Pillinger is an abandoned port and townsite in Kelly Basin, on the
south eastern side of Macquarie Harbour on the West Coast of Tasmania.
Named after an early Tasmanian family, some of whom were politicians,
the town came into being in 1897 as the port for the shipment of ore
from James Crotty’s North Mount Lyell mine. Trains on the North
Mount Lyell Railway took ore to the smelters at Crotty and on to
Pillinger.
East Pillinger was a company town, and West Pillinger was the
neighbouring government town. East Pillinger had three wharves, a
sawmill, brickworks and ore crusher. West Pillinger had stores, hotels
and a police station. Kelly’s Basin Post Office opened on 15 July
1898, was renamed Pillinger in 1899 and closed in 1924. Pillinger was
the name of an old Tasmanian family, some of whom were politicians.
When the Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company took over the North
Mount Lyell operations, Strahan was chosen over East Pillinger as the
preferred port. Most of the town and port facilities were either
removed and utilised elsewhere, or left to rot. Following the cessation
of rail services, only one shop and one hotel stayed open. Only two
families remained. The last of these – the Crossans – left
in 1943.
Today, most of the town has been reclaimed by the forest. There are
however some substantial and fascinating relics awaiting discover, and
the walk from the Bird River Bridge to East Pillinger is highly
recommended.
Where Is it?
South of Strahan, on the south eastern side of Macquarie Harbour on
the West Coast of Tasmania. From Queenstown drive south along the
sealed Mt Jukes Road for 29 km. At this point the road surface changes
to gravel and it becomes the Kelly Basin Road. Follow the Kelly Basin
Road for 11 km to the Bird River Bridge turnoff. It will take
approximately one hour to travel from Queenstown to this point.
Those travelling in 2WD vehicles will need to park at the turnoff and
walk the final five kilometres (allow about an hour) along the Kelly
Basin Road to the Bird River Bridge. The road follows the alignment of
the railway line and so it provides level, easy walking although it can
be wet underfoot. Those travelling in 4WD vehicles can drive this final
section of Kelly Basin Road. The track is quite narrow in parts so
please travel slowly and watch for other vehicles.
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