Melaleuca is a remote locality (former settlement) in the

south-west The points of the compass are a set of horizontal, radially arrayed compass directions (or azimuths) used in navigation and cartography. A compass rose is primarily composed of four cardinal directions—north, east, south, and west—each se ...

area of

Tasmania ) , nickname = , image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdi ...

, Australia. Access is only by sea via

Port Davey Port Davey is an oceanic inlet located in the south west region of Tasmania, Australia. Port Davey was named in honour of Thomas Davey, a former Governor of Tasmania. Port Davey is contained within the Port Davey/Bathurst Harbour Marine Natu ...

, by air or by foot. The locality now consists of a couple of buildings and a bird hide where the

orange-bellied parrot The orange-bellied parrot (''Neophema chrysogaster'') is a small parrot endemic to southern Australia, and one of only three species of parrot that migrate. It was described by John Latham in 1790. A small parrot around long, it exhibits sex ...

can be viewed, and is a tourist attraction. Melaleuca has a gravel airstrip which is used by small aircraft which service

hiking Hiking is a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails or footpaths in the countryside. Walking for pleasure developed in Europe during the eighteenth century.AMATO, JOSEPH A. "Mind over Foot: Romantic Walking and Rambling." In ''On Foot: A Histor ...

needs and which bring tourists to the remote

South West Wilderness The South West Wilderness of Tasmania, Australia is a remote and inaccessible region of South West Tasmania containing unspoilt scenery, rugged peaks, wild rivers, unique flora and fauna, and a long and rugged coastline. Parts of the wilderness ...

region of the state. Two hiking trails meet at Melaleuca: the

Port Davey Track The Port Davey Track, officially the Old Port Davey Track, is a bushwalking track located in the south western region of Tasmania, Australia. The track traverses remote wilderness within the Southwest National Park, part of the Tasmanian Wilde ...

and the

South Coast Track The South Coast Track is a bushwalking track located in the South Coast region of Tasmania, Australia. The track traverses remote wilderness within the Southwest National Park, part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Site, and is manage ...

. From the 1930s until the area gained

World Heritage A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for ...

status, Melaleuca had been the location leased for mining ventures.King, C.D. and Fenton, J. ''Small Mining Settlements''; pp. 48-53 in Gee, Helen and Fenton, Janet (eds) (1978)

The South West Book ''The South West Book - A Tasmanian Wilderness'' is a book published by the Australian Conservation Foundation in 1978 during concern following the damming of Lake Pedder in Tasmania. It was edited by Helen Gee and Janet Fenton with assistance ...

: A Tasmanian Wilderness. Hawthorn, Vic: Australian Conservation Foundation. ; later edition, same title (1983) Sydney, NSW: William Collins Pty. Ltd., ; also Thwaites, J.B., ''King of the South-West'' (Jack King, tin miner at Melaleuca) pp. 57-60; also Mattingley, C. ''King of the Wilderness'' (2001)

Deny King

From 1936 until his death in 1991, Melaleuca was home to tin miner Deny King who discovered the extinct shrub, '' Banksia kingii'' as well as a species of eyebright, '' Euphrasia kingii'' and the endangered King's lomatia or King's holly, '' Lomatia tasmanica''. King also built the walkers' accommodation and airstrip and in 1975 was made a Member of the

Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, on the advice of the Australian Gov ...

for his services to the community. =Climate=

References

{{SouthWestTasmania , state=autocollapse South West Tasmania Ghost towns in Tasmania