Zeehan - West Coast, Tasmania.
Once known as “Silver City” the history of Zeehan is the history of the richest mineral strike on Tasmania’s west coast.
Located 150 kilometres south-west of Burnie and 50 kilometres north of Strahan, Mt Zeehan was first sighted by Abel Tasman in 1642 and named after his Brigantine “ZEEHAN” by Bass and Flinders during their circumnavigation of Tasmania in 1798.
In 1871 deposits of tin were found at nearby Mount Bischoff and a decade later, in 1881, silver and lead were discovered sparking a rush on the area. But the boom was short-lived and by 1914 mining had ceased and Zeehan slipped into decline. From a population of about 10000 at the peak of the boom it has dwindled to around 900 today.
At its peak Zeehan was the cultural centre for the west coast and, befitting that title, undertook construction of the Gaiety Theatre, a beautifully ornate structure with seating for 1000 patrons and said to have hosted a performance by the great Dame Nellie Melba.
Surrounded by rugged natural beauty and with its boom-time history Zeehan is high on the list of Tasmania’s tourist hot-spots with an estimated 25000 visitors per year taking in highlights such as the West Coast Pioneers Museum, the restored Gaiety Theatre and nearby Montezuma Falls.
Access to the desolate west-coast beaches is possible and dune buggies are a popular way to experience the roaring forties on the wind-swept stretch between Pieman Heads and Granville Harbour.
Nearby Lake Pieman is a magnet for trout fisherman and Granville Harbour a great source of fresh Crayfish.
This Tassie Local snapshot was produced by Footloose Photographic & Media Solutions
Things to see around - Zeehan
Zeehan - West Coast, Tasmania
