Tasmania For Everyone: Wilmot

Wilmot

A tiny village in the foothills of the Great Western Tiers, Wilmot is noted for its lush and sweeping valley views. Wilmot services the surrounding rural area and the occasional tourist who stops off on their way to Cradle Mountain. Its iconic general store, which burnt to the ground in February 2014, was the birthplace of the Coles retail empire.

Lookout

Wilmot is located in Tasmania’s mountainous north-west. En route to the town are numerous roadside lookouts with views to Mount Roland and Lake Barrington. The 20-minute climb to the summit of Bell Mountain (803 metres) is steep but rewards you with uninterrupted, 360-degree views of surrounding mountains including Mount Roland, Mount Claude, Mount Vandyke, the Great Western Tiers, Cradle Mountain and Black Bluff.

Where Is it?

67 km south east of Burnie, 41 km south of Devonport, 141 km from Launceston on Cradle Mountain Road.

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Things To See And Do

Wilmot Novelty Letterbox Trail

Follow the road from Wilmot to Devonport travel down the aptly named “Valley of the Views”, which is also known as the Wilmot Novelty Letterbox Trail. Not only will you be treated to some great scenery, you’ll find the road is lined with the most interesting and unique array of letterboxes you are ever likely to see. Someone started the trend a few decades ago, it caught on and now everyone has one! Also look out for the graphic portrayal of Wilmot’s history by local artists and school children on telegraph poles along the road.

Wilmot Museum

Discover Wilmot’s rich pioneer history at the Museum and Visitor Centre. The displays include historical information, old relics and an extensive display of photographs. Visitor information available.
Location: Main St, Wilmot

The G.J. Coles connection

The town’s main claim to fame is that Australia’s first Coles store was established in Wilmot. Sadly, the town's general store, which was Australia's first "Coles" store, no longer stands. George James Coles, who subsequently launched the Coles chain throughout Australia, learned the retail trade working at his father’s “Coles Store” at Wilmot between 1910 and 1913 before travelling to the United States of America and Britain to observe the methods and style of retailing. He was greatly impressed by what he saw, particularly in the ’5 and 10 cent stores’, common in the USA. On his return he moved to Melbourne, and with his brothers Jim and Arthur, opened their tiny 3d, 6d and 1/- variety store in the subub of Collingwood in 1914. Expansion to more stores occurred and the chain became leaders in providing value to Australian shoppers.

The Coles family operated the Wilmot store from 1910-1921. It continues to this day as the Wilmot Country Store with much of the building and fittings as they were back in the days where there was a Coles behind the counter. In the store’s heyday, Coles Snr. employed 15 people, and three trucks were used to take supplies to the surrounding areas. Cradle Manor, the former home of George Coles, still stands in the main street a short distance from where his store stood.

Surrounding Area

Lake Barrington

Lake Barrington is ideal for water-based activities such as swimming, rowing, water skiing, power boating and canoeing. Picnic areas with sheltered tables, BBQs and toilets are available within the reserve. A kiosk operates on weekends in summer and during major sporting events. Lake Barrington is used by Australia’s Olympics rowing team for training purposes.

Village of Lower Crackpot

The World of Tasmazia is a crazy complex located in the wonderfully named town of Promised Land in the heart of Tasmania’s beautiful Cradle Mountain and Lakes District. Tasmazia includes 8 mazes, featuring The Great Maze, reputedly the world’s largest, as well as The Village of Lower Crackpot, a whimsical model village built to 1/5th scale, The Pancake Parlour, a Gift Shop, a Lavender Farm, and ever present views of majestic Mount Roland.

Dooleys Trail

Dooley’s Trail runs along the Wilmot River from Alma Reserve to Spellmans Reserve at Castra. It follows the original track carved out by James Dooley in the 1850?s who sought to link Forth to the mines along the river to Gad Hill, Black Bluff and beyond. A loop track has now been created to allow for a return journey with low water crossings marked along the route.

Forth Falls

The moderate walk to Forth Falls, about 3km from Wilmot, is through native bush and starts at the Garden Cafe. The walk takes 30 minutes to the Lower Falls and 40 minutes to the Upper Falls, returning via the cafe. The Forth Falls walking track forms part of the Tasmanian Trails network. The moderate walk is through temperate forest with views over Lake Barrington and goes along to Quoll Point. The walk takes about 30 minutes.
Location: the walk to the falls starts near the visitor centre just inside the Cradle Mountain National Park, 3km from Wilmot.