York Town, Tasmania

York Town Tasmania
York Town
Coordinates	41°9′S 146°46′E
Population	72 (2016 census)[1]
Location	7 km (4 mi) NW of Beaconsfield
LGA(s)	West Tamar, Latrobe
Region	Launceston, North-west and west
State electorate(s)	Bass, Braddon
Federal division(s)	Bass, Braddon
Localities around York Town: Bakers Beach Badger Head Clarence Point Bakers Beach York Town Tamar River, Beauty Point Beaconsfield Beaconsfield Beaconsfield

York Town is a rural locality in the local government areas (LGA) of West Tamar and Latrobe in the Launceston and North-west and west LGA regions of Tasmania. The locality is about 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) north-west of the town of Beaconsfield. The 2016 census has a population of 72 for the state suburb of York Town.[1] It was the first attempt to establish a British presence in northern Tasmania, in 1804.[2] It was a "bustling village" until 1808.[3]

History

York Town was gazetted as a locality in 1967.[4]

All the original buildings have now gone, but the landscape and natural setting remain largely unchanged. The site is preserved as the York Town Historic Site and provided with interpretive signage.[3]

Extensive deposites of rich iron ore were discovered in the nearby hills by the settlers during the time of the York Town settlement.[5] Later - in the 1870s - these iron deposits led to the establishment of a short-lived iron mining and smelting industry on the western side of the Tamar estuary at Redbill Point and at Ilfracombe (now known as Beauty Point).[6]

Geography

The waters of the west arm of the Tamar River estuary form most of the eastern boundary.[7]

Road infrastructure

Greens Beach Road (Route A7) passes through from south-east to north-east. Route C741 (Bowens Road) starts at an intersection with A7 and runs south-west until it exits.[4][8]

References

1. "2016 Census Quick Stats York Town (Tas.)". quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 23 October 2017. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
2. "westtamarhs.com - Early History". westtamarhs.com. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
3. "York Town". West Tamar Council. Archived from the original on 22 April 2011. Retrieved 18 April 2011.
4. "Placenames Tasmania – York Town". Placenames Tasmania. Select “Search”, enter "5339A", click “Search”, select row, map is displayed, click “Details”. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
5. "WEST TAMAR IRON FORMATION". Launceston Examiner (Tas. : 1842 - 1899). 28 September 1866. p. 2. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
6. Morris-Nunn, Miranda; Tassel, C. B. (1984). "TAMAR VALLEY INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE - a survey" (PDF). Queen Victoria Museum. pp. 16–53.
7. "York Town, Tasmania" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
8. "Tasmanian Road Route Codes" (PDF). Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water & Environment. May 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 August 2017. Retrieved 13 September 2020.