Central Highlands Local History
The Central Highlands region of Tasmania is a place of rugged terrain, sparkling lakes, and rich history. This wild and beautiful part of the island has attracted explorers, settlers, and adventurers for centuries, and its stories are as diverse and captivating as the landscape itself.
Early History
For thousands of years, the Central Highlands region was home to the indigenous Tasmanian Aboriginal people. These skilled hunters and gatherers lived off the land, moving from place to place to follow seasonal patterns of food and water. They had a deep connection to the natural world and a rich culture that embraced storytelling, art, and ceremony.
With the arrival of Europeans in the late 18th century, the traditional way of life for the Tasmanian Aboriginal people was rapidly disrupted. The newcomers brought with them diseases, weapons, and a different worldview. Conflict and violence soon erupted, leading to the virtual extinction of the Tasmanian Aboriginal people by the mid-19th century.
Exploration and Settlement
Despite the tragic history of the indigenous people, the Central Highlands region continued to attract adventurers and explorers. In the early 1800s, a number of intrepid individuals set out to map the interior of Tasmania and find new opportunities for settlement and resource extraction.
One of the most famous of these explorers was John Batman, who led a party into the Central Highlands in 1828. The group travelled up the Derwent River to the present site of Lake St Clair, then went overland to the east coast. Batman was impressed by the abundance of timber, minerals, and fertile soil in the region, and he later returned to establish a settlement on the site of present-day Melbourne.
Other explorers followed in Batman's footsteps, including James Ross, George Frankland, and Augustus Robinson. Frankland was particularly interested in the timber resources of the region and helped to establish a series of sawmills and timber camps in the 1830s and 1840s. These camps became the nucleus of several small towns, including Tarraleah, Bothwell, and Hamilton.
The Hydro Era
In the early 20th century, the Central Highlands region underwent a dramatic transformation as the Hydro-Electric Commission began construction of a series of hydroelectric power stations and dams. These projects, which took several decades to complete, transformed the region's rivers and lakes into a vast network of reservoirs and power generation facilities.
One of the largest of these projects was the Gordon River Dam, which was constructed in the 1970s and 1980s. The dam was controversial because of its environmental impact on the nearby World Heritage-listed wilderness area, but it also provided a significant source of clean, renewable energy for Tasmania.
Today
Today, the Central Highlands region is a popular destination for tourists, hikers, and anglers. The region's lakes and rivers are renowned for their trout and salmon, and the landscape is dotted with hiking trails, camping areas, and scenic lookouts.
The Central Highlands also has a rich cultural heritage, with numerous historic sites and museums that tell the story of the region's past. These include the Bothwell Historical Society Museum, the Hamilton Inn Museum, and the Tarraleah Museum and Heritage Walk.
With its stunning natural beauty, rich history, and diverse range of activities, the Central Highlands region of Tasmania is a truly unique and unforgettable destination.