| Southport Tasmania | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 View of coast of the township | |||||||||
  Southport Location in Tasmania | |||||||||
| Coordinates | 43°25′50″S146°58′30″E / 43.43056°S 146.97500°E | ||||||||
| Population | 149 (2021 census) [1] | ||||||||
| Established | 1837 | ||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 7109 | ||||||||
| LGA(s) | Huon Valley Council | ||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Franklin | ||||||||
| Federal division(s) | Franklin | ||||||||
| |||||||||
Southport is a small township in far southern Tasmania; the southernmost township in Australia, Cockle Creek, is located further south, but it is not a gazetted town. The town had a population of 149 in 2021. [2] It was settled in 1837 and grew to be the largest town south of Hobart; but a declining shipping industry slowly led to the town's shrinking population, and much of it has been destroyed by fire. [3] Shore-based whaling took place at Southport in the 19th century. [4]
