South West Tasmania is a

region In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as zones, lands or territories, are areas that are broadly divided by physical characteristics ( physical geography), human impact characteristics ( human geography), and the interaction of humanity an ...

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

that has evoked curiosity as to its resources over the duration of European presence on the island. The more recent is the consideration as a potential area of resources for development and its consideration as

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 ...

wilderness. The most notable controversies occurring in the region in the late twentieth century was the flooding of

Lake Pedder Lake Pedder, once a glacial outwash lake, is a man-made impoundment and diversion lake located in the southwest of Tasmania, Australia. In addition to its natural catchment from the Frankland Range, the lake is formed by the 1972 damming of the ...

and the proposed damming of the Franklin River by the

Franklin Dam The Franklin Dam or Gordon-below-Franklin Dam project was a proposed dam on the Gordon River in Tasmania, Australia, that was never constructed. The movement that eventually led to the project's cancellation became one of the most significant ...

. Southwest is a locality that covers most of the region. The locality (and therefore the region) is in the local government areas of Derwent Valley (29%), Huon Valley (20%), Central Highlands (7%) and West Coast (44%). Its central point, near the encircled locality of

Strathgordon Strathgordon is a rural locality in the local government area (LGA) of Derwent Valley in the South-east LGA region of Tasmania. The locality is about west of the town of New Norfolk. The 2016 census recorded a population of 15 for the state s ...

, is about west of the town of New Norfolk, the administrative centre for the Derwent Valley Council. The 2016 census has a population of 15 for the state suburb of Southwest.

Early surveys

Most early walks through the region were for discovery, or in the case of Thomas Bather Moore was to establish tracks for access. In 1927, a walk through the area between Cox Bight and Bathurst Harbour even included the then governor of the state, Sir James O'Grady, and its intention was a search for geological information.

Locality boundaries

The

Southern Ocean The Southern Ocean, also known as the Antarctic Ocean, comprises the southernmost waters of the World Ocean, generally taken to be south of 60° S latitude and encircling Antarctica. With a size of , it is regarded as the second-smal ...

forms the western and southern boundaries. The locality encircles Strathgordon, and is adjoined by the localities of Macquarie Heads, Strahan, West Coast, Queenstown, Gormanston,

Lake St Clair Lake St. Clair (french: Lac Sainte-Claire) is a freshwater lake that lies between the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Michigan. It was named in 1679 by French Catholic explorers after Saint Clare of Assisi, on whose feast day ...

, Derwent Bridge, Butlers Gorge,

Tarraleah Tarraleah is a rural locality in the local government area (LGA) of Central Highlands in the Central LGA region of Tasmania. The locality is about north-west of the town of Hamilton. The 2016 census has a population of nil for the state sub ...

, Wayatinah, Florentine,

Maydena Maydena is a locality in Tasmania, Australia, alongside the River Tyenna. Maydena is on the Gordon River Road, south west of New Norfolk, through the Bushy Park Hop Fields, turn left at Westerway, past Mount Field National Park and Russell Fal ...

, Styx, Lonnavale,

Geeveston Geeveston is a small town in the south of Tasmania in Australia on the Huon River, south west of Hobart, making it Australia's most southerly administrative centre. The town takes its name from William Geeves, an English settler who was given ...

, Raminea,

Strathblane Strathblane ( gd, Strath Bhlàthain, ) is a village and parish in the registration county of Stirlingshire, situated in the southwestern part of the Stirling council area, in central Scotland. It lies at the foothills of the Campsie Fells and th ...

Hastings Hastings () is a large seaside town and borough in East Sussex on the south coast of England, east to the county town of Lewes and south east of London. The town gives its name to the Battle of Hastings, which took place to the north-west ...

, Lune River, and

Recherche ''Recherche'' ('Research') was a French language daily newspaper published from Chania, Greece.Nomenclature des journaux & revues en langue française du monde entier'. Paris, Les bureaux de l'Argus, 1937. p. 546 The newspaper was founded in 189 ...

Road infrastructure

The A10 route ( Lyell Highway) enters from Derwent Bridge in the north-east and runs generally north-west until it reaches the north-western boundary, where it exits to Queenstown. Route B61 (

Gordon River Road The Gordon River Road, sometimes called the Strathgordon Road, (B61), is a road in the south western region of Tasmania, Australia. The road was built by the Hydro-Electric Commission of Tasmania with funding from the Australian Government ...

) enters from Maydena in the east and runs generally west through Strathgordon to the Gordon Dam, where it ends. Route C607 (

Scotts Peak Dam Road The Scotts Peak Dam Road (Route C607) is the most southerly point of road access into Southwest National Park, Tasmania, Australia. The road was built by the Hydro-Electricity Commission of Tasmania with funding from the Australian Government ...

) starts at an intersection with B61 and runs south and west to Scotts Peak Dam, where it ends.

South West Advisory Committee

Members were Sir George B Cartland, G. J. Foot and A. G. Ogilvie. Submissions were received on its subject area. It made a preliminary report in May 1976, and a final report in August 1978.

South West Tasmania Resources Survey

Following national and international concern over the fate of South West Tasmania, Commonwealth Government funded the survey with the ''States Grants (Nature Conservation Act) Act'' of 1974. Further funding was provided from the ''Environment (Financial Assistance) Act'' of 1977. The South West Tasmania Resources Survey produced 25 Discussion Papers, 22 Working Papers and 20 Occasional papers - including the breakup of the region into river catchments: * Franklin River * Picton River * Huon Weld * Lake Gordon–

* Lower Gordon * Macquarie Harbour * King River * Mackintosh-Murchison * Wanderer and Giblin *

Davey River The Davey River is a perennial river located in the south-west region of Tasmania, Australia. Course and features The Davey River rises on the western slopes of the Frankland Range, below Coronation Peak, and flows generally south by west th ...

* Bathurst Harbour * New River and

South Coast South Coast is a name often given to coastal areas to the south of a geographical region or major metropolitan area. Geographical Australia *South Coast (New South Wales), the coast of New South Wales, Australia, south of Sydney * South Coast (Q ...

National inventory

Ten years after the South West Resources survey the Australia Heritage Commission published an inventory for the South West.R.G. Lesslie, B.G. Mackey, J. Shulmeister (1988) ''National wilderness inventory : Stage II, wilderness quality in Tasmania'' Canberra : Australian Heritage Commission "A Report to the Australian Heritage Commission'.

Early surveys

Locality boundaries

Road infrastructure

South West Advisory Committee

South West Tasmania Resources Survey

National inventory

See also

References

Further reading