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The Cataract Gorge is a river gorge in Launceston,
Cataract Gorge boat trip
leaving from Home Point Parade. It is found at the lower section of the
A pathway, known as the King’s Bridge-Cataract Walk, and originally built by volunteers in the 1890s, runs along the north bank of the Cataract Gorge, and is a popular tourist destination. The original
Other activities include boat cruise through the accessible section of river, cable hang gliding experience that soars for 200 metres from a cliff top and rock climbing.
Prior to the development of the Trevallyn Dam there were three lesser basins upstream of the "First Basin", with the second and third still visible on a map, while the fourth is flooded by Lake Trevallyn.
At the lower end of the gorge, the South Esk spills into the
Image:Cataract_Gorge.jpg, Picture of Cataract Gorge taken from the suspension bridge
File:Gorge in Flood.jpg,
Original video of the Cataract Gorge in flood, August 2009
Photographs of Cataract Gorge - 1915
{{Launceston landmarks Canyons and gorges of Australia Launceston, Tasmania Tourist attractions in Tasmania Tasmanian Heritage Register
Tasmania
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, nickname =
, image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdi ...
, Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
, approximately 1.5 km from the city centre. It is one of the region's premier tourist attractions with Cataract Gorge boat trip
leaving from Home Point Parade. It is found at the lower section of the
South Esk River
The South Esk River, the longest river in Tasmania, is a major perennial river located in the northern region of Tasmania, Australia.
Location and features
The South Esk springs from the eastern foothills of the Ben Lomond plateau near Mathinn ...
.
History
The earliest known European visitor to the site was William Collins, who discovered its entrance in 1804.
A pathway, known as the King’s Bridge-Cataract Walk, and originally built by volunteers in the 1890s, runs along the north bank of the Cataract Gorge, and is a popular tourist destination. The original toll house
A tollhouse or toll house is a building with accommodation for a toll collector, beside a tollgate on a toll road, canal, or toll bridge.
History
Many tollhouses were built by turnpike trusts in England, Wales and Scotland during the 18th and ...
at which pedestrians had to pay to enter the walk can still be seen near King's Bridge on the northern edge of the gorge.
The chairlift
An elevated passenger ropeway, or chairlift, is a type of aerial lift, which consists of a continuously circulating steel wire rope loop strung between two end terminals and usually over intermediate towers, carrying a series of chairs. They ...
is the longest single-span chairlift in the world, with the longest span being . The chairlift, built in 1972, has a total span of .
In the past, there was a power station at Duck Reach
Duck Reach Power Station was the first publicly owned hydro-electric plant in the Southern Hemisphere, and provided the Tasmanian city of Launceston with hydro-electric power from its construction in 1895 to its closure in 1955.
Construction
...
, about from a suspension bridge which was built in 1904. It was washed away in the floods of 1929, rebuilt and then decommissioned when the Trevallyn Dam
The Trevallyn Dam is a dam on the South Esk River in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia and is used to provide water for hydroelectricity. The dam was completed in 1955 as part of the Trevallyn Hydro Electric Scheme and now holds the waters of Lake ...
was finished in 1955. The building is now an interpretive museum.
Features
The First Basin on the southern side features aswimming pool
A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, paddling pool, or simply pool, is a structure designed to hold water to enable Human swimming, swimming or other leisure activities. Pools can be built into the ground (in-ground pools) or built ...
, the aforementioned chairlift
An elevated passenger ropeway, or chairlift, is a type of aerial lift, which consists of a continuously circulating steel wire rope loop strung between two end terminals and usually over intermediate towers, carrying a series of chairs. They ...
, two café
A coffeehouse, coffee shop, or café is an establishment that primarily serves coffee of various types, notably espresso, latte, and cappuccino. Some coffeehouses may serve cold drinks, such as iced coffee and iced tea, as well as other non-ca ...
s, a funicular
A funicular (, , ) is a type of cable railway system that connects points along a railway track laid on a steep slope. The system is characterized by two counterbalanced carriages (also called cars or trains) permanently attached to opposite en ...
railway and an open area surrounded by bushland. At the bottom of the funicular railways is a small cottage
A cottage, during Feudalism in England, England's feudal period, was the holding by a cottager (known as a Cotter (farmer), cotter or ''bordar'') of a small house with enough garden to feed a family and in return for the cottage, the cottager ...
which contains photographs and paintings of the basin and downriver Gorge. The basin itself has created many of myths about its depth: some locals say it is a bottomless pit; a volcanic plug; or that a submarine sent in to find its bottom during the 1960s ran out cable before accomplishing this feat. In fact, the basin was formed by erosion at the intersection of two faults - the Basin Road Fault and an un-named fault approximately at right angles which the South Esk is following. Where the two faults meet, the Dolerite rock is badly shattered and hence more easily eroded, giving rise to the formation of the basin.
Measurements in 2016 found the maximum depth is .
The northern side, named the Cliff Grounds, is a landscaped Victorian garden containing ferns, exotic plants and peacocks. It is now provided with facilities for visitors.
Further upstream is the historic Duck Reach Power Station, now an Interpretation Centre. The Launceston City Council originally commissioned the Power Station in 1893, making it the largest hydro-electric scheme of its day. By 1895 it was lighting the city.
Other activities include boat cruise through the accessible section of river, cable hang gliding experience that soars for 200 metres from a cliff top and rock climbing.
Prior to the development of the Trevallyn Dam there were three lesser basins upstream of the "First Basin", with the second and third still visible on a map, while the fourth is flooded by Lake Trevallyn.
At the lower end of the gorge, the South Esk spills into the Tamar River
The Tamar River, officially kanamaluka / River Tamar, is a estuary located in northern Tasmania, Australia. Despite being called a river, the waterway is a brackish and tidal estuary over its entire length.
Location and features
Formed by the ...
going under King's Bridge and Paterson Bridge which was built more recently. King's Bridge was the only bridge leading north out of the city for nearly 100 years. The Paterson Bridge was officially opened on November 2nd, 1973.
This section of river is a well recognised section of whitewater. It provides world class kayaking. An inaugural race is usually scheduled in late January, thanks to Hydro Tasmania.
Gallery
South Esk River
The South Esk River, the longest river in Tasmania, is a major perennial river located in the northern region of Tasmania, Australia.
Location and features
The South Esk springs from the eastern foothills of the Ben Lomond plateau near Mathinn ...
in flood at the Gorge
File:Gorge Flood 2009.JPG, South Esk River
The South Esk River, the longest river in Tasmania, is a major perennial river located in the northern region of Tasmania, Australia.
Location and features
The South Esk springs from the eastern foothills of the Ben Lomond plateau near Mathinn ...
in flood at the Gorge, August 2009
File:Water Park in Launceston Tasmania.JPG, View of first Basin
File:Postcard, King's Bridge, Launceston, Tasmania, 1906.jpg, King's Bridge
File:View Of Cataract Gorge.jpg, View of Cataract Gorge
References
Further reading
*External links
*Original video of the Cataract Gorge in flood, August 2009
Photographs of Cataract Gorge - 1915
{{Launceston landmarks Canyons and gorges of Australia Launceston, Tasmania Tourist attractions in Tasmania Tasmanian Heritage Register