| BEACONSFIELD - TASMANIA - 7270 | ||||
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 Main Street of Beaconsfield. |
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Population: 1,850 Elevation: 15m Latitude: -41.12.05 Longitude: 146.49.00 Location: 245km north of Hobart, 45 north of Launceston Highway:West Tamar Hwy. Nearest Major Town:Launceston Nearest Airport:Launceston Touring Area:Tamar Valley |
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 The mine at Beaconsfield. |
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Originally named Cabbage Tree Hill, Beaconsfield was the centre of a gold rush between 1877 and 1914. Built in 1904 the Tasmanian Gold Mine extracted a massive $400 million (at todays value) of precious gold before closing in 1914. Gold was discovered at Beaconsfield in 1869 and the town thrived for more than 40 years until water seepage led to the closure of the mine. Re-opened, it became the focus of world wide interest when two miners were trapped underground after a cave-in in April, 2006. The miners were trapped for 14 days and were safely rescued although a companion perished in the fall. After a safety assessment, the mine reopened and now operates as a major employer in the town. Relics of the mining dominate the town and the museum outlines the history of mining in Tasmania and particularly, Beaconsfield. What to See and Do: Visit old mine buildings, the Grubb Shaft Museum, a replica of a miners abode and a school of 100 years ago, plus a memorial at nearby York Town commemorating the first European settlement in 1804. Visit the Tamar Court Restaurant at Exeter where wine from nine West Tamar Wineries are available for tasting or purchase. Tours to those wineries can also be arranged, as well as St. Matthias and Marian Vineyards. Tourist Information Centre at Exeter. PLACES OF INTEREST:
A suggested winery tour of the Tamar Valley in these pages includes some 15-20 wineries located on both sides of the river with a map. Click here for a suggested tour with details. Live links on the above list will provide more information on the property listed in a pop-up page. ACCOMMODATION & SERVICES:
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