Welcome to Dorset, North East Tasmania

Dorset covers 3,200 square kilometres with a population of around 7,300. Located in the North East of Tasmania, Dorset is approximately a one hour drive from the northern regional ‘capital’ of Launceston. It is bordered to the west by George Town Council, to the south by Launceston City Council and to the east by Break’O’Day Council.

Tasmania Dorset Dorset Council Logo

The main service hub and seat of Local Government for the region is Scottsdale, with the unique nearby coastal town of Bridport a popular holiday destination.

Other towns include Branxholm, Derby, Winnaleah, Ringarooma, Legerwood, Gladstone, Herrick, Tomahawk and Pioneer.

Tasmania’s North East has an ancient and rich history incorporating over 40,000 years of continuous habitation and significant aboriginal heritage.

Gold and tin mining were the basis of local industry in the early part of last century. This resulted in a large influx of Chinese immigrants to work predominantly as tribute miners. A wealth of information and attractions relating to this vibrant and colourful era is to be found along the ‘Trail of the Tin Dragon’; a journey that traverses the North East of Tasmania between Launceston, Northern Tasmania’s major city, and St Helens on the stunningly beautiful East Coast; a journey of experiences harkening back to the heady days of North East Tasmania’s Tin Rush, the transient nature of human endeavour and of nature’s awesome power and relentlessness. Set among a richly diverse landscape, from rolling farmlands to pristine forests and some of the cleanest freshest air to be found, discover the stories of the ‘Celestial Soujouners’, the trials of transport on roads ‘wet enough to bog a duck’, the hard won wealth and the human despair. Find out more at www.trailofthetindragon.com

Early European settlement also saw the emergence of the timber and farming industries. Although both sectors are in transition, they are likely to remain among the most important sectors of the local economy.

One of our outstanding qualities is the spectacular diversity of landforms and ecosystems, including coastal geomorphology with extensive complex dunes, rolling rural landscapes, precipitous mountains, world heritage coastal wetlands and a broad range of forest types.

The district is well endowed with natural resources including large areas of volcanic soils of extraordinarily high fertility, native and plantation forests, abundant but relatively underdeveloped water resources and significant underdeveloped coastal resources.

To read or download a copy of Dorset Council’s Prospectus please follow the link

http://www.dorset.tas.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/Dorset%20Prostpectus.pdf