLIN, a township and money-order office in the county of Kent, 26 miles SW. of Hobart Town, and 147 miles from Launceston. The surrounding country is thickly timbered and produces heavy root crops. Much fruit is also grown.
GEORGE’S BAY, a post town in the county of Cornwall, electoral and police district of Fingal, about 100 miles from Launceston. Hobart Town is distant 151 miles.
GEORGETOWN. a watering-place at the mouth of the river Tamar, in the county of Dorset, electorate and police district of Georgetown, 156 miles NW. of Hobart Town, and 35 miles NW. of Launceston. It is a post town and money-order office and telegraph station. The district is becoming noted for its auriferous qualities The workings are principally quartz. Iron ore too has been found in large quantities at no great distance. Tin is also found to exist.
GLENORCHY, a post town and money-order office, in the electorate and police district of the name, and county of Buckingham, 5 miles from Hobart Town, N. The town, or village, has been described as thoroughly English-looking, with its surroundings of farms and homesteads. The village is known as O’Brien’s Bridge.
GLENORE, a post town, about 28 miles from Launceston, situated in the police district and electorate of Westbury, and the county of Westmoreland.
GORDON. See Three Hut Point.
GREENPONDS. See Kempton.
HADSPEN, a small township on the South Esk river, 8 miles SE. from Launceston in the county of Cornwall, and electorate and police district of Selby.
HAGLEY, a small postal township and railway station on the Launceston and Western line, in the county of Westmoreland, electorate and police district of Westbury, 4 miles from Westbury, 136 miles NW. of Hobart Town, and 16 miles SW. of Launceston.
HAMILTON-ON-CLYDE, a township, money-order office, and telegraph station, in the county of Monmouth, electorate of Cumberland, and police district of Hamilton, 44 miles N.W. of Hobart Town and 122 miles S. from Launceston. The district is of an agricultural as well as pastoral character.
HAMILTON-ON-FORTH, a thriving township and telegraph station in the county of Devon, electorate of West Devon, and police district of Port Morell, 74 miles from Launceston, on the road to Circular Head. It is distant from Hobart Town 198 miles.
HOBART TOWN, the capital of Tasmania, and the seat of government, is picturesquely situated at the foot of Mount Wellington, on the river Derwent, about 12 miles from its mouth. The harbour is easy of access, well sheltered from winds, and with sufficient depth of water for vessels of the largest tonnage; there is also ample wharf and dock accommodation for the loading, discharge, and repairs of ships. [For a more detailed description, please visit the source material].
JERUSALEM, a money-order township, about 17 miles from Richmond, 32 miles N. of Hobart Town, and 151 miles from Launceston. It is in the county of Monmouth, electorate and police district of Richmond.
KEMPTON, sometimes known as Greenponds, a township, 29 miles N. of Hobart Town, and 92 miles S. of Launceston, in the county of Monmouth, electorate of Brighton, and police district of Green Ponds. It is a money-order office and telegraph station.
KINGSTON, a postal township on Brown’s river, in the county of Buckingham, electoral and police district of Kingborough, 10 miles S. of Hobart Town, and 131 miles from Launceston. The district is a grazing and fruit-growing one.
LA TROBE, a post, telegraph, and money-order town in the county of Devon, electorate of East Devon, and municipal district of Port Sorell, at the mouth of the river Mersey, 62 miles W. from Launceston, and 182 miles NNW. from Hobart Town.
LAUNCESTON, the second town in Tasmania, and the principal one on the northern coast on the river Tamar, about 40 miles from its mouth, at the conflux of the North and South Esk rivers, here about 50 miles across. It lies in a valley enclosed by hills. It is distant 120 miles N. from Hobart Town. The town was incorporated Nov 1 1858. The public gardens, extending over an area of 9 acres, are much frequented.
LITTLEHAMPTON, a railway station on the Launceston and Western Railway, 22 miles S. of Launceston.
LONGFORD is situated on the Norfolk Plains, in the county of Westmoreland, police district of Longford, and electorate of Norfolk Plains, 113 miles N. from Hobart Town, and 17 miles S. of Launceston. It is a money-order office and telegraph station.
LOVETT, a township on the shores of Port Cygnet, in the county of Buckingham, electorate of Kingborough, and the municipal district of Franklin, about 33 miles SW. of Hobart Town. The surrounding country is agricultural and timber producing.
LYMINGTON, a village on the river Nile in the county of Cornwall, about 8 miles SE. from Evandale. Launceston is 19 miles distant.
MANGANA, a post town in the county of Cornwall, and electorate and police district of Fingall, 72 miles from Launceston, and 123 from Hobart Town.
MARGATE, a post town in the county of Buckingham, and electorate and police district of Kingborough, 13 miles S. of Hobart Town.
MATHINNA. See Black Boy.
MELTON MOWBRAY, a post town and telegraph station, 33 miles N. of Hobart Town.
MIDDLETON, a township 28 Hobart Town, in the county of Buckingham, and police and electoral district of Kingborough.
MOUNT BISCHOFF, a post town 40 miles from Launceston, and 160 miles W. from Hobart Town.
NEW NORFOLK, formerly called Elizabeth Town, is in the county of Buckingham, and lies 21 miles NW. of Hobart Town, and 118 miles S. of Launceston, on the bank of the Derwent at its highest navigable point. The salmon ponds are at Redlands, about 6 miles distant. It is a great hop-growing district.
NEWTOWN, in the county of Buckingham, and to the N. of Hobart Town is so connected by buildings as to appear a suburb of that city. It is 1.75 miles N.
NINE MILE SPRINGS, a mining township and money-order office in the county of Dorset, electorate and police district of Georgetown, 25 miles from Launceston, and 146 from Hobart Town. The discovery of several gold-bearing quartz reefs is likely to bring the town into prominence.
OATLANDS, a township, money-order office, and telegraph station, in the counties of Somerset and Monmouth, and police and electoral district of the name it bears, on the main road between Hobart Town and Launceston. It is distant from the former place about 50 miles N., from Launceston 70 miles S. It lies very high, being 1,340 feet above the level of the sea. The district is governed by a municipal council.
O’BRIEN’S BRIDGE, a station on the Main Line Railway, 6.5 miles from Hobart Town. It is in the county of Buckingham, and police and electoral district of Glenorchy. See Glenorchy.
PENGUIN, a seaport town, in the county of West Devon, one of the most flourishing districts of Tasmania. It is 210 miles N. from Hobart town, and 90 miles W. from Launceston, and is the locale of some silver mines, recently worked The harbour is protected by a breakwater.
PERTH, a village 11 miles S. From Launceston and 110 miles from Hobart Town. It is a telegraph station and is situated in the county of Cornwall, electoral district of Norfolk Plains, and police district of Longford. The South Esk river is crossed by a fine stone bridge of eight arches.
PONTVILLE, county of Monmouth, electoral and police district of Brighton, is 16 miles N. of Hobart Town, and 105 miles S. of Launceston, on the main road between those places. There is a telegraph station and money-order office.
PORT ARTHUR is situated in the county of Pembroke, 185 miles from Launceston, and 64 miles SE of Hobart Town. It was formerly the principal penal establishment of the colony and inhabited solely by the convicts and the officers in charge. It is a post and money-order office. Intending visitors must obtain signed orders from the Colonial Secretary.
PORT CYGNET, a post town and money order office, 45 miles SW. from Hobart Town, and 166 miles from Launceston. It is in the county of Buckingham, electorate of Kingborough, and Franklin police district.
PORT LEMPRIERE. This is a rapidly rising township on the banks of the Tamar, and opposite to Georgetown. The iron deposits are almost boundless in quantity, and said to be of a very excellent quality.
QUEENBOROUGH, a post town suburban to Hobart Town, about 1.5 miles distant. A public cemetery is here, in the hands of a private company.
REEDY MARSH, a post town and money order office, 83 miles from Launceston, and 134 miles from Hobart Town. It is situated in the county of Cornwall, and police and electoral district of Fingal.
RICHMOND, a township in the county of Monmouth, electorate and police district of Richmond, pleasantly situated on the banks of the Coal river, here spanned by a substantial bridge, about 15 miles distant from Hobart Town, NE. and 136 miles from Launceston. It has a money-order office and telegraph station.
RINGAROOMA, a post town in the county of Dorset, electorate and municipality of Selby, 141 miles from Hobart Town, and 20 miles from Launceston.
ROKEBY (Clarence Plains), pleasantly placed on the shores of Ralph’s Bay, in the county of Monmouth, is 7 miles NE. of Hobart Town, 5 miles from Bellerive, and 127 miles from Launceston.
ROSS a small but pleasant township in the county of Somerset, electorate of Campbelltown, and police district of Ross, 73 miles N. of Hobart Town, and 48 miles SE. from Launceston. It is in the centre of rich and fertile plains of considerable extent. It has a money-order office and telegraph station. Its building stone is celebrated for its quality and white colour.
ST. HELEN’S (George’s Bay), a watering place of summer resort, at the head of a landlocked harbour on the east coast, in the county of Cornwall, and electoral and municipal district of Fingal. There is good accommodation for visitors, and abundance of fishing, boating, and shooting. It is reached by way of Fingal and St. Mary’s Pass.
ST. LEONARD’S, a pretty village, about 4 miles from Launceston, in the county of Dorset, and municipality and electoral district of Selby.
ST. MARY’S, a township and telegraph station in the county of Cornwall, electorate and municipal district of Fingal, 128 miles NE. of Hobart Town, and 78 miles E. of Launceston.
SANDY BAY, a post town suburban to Hobart Town, 3 miles distant.
SORELL, or Pittwater, as it was formerly called, is a township near the coast, in the county of Pembroke, and police and electoral district of Sorell, 13 miles from Hobart Town, NE., and 134 miles S. from Launceston. It has a money-order office and telegraph station.
STANLEY, or Circular Head, a large and important seaport town, port of entry, and telegraph station, in the county and electorate of Wellington, and police district of Russell, on the north coast, about 142 miles from Launceston, and 263 miles NW. of Hobart Town. It is situated on a flat, lying E. of the cliff (known as Circular Head), facing a safe and commodious bay. It has a money-order office. A large trade with Victoria is done from Stanley, the export of potatoes alone being very great. The district is entirely an agricultural one, wheat, oats, and potatoes being the most extensively cultivated.
SWANSEA, a township, money-order office, and telegraph station, on the shores of Oyster Bay, in the county of Glamorgan, 90 miles NE. from Hobart Town, 70 miles SE. from Launceston. The pier, extending some 700 feet into the sea, affords facility for the landing of goods and passengers. Schooners trade regularly to the metropolis, and there is partial coach communication via Spring Bay.
THREE HUT POINT or Gordon, is a small village in the county of Buckingham, and Kingborough electoral and police district, situated in D’Entrecasteaux Channel. It is 20 miles from Kingston, and about 30 miles S. of Hobart Town. It is a port of clearance and money-order station. There are some coal seams in the vicinity.
TORQUAY, a township, telegraph station, money-order office, and port of entry, in the county of Devon, electorate of East Devon, and police district of Port Sorell, at the mouth of the river Mersey, 190 miles from Hobart Town, NW., and 70 miles NW. from Launceston. The district is of an agricultural character and is heavily timbered. Latterly the district has been found to possess considerable resources in copper and iron.
TRIABUNNA, a township and telegraph station in the county of Pembroke, electorate of Sorell, and police district of Spring Bay, 55 miles NE. from Hobart Town, and 173 miles SE. from Launceston. In the district good building stone and coal have recently been found.
TUNBRIDGE, a post town in the county of Somerset (Oatlands electorate and municipality), 77 miles S. of Launceston.
ULVERSTONE, a seaport at the mouth of the river Leven, in the county of Devon, electorate of West Devon, and police district of Port Sorell, 79 miles NW. of Launceston, and on the road to Circular Head, which here crosses the river by a timber bridge of many arches.
VICTORIA is on the banks of the Huon river, in the county of Buckingham (Franklin municipality and Kingborough electorate), 24 miles SW. from Hobart Town, with which it is connected by a good road, and bridge over the Huon. The principal industry in the neighbourhood is the timber trade. Hops are becoming extensively grown along the banks of the river.
WESTBURY, an important township situated on Quambys creek, in the county of Westmoreland, 140 miles N. of Hobart Town, and 20 miles SW. of Launceston by road, by the railway it is upwards of 35 miles. It is a money-order and telegraph station.
WYNYARD, on the river Inglis, a township and port of entry, money-order office, and telegraph station, in the county and electorate of Wellington, police district of Emu Bay, 114 miles distant from Launceston, NW., and 234 miles from Hobart Town, NW.
Source: The Australian handbook and almanac and shippers’ and importers’ directory. http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2902005236
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