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Devonport is a city in the north-west of Tasmania, at the mouth of the Mersey River. To visitors to Tasmania, it is primarily known as the port for the Spirit of Tasmania car and passenger ferries - Spirit I and II which make daily 10-hour trips between their terminals at East Devonport and Station Pier, Melbourne.
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Spirit of Tasmania II leaving Devonport
Where is it?: Tasmania: North West. Devonport is 102 km north west of Launcestion via Bass Highway, 47 km east of Burnie and 277 km from Hobart. It is a sea port on Bass Strait.
Things to see and do:
Tiagarra, the Tasmanian Aboriginal Cultural and Arts Centre, has dioramas showing the lifestyle of the Tasmanian Aborigines from the region, and is close to Aboriginal rock carvings.
Mersey Bluff is an interesting coastal area featuring cliffs, seascapes, parkland and Aboriginal rock art. To the east of Mersy Bluff is Don Heads.
Devonport's maritime history is celebrated at the Devonport Maritime Museum, which features a large collection of model ships. Devonport's seafaring connection continues today through the Spirit of Tasmania, the only passenger ferry operating across Bass Strait.
See some of the nicest parts of Devonport by walking or cycling Don to Devonport rail trail. You can follow the trail from the Don Railway Station to central Devonport, with the option of a loop trail along the opposite bank of the Don River.
Lookouts: Braddon's Lookout offers fine views of the coastal plains.
Events: Devonport Food and Wine Festival (every March)
Surrounding area:
Tasmanian Arboretum in Eugenana has some native animals such as platypus, however its major feature is the 47 ha collection of native trees.
The Don River Railway has the largest collection of vintage steam locomotives and carriages in Tasmania. A must for train enthusiasts is a 30 min. scenic ride to Coles Beach. The town of Don can be reached either by car or via a 12 km walking track.
La Trobe (11 km south) is an historic town that is home to Australian Axeman's Hall of Fame and the Big Platypus
Elizabeth Town is a gourmet lover's delight, featuring a great bakery cafe, Ashgrove cheese factory and Christmas Hills Raspberry farm
Port Sorell (23km east) is a pretty coastal village featuring sheltered beaches, good fishing, orange lichen-covered rocks and foreshore reserves for camping and picnics.
The coastal towns of Ulverstone (16km) and Penguin (28km) are to the west of Devonport on the road to Burnie.
An enjoyable day trip from Devonport is a driving tour of the Great Western Tiers.
Cradle Mountain Lake St Clair National Park is around a 1hour 30 minute drive south west of Devonport.
About Devonport
Devonport is seen by many as a way station, not only for people travelling between Tasmania and the mainland but for travellers on the north west coast of Tasmania. It is an active seaport that handles most of the movement of produce from the farms and fisheries of Tasmania. With 21,528 people (2001), the City of Devonport is the largest population centre on the northern coast of Tasmania.
The area was first surveyed by Captain Charles Hardwicke in 1823. The area was originally known as Port Frederick, then Mersey River, the name of the river flowing through the town. Later it became two separate towns - Formby on the western side, and Torquay on the east. The towns joined to become Devonport (named for Devonport in England) in 1890. The eastern side is now called East Devonport.
Devonport was declared a city in 1981. The Local Government Area is the City of Devonport. Notable people associated with Devonport include Joseph Lyons (Tasmania's only Prime Minister) who is buried at Mersey Vale Lawn Cemetery. Dame Enid Lyons, Australia's First Female Senator, resided in Devonport for many years and is buried near her husband. Race driver John Bowe hails from Devonport.
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The city of Devonport has a formal sister city agreement with Minamata City in Japan. Devonport Airport is located approximately 7 km to the east of the city of Devonport, about a 10 mins. drive by car. The airport is serviced by Bombardier Dash 8 aircraft, operated by QantasLink, with 4 daily services to Melbourne, Victoria. Tasair Regional Airlines operate daily passenger and freight services from Devonport to King Island. Devonport is visible from the domestic airline flight path between Melbourne and Hobart, which crosses the coast, usually from a height of around 10,000 feet.
Historic buildings in the Devonport area range from workers cottages to the stately Home Hill, former residence of Australia's only Tasmanian Prime Minister, Joseph Lyons. Home Hill is classified by the National Trust.
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