Sassafras is a locality and small rural community in the local government areas of Latrobe and

Meander Valley Meander Valley Council is a local government body in northern Tasmania. It covers the western outskirts of Launceston, and further westward along the Meander River. Meander Valley Council is classified as a rural local government area and ...

, in the Launceston and North-west and west regions of

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

. It is located about inland from the town of Devonport. The Mersey River forms part of its western boundary, and the Bass Highway passes through from south to north-west. The

2016 census Sixteen or 16 may refer to: *16 (number), the natural number following 15 and preceding 17 *one of the years 16 BC, AD 16, 1916, 2016 Films * ''Pathinaaru'' or ''Sixteen'', a 2010 Tamil film * ''Sixteen'' (1943 film), a 1943 Argentine film dir ...

determined a population of 347 for the state suburb of Sassafras.

History

European settlement came to the Sassafras district in the 1850s. The land was covered by almost impervious scrub, and it had to be cleared before farming could begin. An interdenominational chapel was opened on the 1st of January 1865 by Henry Rockliff. It was built on his own property Skelbrook. A Wesleyan Church was opened in 1876 near there. Schooling was first conducted in a 'hut', then in the chapel. The first public school was either opened in 1871 or five years after 1865. The area during this time had a blacksmith, wheelwright, bootmaker, flour mill, butcher, post office and police station. The property of Skelbrook is still owned by the Rockliff family (as of 2018) and produces Potatoes, poppies, beans, peas, broad beans, baby carrots and wheat.

Notable Landmarks

Kenny Kennebec, 'The Big Spud' Sassafras Baptist Church. Nichols Poultry.

Road infrastructure

Four shielded minor roads terminate at the Bass Highway in Sassafras. The C153 route (Native Plains Road) runs south from the north-western end to . The C704 route (Oppenheims Road) runs north and east from the northern extremity to , and from there provides access to many localities, including . The C706 route (East Sassafras Road) runs east within Sassafras and then north to Harford, while the C713 route (Chapel Road) runs north from the centre to Harford.

Notable people

Arthur Cutts Arthur Thomas Cutts (20 March 1879 – 12 September 1967) was an Australian politician. He was born in Sassafras. In 1937 he was elected to the Tasmanian Legislative Council as the independent member for Tamar. He served until his retir ...

, Australian politician *

George Pullen George Pullen may refer to: * George Pullen (politician) George Gerald Pullen (15 July 1873 – 14 June 1953) was an Australian politician. He was born in Sassafras, Tasmania. In 1912 he was elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly as a L ...

, Australian politician * Jeremy Rockliff, Australian politician *

Thornton Rockliffe Thornton Rockliffe (5 July 1887 – 18 March 1961) was an Australian cricketer. He played one first-class match for Tasmania in 1909/10. See also * List of Tasmanian representative cricketers This is a list of cricket players who have ...

, Australian cricketer *

Michael Adye Smith Michael Adye Smith (30 January 1886 – 5 June 1965) was an Australian politician. He was born in Sassafras in Tasmania. In 1944 he was elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly as a Labor member for Darwin in a recount following the resig ...

, Australian politician

References

External links

Tasmanian Food and Wine Conservatory, SassafrasBlackheart Sassafras
{{Authority control Localities of Latrobe Council Localities of Meander Valley Council Towns in Tasmania