Huon Valley

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Huon Valley
Apple Valley, Golden Valley, Huon
Huon river tasmania in summer.JPG
Huon River in summer, located on the valley floor.
Relief Map of Tasmania.png
Red pog.svg
Huon Valley
Location of the Huon Valley in Tasmania
Area5,500 km2 (2,100 sq mi)
Geography
Location Tasmania, Australia
Population centers Huonville, Geeveston, Franklin, Cygnet, Southport
Coordinates 43°07′S147°10′E / 43.12°S 147.16°E / -43.12; 147.16  
Rivers Huon River, Arve River

The Huon Valley, or simply the Huon, [1] is a valley and geographic area located in southern Tasmania, Australia. The largest town is Huonville, with other smaller towns spread across the area. It includes Australia's most southern permanent settlement at Southport. The Huon Valley Council area had a population of 15,140 in 2011. [2] The Huon Valley is known for its apple growing industry and its role in Tasmania’s aquaculture and tourism sectors.

Contents

Geography

The Huon Valley is situated in the southern part of Tasmania, covering an area of approximately 5,500 km2 (2,100 sq mi). The valley is dominated by the Huon River, which flows through its centre and supports a variety of agricultural activities. The Arve River, a tributary of the Huon, also flows through the valley. The valley is surrounded by rolling hills, forests, and mountains, including parts of the Southwest National Park, making it a scenic and ecologically important region.

The Huon Valley includes several small townships, the largest being Huonville, which serves as the central hub for commerce and services. Other notable towns include Geeveston, a gateway to the Tahune Airwalk, and Cygnet, known for its arts and cultural scene.

History

The Huon Valley was inhabited by the Mouheneenner, Nuenonne, Mellukerdee, and Lyluequonny peoples prior to European settlement. [3] The valley was first settled by Europeans in the early 1820s. Thomas Judd planted the first apple trees in 1843, marking the beginning of the region’s apple-growing industry. Other settlers, such as William Geeves, after whom Geeveston is named, followed suit, contributing to the development of the valley’s agricultural landscape. [4]

The Huon Valley gained fame as Tasmania's "Apple Valley" due to its prolific apple production. In the mid-20th century, it was one of the most important apple-producing areas in Australia, with much of its produce exported internationally. While apple production has declined, it remains a key industry, along with cherry, berry, and stone fruit farming.

Economy

The Huon Valley has a diverse economy, with major industries including agriculture, aquaculture, forestry, and tourism. Agriculture, particularly apple growing, remains central to the valley’s identity, with 83% of Tasmanian apples originating from the area. [5]

The valley is also home to Tasmania’s largest salmon farming operations, with Huon Aquaculture and Tassal having significant facilities in the region. Salmon farming is a major economic contributor, though it has also raised environmental concerns in recent years. [6]

The tourism industry is growing, with visitors attracted to the natural beauty of the region, the Tahune Airwalk, and the Huon River. Eco-tourism activities such as hiking, river cruises, and wildlife tours are becoming increasingly popular. Approximately 25% of Tasmania's tourists visit the Huon Valley. [7]

In 2020, the gross regional product of the Huon Valley was estimated at $0.71 billion, with the largest employment sectors being agriculture, forestry, aquaculture, healthcare, and retail. [8]

Etymology

The Huon Valley, along with its local government authority, several towns, the Huon River, and the Huon Pine, were named after Jean-Michel Huon de Kermadec, a French Navy officer and explorer who visited Tasmania as part of Bruni d'Entrecasteaux's expedition in the 1790s. [9]

Government

The Huon Valley is governed by the Huon Valley Council, which was formed in 1993 through the merger of the municipalities of Port Cygnet, Esperance, and Huon. The council administers the region, including overseeing local services and planning. [10]

The valley falls within the Commonwealth Division of Franklin and the Tasmanian House of Assembly State Division of Franklin. [11]

Media

The Huon Valley is served by several local media outlets. The Huon News is a weekly newspaper providing news and events coverage, while Cygnet & Channel Classifieds is a small newsletter serving local communities. The valley is also home to radio stations such as Pulse FM Kingborough and Huon and Huon & Kingston FM, a community radio station based in Geeveston. Historically, the region was served by the Huon Times , which ceased publication in 1942.

See also

Related Research Articles

Councils of Tasmania are the 29 administrative districts of the Australian state of Tasmania. Local government areas (LGAs), more generally known as councils, are the tier of government responsible for the management of local duties such as road maintenance, town planning and waste management.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Huon Valley Council</span> Local government area in Tasmania, Australia

Huon Valley Council is a local government body in Tasmania, covering most of the south of the state. Huon Valley is classified as a rural local government area and has a population of 17,219, towns and localities of the region include Cygnet, Dover, Franklin, Geeveston, Southport and the largest principal town, Huonville.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Huonville</span> Town in Tasmania, Australia

HuonvilleHYOO-on-vil is a town located on the banks of the Huon River in the Huon Valley, in the south-east of Tasmania, Australia. It serves as the administrative centre of the Huon Valley Council and is the largest town in the Huon Valley region. Situated approximately 38 kilometres south of the state capital, Hobart, Huonville acts as a gateway to Tasmania’s wilderness areas and the Southwest National Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Huon River</span> River in Tasmania, Australia

The Huon River is a perennial river located in the south-west and south-east regions of Tasmania, Australia. At 174 kilometres (108 mi) in length, the Huon River is the fifth-longest in the state, with its course flowing east through the fertile Huon Valley and emptying into the D'Entrecasteaux Channel, before flowing into the Tasman Sea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electoral division of Huon</span> Tasmanian Legislative Council electoral division

The Electoral division of Huon is one of the 15 electoral divisions in the Tasmanian Legislative Council. It was created in 1999, however similar electorates of this name have existed since 1900, and members of the Tasmanian upper house for this region appear to have been elected since 1856.

CygnetSIG-nət is a town in the Huon Valley, south of Huonville, Tasmania.

Cradoc is a rural residential locality in the local government area of Huon Valley in the South-east region of Tasmania. It is located about 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) south-west of the town of Huonville. The 2016 census has a population of 445 for the state suburb of Cradoc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Franklin, Tasmania</span> Town in Tasmania, Australia

Franklin is a small township on the western side of the Huon River in the south-east of Tasmania, between Huonville and Geeveston. At the 2021 census, Franklin had a population of 444.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geeveston</span> Town in Tasmania, Australia

Geeveston is a small town in the south of Tasmania in Australia near the Huon River, 62 km (39 mi) south west of Hobart, making it Australia's most southerly administrative centre. The town takes its name from William Geeves, an English settler who was given a land grant by Lady Jane Franklin in the area then known as Lightwood Bottom. The settlement Geeves set up was renamed Geeves Town in 1861, and the name eventually became Geeveston. Geeveston is for local government purposes included in the area of the Huon Valley Council and is part of the division of Franklin for both Australian House of Representatives and Tasmanian House of Assembly electoral purposes.

The electoral district of Kingborough was an electoral district of the Tasmanian House of Assembly. It was based in the region to the immediate south of Tasmania's capital city, Hobart, and included the Huon Valley towns of Cygnet, Huonville, Kettering, Margate and Sandfly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tahune AirWalk</span> Elevated walking track in Tasmania, Australia

The Tahune AirWalk is a steel canopy walkway located in the Tahune Forest area 29 km from Geeveston and sits over the banks of the Huon River in the Huon Valley of southern Tasmania, Australia.

Mountain River is a rural locality in the local government area (LGA) of Huon Valley in the South-east LGA region of Tasmania. The locality is about 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) north-east of the town of Huonville. The 2016 census recorded a population of 559 for the state suburb of Mountain River. The locality increasingly is a lifestyle destination, being only about 30 minutes south of the Tasmanian capital Hobart by road.

Grove is a rural locality in the local government area (LGA) of Huon Valley in the South-east region of Tasmania, Australia. The locality is 35 km southwest of Hobart and 7 km north-east of the town of Huonville. As a rural locality, there are no urban settlements in Grove. The 2016 census does not provide a population for the locality of Grove. It covers an area of approximately 30.8 km². The postcode for Grove is 7109.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ranelagh, Tasmania</span> Suburb of Huon Valley Council, Tasmania, Australia

Ranelagh is a township in the Huon Valley of Tasmania, Australia. It is a satellite town of Huonville, to which it is adjacent, and is a former agricultural area and now a tourist town and residence for workers who commute to other areas for work. At the 2011 census, Ranelagh had 1,027 people.

Lower Wattle Grove is a rural locality in the local government area of Huon Valley in the South-east region of Tasmania. It is located about 19 kilometres (12 mi) south-west of the town of Huonville. The 2016 census has a population of 89 for the state suburb of Lower Wattle Grove.

Wattle Grove is a rural locality in the local government area of Huon Valley in the South-east region of Tasmania. It is located about 21 kilometres (13 mi) south-west of the town of Huonville. The 2016 census has a population of 117 for the state suburb of Wattle Grove.

Abels Bay is a rural locality in the local government area (LGA) of Huon Valley in the South-east LGA region of Tasmania. The locality is about 32 kilometres (20 mi) south of the town of Huonville. The 2021 census recorded a population of 127 for Abels Bay.

Petcheys Bay is a rural locality in the local government area (LGA) of Huon Valley in the South-east LGA region of Tasmania. The locality is about 26 kilometres (16 mi) south of the town of Huonville. The 2021 census recorded a population of 194 for the locality of Petcheys Bay.

Raminea is a rural locality in the local government area (LGA) of Huon Valley in the South-east LGA region of Tasmania. The locality is about 47 kilometres (29 mi) south of the town of Huonville. The 2016 census recorded a population of 47 for the state suburb of Raminea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tree Pull Scheme</span> Government initiative to reduce apple production in Tasmania

The Tree Pull Scheme was a government initiative implemented in Tasmania, Australia, during the 1970s aimed at reducing the production of apples, specifically to address an oversupply in the market. The scheme was established in response to significant economic and market pressures on the apple industry, which had once been one of Tasmania's most profitable agricultural sectors. The Tree Pull Scheme was particularly impactful in regions such as the Huon Valley, historically known as the "Apple Valley" of Tasmania.

References

  1. ↑ Brooks, comp. by Maureen; Centre, Joan Ritchie at the Australian National Dictionary (1995). Oxford Tassie terms: a glossary of Tasmanian words. Melbourne [u.a.]: Oxford Univ. Pr. ISBN   0195538129.
  2. ↑ "2011 Census QuickStats - Huon Valley (M)". censusdata.abs.gov.au. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  3. ↑ "Heritage of the Huon Valley" (PDF). Huon Valley Council. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  4. ↑ "THE WONDERFUL HUON". The Mercury . Hobart, Tasmania. 12 March 1930. p. 8. Retrieved 23 March 2015– via National Library of Australia.
  5. ↑ "Fruit Growers Tasmania – INDUSTRY INFORMATION". Fruit Growers Tasmania Inc. Archived from the original on 21 August 2011. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  6. ↑ "How Huon Aquaculture netted a fortune from salmon". Financial Review. 17 October 2014. Archived from the original on 4 January 2015. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  7. ↑ "Huon Valley Regional Tourism Strategy 2009 – 2012" (PDF). Huon Valley Council. Huon Valley Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  8. ↑ "Huon Valley Council Area". economy.id.com.au. State Growth Tasmania. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  9. ↑ "Huon". electoral.tas.gov.au. Electoral Council of Tasmania. Archived from the original on 21 March 2015. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  10. ↑ "ESPERANCE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL". Archives Tasmania. Archives Tasmania. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  11. ↑ "TASMANIAN HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY DIVISIONS" (PDF). Electoral Commission of Tasmania. Electoral Commission of Tasmania. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
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