Devonport ( ; pirinilaplu/

palawa kani Palawa kani is a constructed language created by the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre as a composite Tasmanian languages, Tasmanian language, based on reconstructed vocabulary from the limited accounts of the various languages once spoken by the Abo ...

: ''Limilinaturi'') is a

port city A port is a maritime facility comprising one or more wharves or loading areas, where ships load and discharge cargo and passengers. Although usually situated on a sea coast or estuary, ports can also be found far inland, such as Hamburg, Manche ...

situated at the mouth of the Mersey River on the

north-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 ...

coast of

Tasmania, Australia Tasmania (; palawa kani: ''Lutruwita'') is an island States and territories of Australia, state of Australia. It is located to the south of the Mainland Australia, Australian mainland, and is separated from it by the Bass Strait. The sta ...

. Positioned east of

Burnie Burnie ( ; Aboriginal Tasmanians#North, pirinilaplu/palawa kani: ''Pataway'') is a port city located on the North West Tasmania, north-west coast of Tasmania, Australia. It is the fourth largest city on the island, located approximately north ...

and north of Launceston, its

harbour A harbor (American English), or harbour (Commonwealth English; see American and British English spelling differences#-our, -or, spelling differences), is a sheltered body of water where ships, boats, and barges can be Mooring, moored. The t ...

manages over half of Tasmania's imports and exports, standing as the busiest freight port on the island. Devonport also plays a central role in Tasmania's trade sector, supporting industries such as

agriculture Agriculture encompasses crop and livestock production, aquaculture, and forestry for food and non-food products. Agriculture was a key factor in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created ...

manufacturing Manufacturing is the creation or production of goods with the help of equipment, labor, machines, tools, and chemical or biological processing or formulation. It is the essence of the secondary sector of the economy. The term may refer ...

, and

tourism Tourism is travel for pleasure, and the Commerce, commercial activity of providing and supporting such travel. World Tourism Organization, UN Tourism defines tourism more generally, in terms which go "beyond the common perception of tourism as ...

. The

City of Devonport Devonport City Council (or City of Devonport) is a local government body located in the city and surrounds of Devonport in northern Tasmania. The Devonport local government area is classified as urban and has a population of 25,415, which als ...

gross domestic product Gross domestic product (GDP) is a monetary measure of the total market value of all the final goods and services produced and rendered in a specific time period by a country or countries. GDP is often used to measure the economic performanc ...

(GDP) was estimated at $3.5b in 2023. The city is home to the

Spirit of Tasmania TT-Line Company Pty Ltd, trading as Spirit of Tasmania, is a Tasmanian Government-owned business that has been offering ferry services between mainland Australia and Tasmania since July 1993. Navigating the Bass Strait, Spirit of Tasmania f ...

's passenger terminal, facilitating

roll-on/roll-off Roll-on/roll-off (RORO or ro-ro) ships are cargo ships designed to carry wheeled cargo, such as cars, motorcycles, trucks, semi-trailer trucks, buses, Trailer (vehicle), trailers, and railroad cars, that are driven on and off the ship on their ...

(RORO)

ferry A ferry is a boat or ship that transports passengers, and occasionally vehicles and cargo, across a body of water. A small passenger ferry with multiple stops, like those in Venice, Italy, is sometimes referred to as a water taxi or water bus ...

operations connecting mainland Australia and Tasmania since July 1985. In the 2022-23 fiscal year, the Port of Devonport welcomed over 450,000 passengers. The completion of the $240m Quaylink project is expected to increase this capacity by an additional 160,000 passengers annually. Devonport was established in 1893 through the amalgamation of the 1850s settlements of

Torquay Torquay ( ) is a seaside town in Devon, England, part of the unitary authority area of Torbay. It lies south of the county town of Exeter and east-north-east of Plymouth, on the north of Tor Bay, adjoining the neighbouring town of Paignt ...

on the east bank and

Formby Formby is a town and Civil parishes in England, civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, Merseyside, England. Historic counties of England, Historically in Lancashire, three manors are recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 under ...

on the west bank of the Mersey River. The township became a municipality in 1907 and was designated a city by

Prince Charles Charles III (Charles Philip Arthur George; born 14 November 1948) is King of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms. Charles was born at Buckingham Palace during the reign of his maternal grandfather, King George VI, and ...

on 21 April 1981. Devonport holds the status of Tasmania's third-largest city, with an urban population of 26,150 at the

2021 Australian census The 2021 Australian census, simply called the 2021 Census, was the eighteenth national Census of Population and Housing in Australia. The 2021 Census took place on 10 August 2021, and was conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). ...

, encompassing a total of 48,293 residents living within the greater statistical area. Despite its relatively small size, Devonport has facilitated business for many pioneering industries that achieved notable success on a national scale. Circa 1901, the Finlayson family foundry, known for its innovation, engineered what is believed to be the first

steam car A steam car is a car (automobile) propelled by a steam engine. A steam engine is an external combustion engine (ECE), whereas the gasoline and diesel engines that eventually became standard are internal combustion engines (ICE). ECEs have a low ...

in the southern hemisphere. Similarly, family members of

shipping company A shipping line or shipping company is a company whose line of business is ownership and operation of ships. Shipping companies provide a method of distinguishing ships by different kinds of cargo: # Bulk cargo is a type of special cargo that is ...

Holyman & Sons played a pivotal role in establishing the first airline connecting

Bass Strait Bass Strait () is a strait separating the island state of Tasmania from the Mainland Australia, Australian mainland (more specifically the coast of Victoria (Australia), Victoria, with the exception of the land border across Boundary Islet). The ...

in 1934 as Holyman Airway's, which eventually evolved into

Australian National Airways Australian National Airways (ANA) was Australia's predominant aerial carrier from the mid-1930s to the early 1950s. The Holyman's Airways period On 19 March 1932 Flinders Island Airways began a regular aerial service using the Desoutter Mk.I ...

and subsequently merged with

Ansett Ansett Australia, originally Ansett Airways, was a major Australian airline group based in Melbourne, Victoria. The company operated domestically within Australia, and from the 1990s, to destinations in Asia. Following 65 years of operation, ...

. Devonport holds a significant place in Australian political history as the home town of both

Joseph Lyons Joseph Aloysius Lyons (15 September 1879 – 7 April 1939) was an Australian politician who served as the tenth prime minister of Australia, from 1932 until his death in 1939. He held office as the inaugural leader of the United Australia Par ...

, the tenth

Prime Minister of Australia The prime minister of Australia is the head of government of the Commonwealth of Australia. The prime minister is the chair of the Cabinet of Australia and thus the head of the Australian Government, federal executive government. Under the pr ...

, and his wife,

Dame Enid Lyons Dame Enid Muriel Lyons (; 9 July 1897 – 2 September 1981) was an Australian politician. She was notable as the being the first woman to be elected to the Australian House of Representatives, House of Representatives and to serve in the Cabin ...

. Dame Enid made history as the first woman elected to the

House of Representatives House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national entities. In many countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often ...

and the first woman to serve in the federal cabinet. Enid lived at the family residence, "Home Hill" until her death in 1981. Recognised for its historical significance, Home Hill has become a popular tourist destination and is registered with the

National Trust of Australia The National Trust of Australia, officially the Australian Council of National Trusts (ACNT), is the Australian national peak body for community-based, non-government non-profit organisations committed to promoting and conserving Australia's Ind ...

History

The history of Devonport is rooted in its indigenous heritage and shaped by European settlement, economic developments and transportation infrastructure.

Early inhabitants

The pirinilaplu, or Punnilerpanner peoples, along with other indigenous groups such as the Pallittorre and Noeteeler, are the original inhabitants of the Tommeginne territory, encompassing Devonport and the northern Tasmanian region. Their cultural heritage and enduring ties to the land have profoundly influenced the identity of the region. Through their traditions and resilience, they continue to play a vital role in shaping the fabric of Devonport and its surrounding areas.

European settlement before 1850

Exploration of the Mersey River was undertaken in 1823, however initial observations by the British were unfavourable. Following the arrival of the Van Diemen's Land Company in 1826, the district underwent further exploration and surveying. Settlers commenced arriving later in the same year. Indigenous resistance to settlement was evident, leading to the killing of Captain Bartholomew Boyle Thomas on 31 August 1831. The first European settlement in the Devonport region, predating 1850, was established on a block of land at Frogmore, near present-day Latrobe. It was a modest beginning that set the stage for future developments.

Arrival of settlers and economic growth (1850-1870s)

In 1850, the arrival of a settler named Oldaker marked the establishment of present-day Devonport. Saw milling and coal mining gained momentum with the arrival of English settlers aboard the sailing ship ''Balmoral'' in 1854. During the 1850s, twin settlements, Formby and Torquay, emerged on opposite banks at the mouth of the Mersey River. Torquay, the larger of the two, thrived with various amenities, including police, post offices, magistrate services, hotels, shipyards, and stores. A river ferry service connected Formby and Torquay. Between 1870 and 1880, the shipping industry experienced growth, leading to efforts to deepen the mouth of the river. This development facilitated the commencement of regular steamer services between the Mersey and

Melbourne Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...

Key developments (1880s-1900s)

In 1882, the construction of the Marine Board building, which still stands today, became a notable landmark. The completion of the Mersey Bluff Lighthouse in 1889 enhanced maritime safety in the region. The turn of the century witnessed significant changes, especially with the railway's impact on the Formby community. The railway combined a railhead and port facilities, leading to a building boom in Formby. In 1890, a public vote united Torquay and Formby, officially forming the town of Devonport. The opening of the Victoria Bridge in 1902 provided a crucial land transport link between Devonport and East Devonport, fostering further connectivity. During this period, the Melrose-Eugenana region's limestone deposits played a vital role in supporting industrial activities. Limestone quarries supplied smelters of

BHP BHP Group Limited, founded as the Broken Hill Proprietary Company, is an Australian multinational mining and metals corporation. BHP was established in August 1885 and is headquartered in Melbourne, Victoria. As of 2024, BHP was the world� ...

, and in 1916, the government rebuilt the old Don Railway to transport limestone from Melrose to the Devonport wharves, further facilitating industrial growth. In 1924, the Victoria Bridge faced a setback when it collapsed due to continuous boring by Teredo worms. Despite this, there were no casualties, and the bridge underwent partial reconstruction and strengthening, showcasing the resilience of the community in the face of challenges.

Emergence of the Goliath-Portland Cement Company (1926)

Goliath Cement, now known as Cement Australia, traces its origins back to the Tasmanian Cement Company in 1923. Supercharged by abundant limestone deposits and Railton's proximity to shipping outlets, the company pioneered advancements such as the development of bulk cement transportation by sea and boasted the first fully automatic mill in Australia. The Railton facility, significant for its role in supplying cement for iconic projects like the

Sydney Harbour Bridge The Sydney Harbour Bridge is a steel through arch bridge in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, spanning Port Jackson, Sydney Harbour from the Sydney central business district, central business district (CBD) to the North Shore (Sydney), North ...

, also produced asbestos products from 1947 to 1986, resulting in the company addressing compensation settlements to 3,000 workers who were exposed to asbestos in 2010.

Advancements in transportation and infrastructure (1930s-1950s)

The 1930s brought notable advancements in transportation with the introduction of the motor car. Street sealing projects progressed, main roads were improved, and goods could move more efficiently. Constructed by

Hansen Yuncken Hansen Yuncken is an Australian construction company, founded in 1918. History Hansen Yuncken was founded in Melbourne, Australia in 1918 by Lauritz Hansen and Otto Yuncken. In 1925 a regional branch opened in Shepparton. Further branches were o ...

Ovaltine Ovaltine, also known by its original name Ovomaltine, is a brand of milk flavouring product made with malt extract, sugar (except in Switzerland), and whey. Some flavours also have cocoa. Ovaltine, a registered trademark of Associated British ...

opened its second-largest factory in Devonport to facilitate the demands of the

Australasian Australasia is a subregion of Oceania, comprising Australia, New Zealand (overlapping with Polynesia), and sometimes including New Guinea and surrounding islands (overlapping with Melanesia). The term is used in a number of different contexts, ...

and

Southeast Asian Southeast Asia is the geographical southeastern region of Asia, consisting of the regions that are situated south of China, east of the Indian subcontinent, and northwest of the Australian mainland, which is part of Oceania. Southeast Asia is ...

markets in 1943. The 1950s witnessed prosperity and expansion as Devonport attracted many secondary industries, leading to the growth of transport and service sectors, businesses, and a steadily increasing population. In 1952, the opening of the aerodrome at Pardoe marked a new era in air travel, with regular airline services connecting Devonport and Melbourne.

''Princess of Tasmania'' ferry service (1959)

The establishment of the

(RORO) terminal at East Devonport in 1959 further enhanced transportation capabilities, with the ''

Princess of Tasmania MS ''Princess of Tasmania'' was an Australian-built roll-on/roll-off passenger ship. She was built by the State Dockyard in Newcastle, New South Wales for the Australian National Line. Laid down on 15 November 1957, she was launched on 15 Decemb ...

'' ferry service commencing operations. The ''Princess of Tasmania'' service, popularised for its innovative 'sea road' concept, facilitated vehicle travel between Victoria and Tasmania, responding to the growing demand from tourists who sought independent car exploration. Carrying 100 vehicles and over 300 people, the ''Princess of Tasmania'' boasted the world's longest RORO service covering and contributing significantly to Tasmania's appeal as a

tourist destination A tourist attraction is a place of interest that tourists visit, typically for its inherent or exhibited natural or cultural value, historical significance, natural or built beauty, offering leisure and amusement. Types Places of natural beau ...

. The ferry's roll-on, roll-off feature set a global standard in maritime transportation.

Residential Expansion and infrastructure upgrades (1950s-1970s)

The following two decades witnessed the town's residential area expanding west across the ridge into the Don Valley, north along the heights of Coles Beach, and south on both sides of the river. Devonport, during these years, emerged as one of the fastest-growing municipalities in Australia. In 1973, a new concrete bridge replaced the old, battered Victoria Bridge, providing improved infrastructure with the Bass Highway passing directly through Devonport. The city's prosperity continued well into the 1990s, with the port remaining its lifeblood, sustained by the contributions of farming and manufacturing industries.

City proclamation and modern developments (1981-2014)

Devonport achieved city status on 21 April 1981, proclaimed by

in a ceremony held on the

Devonport Oval Devonport Oval is an Australian rules football, cricket and athletics stadium in Devonport, Tasmania. It is the home stadium for the Devonport Football Club in the Tasmanian State League (TSL) and for the Devonport Cricket Club in the NWTCA co ...

. From 1983-1984, the Devonport Warriors competed in the National Basketball League (NBL). The Warriors were forced to exit the NBL after the league announced it would be culled to 14 teams by 1985. The club never experienced financial hardship, and although the Warriors only won four games in 1984, ten of its losses had been by ten points or less. Opening in 2001, the Pandemonium Discovery & Adventure was the North West Coast's largest indoor entertainment venue. Featuring an indoor play area, rock climbing, laser skirmish, skate ramp, and diverse science-focused exhibits, the centre catered to all ages, promoting health through active participation and recreation. The Imaginarium Science Centre located within the complex provided visitors with dynamic hands-on exhibits, programs, and changing displays. From 2001 until its closure in 2009, it hosted compelling traveling exhibitions from renowned science centers, such as 'Body in Action' from Te Manawa and 'Dinosaur Eggs and Babies' from

Otago Museum Otago (, ; ) is a region of New Zealand located in the southern half of the South Island and administered by the Otago Regional Council. It has an area of approximately , making it the country's second largest local government region. Its po ...

and Gondwana Studios. In 2014, after 160 years of continuous service, the cross-river ferry service was discontinued following the retirement of the ''Torquay'' ferry. However, it later resumed operations. The town received national attention on 16 December 2021, when a

jumping castle Inflatable castles (also called bouncy houses, bouncy castles, jumping castles, moon bounces, moonwalks, or closed inflatable trampolines) are temporary inflatable structures and buildings and similar items. They are rented for backyard and block ...

and two zorbs were lifted into the air by a gust of a wind at Hillcrest primary school, killing six children and injuring three.

Demographics

In 2021, the population of Devonport was 26,150. External population demographics estimate the resident population for Devonport at 26,977 in 2023, with a

population density Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geog ...

of 242.8 people per square km across a land area of . Devonport City Council has set specific population growth goals for the city, aiming to achieve a population of 30,000 by 2030 and 35,000 by 2040. The median weekly household income is $1,167, compared to $1,746 nationally. 24.6% of households total weekly income is less than $650 week, while 10.4% of households weekly income exceeds $3,000. This compares to national rates of 16.5% and 24.3% respectively. 34.3% of households renting, and 8.1% of owned households with a mortgage experience

housing stress Housing stress describes a situation where the cost of housing (either as rental, or as a mortgage) is high relative to household income. It may also be used to describe inadequate housing for a proportion of the population. As a rule of thumb, a ...

, where rent or mortgage repayments payments exceed 30% of total income. Devonport is home to a sizable

First Nations First nations are indigenous settlers or bands. First Nations, first nations, or first peoples may also refer to: Indigenous groups *List of Indigenous peoples *First Nations in Canada, Indigenous peoples of Canada who are neither Inuit nor Mé ...

population, with 1,971 residents, comprising 7.5% of the population, identifying as

Indigenous Australians Indigenous Australians are people with familial heritage from, or recognised membership of, the various ethnic groups living within the territory of contemporary Australia prior to History of Australia (1788–1850), British colonisation. The ...

. This percentage surpasses the national average of 3.8% of the total Australian population. 83.6% of residents were born in Australia. 2.9% were born in England, 0.8% in India and New Zealand and 0.6% in each Nepal, Philippines and Mainland China. 89.9% of people spoke only English at home. 6.3% of households use a non-English language, including Mandarin (0.8%), Nepali (0.7%), Punjabi (0.4%) and Vietnamese and Tongan (0.3%). In the 2021 census, 51.1% of people in Devonport professed no religion. 38.7% specified a Christian religious affiliation (including 12.4% as Anglicanism, 11.6% Catholic and 3.5% Uniting Church). Other religious affiliations include Hinduism (1.1%), Buddhism (0.9%), Islam (0.4%) and Sikhism (0.3%).

Geography

Climate

Devonport has an

oceanic climate An oceanic climate, also known as a marine climate or maritime climate, is the temperate climate sub-type in Köppen climate classification, Köppen classification represented as ''Cfb'', typical of west coasts in higher middle latitudes of co ...

(

Köppen climate classification The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...

Cfb) bordering on a mild-summer mediterranean climate (

Csb). Most days from January to March are mild, averaging with frequent sunshine, although

cold fronts A cold front is the leading edge of a cooler mass of air at ground level that replaces a warmer mass of air and lies within a pronounced surface trough of low pressure. It often forms behind an extratropical cyclone (to the west in the Northern ...

are a regular visitor even at the height of summer and some days may not exceed . The warmest and driest days can occasionally reach up to . Unlike the east coast of Tasmania, moist northwesterly winds prevent

heatwaves A heat wave or heatwave, sometimes described as extreme heat, is a period of abnormally hot weather generally considered to be at least ''five consecutive days''. A heat wave is usually measured relative to the usual climate in the area and ...

and temperatures rarely if ever reach above . Winters are cool and cloudy with frequent light rain; July and August are the wettest months of the year. Due to ample cloud cover and marine influence, winter temperatures rarely drop below or rise above . September to December usually features cool to mild, windy weather with frequent showers, and occasional warm, sunny breaks. Despite being nearly two degrees of latitude northward, Devonport is a cooler climate than Hobart due to being

windward In geography and seamanship, windward () and leeward () are directions relative to the wind. Windward is ''upwind'' from the point of reference, i.e., towards the direction from which the wind is coming; leeward is ''downwind'' from the point ...

of the ranges.

Governance

There are nine

councillor A councillor, alternatively councilman, councilwoman, councilperson, or council member, is someone who sits on, votes in, or is a member of, a council. This is typically an elected representative of an electoral district in a municipal or re ...

s that govern the

Devonport City Council Devonport City Council (or City of Devonport) is a local government body located in the city and surrounds of Devonport in northern Tasmania. The Devonport local government area is classified as urban and has a population of 25,415, which als ...

. Alison Jarman was elected

mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a Municipal corporation, municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilitie ...

of the

in 2022. Devonport City Council oversees local governance in Devonport, managing infrastructure, community services, and local regulations. The council is also involved in supporting community development initiatives, including the Devonport Entertainment and Convention Centre. Devonport's political landscape is marked by a blend of conservative and progressive influences, reflecting the region's broader social dynamics. At the state level, Devonport falls within the

Tasmanian House of Assembly The House of Assembly, or Lower House, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of Tasmania in Australia. The other is the Tasmanian Legislative Council, Legislative Council or Upper House. It sits in Parliament House, Hobart, Parliament Hou ...

’s electoral division of Braddon, a multi-member electorate that includes both

Labor Labour or labor may refer to: * Childbirth, the delivery of a baby * Labour (human activity), or work ** Manual labour, physical work ** Wage labour, a socioeconomic relationship between a worker and an employer ** Organized labour and the labour ...

and

Liberal Liberal or liberalism may refer to: Politics * Generally, a supporter of the political philosophy liberalism. Liberals may be politically left or right but tend to be centrist. * An adherent of a Liberal Party (See also Liberal parties by country ...

members. Nationally, Devonport is located in the federal electorate of Braddon, currently represented by Anne Urquhart of the

Australian Labor Party The Australian Labor Party (ALP), also known as the Labor Party or simply Labor, is the major Centre-left politics, centre-left List of political parties in Australia, political party in Australia and one of two Major party, major parties in Po ...

. Braddon has traditionally been a marginal seat, with representation often alternating between the

and Liberal parties in federal elections.

Suburbs

Areas within Devonport as a suburb include Highfield
Areas within East Devonport as a suburb includes Pardoe Downs, Rannoch, Panorama Heights The full list of Suburbs of the City of Devonport are: List of suburbs

Cultural and educational institutions

Mid winter in downtown Devonport Tasmania

Opening in November 2018, the Paranaple Arts Centre serves as a contemporary focal point for artistic expression and cultural engagement. It is home to the Devonport Regional Gallery, Town Hall Theatre and the Devonport Visitor Information Centre. The Paranaple hosts live performances encompassing a range of genres, including music concerts, theatre productions, dance performances, and other performing arts events. The centre also includes gallery, studio and rehearsal spaces, a theatre, and multipurpose areas designed to host diverse arts-related activities. The Devonport Regional Gallery evolved from the inception of The Little Gallery, which was founded by Jean Thomas as a private enterprise in 1966. The Gallery presents an annual program of exhibitions, education and public programs including events and workshops. A broad range of selected local artisan works are displayed at the North West Regional Craft Centre and gift store in the CBD. The Tiagarra Aboriginal Culture Centre and Museum displays

petroglyphs A petroglyph is an image created by removing part of a rock surface by incising, picking, carving, or abrading, as a form of rock art. Outside North America, scholars often use terms such as "carving", "engraving", or other descriptions ...

, designs in rock and exhibits that depict the traditional lifestyle of Tasmanian Aboriginal people. Meaning "to keep", Tiagarra is one of the oldest Aboriginal-operated museums in Australia, officially opening on 16 October 1976 by Doug Nicholls and Gladys Nicholls. The Bass Strait Maritime Centre housed in the former Harbour Master's House has objects, models and photographs that tell the stories of Bass Strait and Devonport. Dame Enid Lyons inaugurated an exhibition of maritime memorabilia in 1970, inspiring the establishment of the Tasmanian Maritime and Folk Museum in East Devonport in 1973. By 1980, the museum had relocated to the Harbour Master’s house in Gloucester Avenue. In 1999, a merger with the Devon Historical Society integrated Devonport’s maritime and local history archives into a unified collection. In 2010, the Devonport City Council assumed ownership and management from the volunteer-based organization, leading to the present-day Bass Strait Maritime Centre. The collection, comprising 4500 objects, 200 artworks, photographic prints, negatives, and archival material, explores Devonport and Bass Strait's stories from the early 1800s to the present. Rotating exhibitions feature diverse narratives from the collection. Devonport Regional Gallery

A volunteer-run vintage railway and museum, the

Don River Railway The Don River Railway is a heritage railway and museum in Don, Tasmania, Don, Devonport, Tasmania. It operates a service from Don to Coles Beach (operationally known as Don Junction). The current line follows a reconstructed section of the form ...

, is situated at

Don Don, don or DON and variants may refer to: Places *Don (river), a river in European Russia *Don River (disambiguation), several other rivers with the name * Don, Benin, a town in Benin * Don, Dang, a village and hill station in Dang district, Gu ...

, a suburb of Devonport. The former Devonport Maternity Hospital was recently demolished and the land repurposed into a gated community. The

Mersey Community Hospital The Mersey Hospital is a public hospital at Latrobe near Devonport in Tasmania. Like the North West Regional Hospital, it is operated by the Tasmanian Health Service - North West Region, which is part of the Tasmanian government's Department of ...

at Latrobe serves the Devonport community for their health needs.

Kokoda Barracks Kokoda Barracks is an Australian Army base located in the Canungra Military Area near Witheren, Queensland. It is named after the Kokoda Track campaign The Kokoda Track campaign or Kokoda Trail campaign was part of the Pacific War of World W ...

is an army barracks in Devonport.

Transport

Devonport offers a range of transportation options, including road networks,

intercity bus service An intercity bus service (North American English) or intercity coach service (British English and Commonwealth English), also called a long-distance, express, over-the-road, commercial, long-haul, or highway bus or coach service, is a public t ...

public transport bus service Public transport bus services are generally based on regular operation of transit buses along a route calling at agreed bus stops according to a published public transport timetable. History of buses Origins While there are indications o ...

s operated by Kinetic,

freight rail Rail freight transport is the use of railways and trains to transport cargo as opposed to human passengers. A freight train, cargo train, or goods train is a group of freight cars (US) or goods wagons (International Union of Railways) hauled ...

passenger ferry A ferry is a boat or ship that transports passengers, and occasionally vehicles and cargo, across a body of water. A small passenger ferry with multiple stops, like those in Venice, Italy, is sometimes referred to as a water taxi or water bus. ...

air travel Air travel is a form of travel in vehicles such as airplanes, jet aircraft, helicopters, hot air balloons, blimps, Glider (aircraft), gliders, Hang gliding, hang gliders, parachuting, parachutes, or anything else that can sustain flight.

, and alternative modes like

cycling Cycling, also known as bicycling or biking, is the activity of riding a bicycle or other types of pedal-driven human-powered vehicles such as balance bikes, unicycles, tricycles, and quadricycles. Cycling is practised around the world fo ...

and walking pathways.

Devonport Airport

Devonport Airport Devonport Airport is a regional airport serving Devonport, a city in the Australian state of Tasmania. It is located from the town centre at Pardoe Downs, on Wesley Vale and Airport Roads. The airport is operated by TasPorts which previously ...

, located east of the city at Pardoe Downs, is a vital transportation hub, accessible within a 15-minute car ride. Serving as Tasmania's third-largest

airline hub An airline hub or hub airport is an airport used by one or more airlines to concentrate passenger traffic and flight operations. Hubs serve as transfer (or stop-over) points to help get passengers to their final destination. It is part of the s ...

, it accommodates

Qantas Qantas ( ), formally Qantas Airways Limited, is the flag carrier of Australia, and the largest airline by fleet size, international flights, and international destinations in Australia and List of largest airlines in Oceania, Oceania. A foundi ...

and

Rex Airlines Rex Airlines Pty Ltd is an Australian regional airline based in Mascot, New South Wales. It operates scheduled regional services using turboprop aircraft. Between 2021 and 2024, Rex also operated jet services between selected major Australian ...

, offering six daily passenger flights.

QantasLink QantasLink is a full-service, Regional airline, regional brand of Australian flag carrier airline Qantas. As of 2024, QantasLink provides over 2,000 flights each week to 65 metropolitan, regional and remote destinations across Australia, as wel ...

operates four

Bombardier Dash 8 The De Havilland Canada DHC-8, commonly known as the Dash 8, is a series of turboprop-powered regional airliners, introduced by de Havilland Canada (DHC) in 1984. DHC was bought by Boeing in 1986, then by Bombardier in 1992, then by Lon ...

turboprop services to

. Encompassing , the airport features a main runway measuring and a secondary grassed runway spanning . Its infrastructure includes comprehensive taxiways, passenger terminals and

general aviation General aviation (GA) is defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) as all civil aviation aircraft operations except for commercial air transport or aerial work, which is defined as specialized aviation services for other ...

, and maintenance

hangars A hangar is a building or structure designed to hold aircraft or spacecraft. Hangars are built of metal, wood, or concrete. The word ''hangar'' comes from Middle French ''hanghart'' ("enclosure near a house"), of Germanic origin, from Frankish ...

. Recent upgrades in 2020 enhanced the terminal with a new departure lounge, upgraded

security Security is protection from, or resilience against, potential harm (or other unwanted coercion). Beneficiaries (technically referents) of security may be persons and social groups, objects and institutions, ecosystems, or any other entity or ...

, and a dedicated freight apron. The airport offers refueling services, car parking, rental cars, and taxi facilities. It is connected to Devonport by various bus services, such as Merseylink,

Redline Coaches Redline Coaches was one of Tasmania's largest coach operators. It operated both route and charter services. As of late 2022, Redline coaches has changed its name as part of a business re-brand by the parent company, Kinetic, and has now been ...

, and Phoenix Coaches, although services on weekends and public holidays are limited.

Freight transport

From Devonport three shipping operators –

Strait Link The Toll Group is an Australian freight company that operates a logistics and global freight forwarding network spanning 150 countries, with over 20,000 customers. Toll has more than 16,000 workers across 500 sites. Toll Holdings Pty Limited ( ...

, SeaRoad Shipping and

provide overnight

freight service across Bass Strait to Victoria. Cement Australia has been exporting cement from Railton to Melbourne since 1926. Additional exports by ship include

tallow Tallow is a rendered form of beef or mutton suet, primarily made up of triglycerides. In industry, tallow is not strictly defined as beef or mutton suet. In this context, tallow is animal fat that conforms to certain technical criteria, inc ...

, while coal was an export until the closure of the Fingal Valley coal mine. Imports to Devonport include petroleum,

bunker fuel Heavy fuel oil (HFO) is a category of fuel oils of a tar-like consistency. Also known as bunker fuel, or residual fuel oil, HFO is the result or remnant from the distillation and cracking process of petroleum. For this reason, HFO contains sev ...

, fertiliser and

caustic soda Sodium hydroxide, also known as lye and caustic soda, is an inorganic compound with the formula . It is a white solid ionic compound consisting of sodium cations and hydroxide anions . Sodium hydroxide is a highly corrosive base and alkali t ...

. Due for completion in 2027, the $240 million Quaylink project, a

TasPorts TasPorts, officially the Tasmanian Ports Corporation, is a Tasmanian Government state-owned corporation that is responsible for the management and operation of all ports in Tasmania, Australia as well as Devonport Airport. History TasPorts was ...

investment of new berths and terminal facilities, is expected to further boost the port's freight operations by 40%.

Rail

TasRail TasRail (legal name Tasmanian Railway Pty Limited) is a Tasmanian Government state-owned enterprise that has operated the Rail transport in Tasmania, mainline railways in Tasmania since September 2009. It operates only freight services. Histo ...

maintains a freight rail line that connects the port area to

and Railton. Previously, Devonport had a

railway roundhouse A railway roundhouse is a building with a circular or semicircular shape used by rail transport, railways for servicing and storing locomotives. Traditionally, though not always the case today, these buildings contained or were adjacent to a Rail ...

and maintenance

rail yard A rail yard, railway yard, railroad yard (US) or simply yard, is a series of Track (rail transport), tracks in a rail network for storing, sorting, or loading and unloading rail vehicles and locomotives. Yards have many tracks in parallel for k ...

s along the Mersey River's foreshore. Today, this space has been transformed into parkland, offering a recreational area for locals and visitors. Situated in

, the

is a volunteer-run

heritage railway A heritage railway or heritage railroad (U.S. usage) is a railway operated as living history to re-create or preserve railway scenes of the past. Heritage railways are often old railway lines preserved in a state depicting a period (or periods) ...

and museum providing an opportunity for visitors to enjoy a passenger train ride from Don to Coles Beach. The railway journey traces a reconstructed section of the former Melrose line, historically connecting Don Junction to Paloona.

Passenger Ferry

Devonport serves as the departure point for the

ferries — ''

Spirit of Tasmania I MS ''Spirit of Tasmania I'' is a roll-on/roll-off ferry operated by Spirit of Tasmania between Port of Geelong, Geelong and Devonport, Tasmania, Devonport in Australia. Built in 1998 by STX Finland, Kvaerner Masa-Yards at Perno shipyard, Turku ...

'' and ''

Spirit of Tasmania II MS ''Spirit of Tasmania II'' is a roll-on/roll-off ferry operated by Spirit of Tasmania between Geelong and Devonport in Australia. Built in 1998 by Kvaerner Masa-Yards at Turku New Shipyard in Finland for Superfast Ferries as MS ''Superfast I ...

'' — that travel from Devonport to

Geelong, Victoria Geelong ( ) (Wathawurrung language, Wathawurrung: ''Djilang''/''Djalang'') is a port city in Victoria, Australia, located at the eastern end of Corio Bay (the smaller western portion of Port Phillip Bay) and the left bank of Barwon River (Victo ...

, taking approximately 11 hours for the voyage. These RORO ferries are crucial for transporting passengers, vehicles, and freight between Tasmania and the Australian mainland, providing an essential link across the Bass Strait. A former local ferry service connecting east and west of Devonport named ''The Spirit of Devonport'' ceased operations on the Mersey River after more than 160 years in 2022. Devonport Passenger Ferry History 400763 Devonport Tasmania Spirit of Tasmania

400763 Devonport Tasmania Spirit of Tasmania

Agriculture

Situated within a modest expanse of , Devonport has a solid history in

. Despite the region's spatial limitations, Devonport has been a linchpin in Tasmania's vegetable cultivation, yielding substantial quantities of

bean A bean is the seed of some plants in the legume family (Fabaceae) used as a vegetable for human consumption or animal feed. The seeds are often preserved through drying (a ''pulse''), but fresh beans are also sold. Dried beans are traditi ...

onion An onion (''Allium cepa'' , from Latin ), also known as the bulb onion or common onion, is a vegetable that is the most widely cultivated species of the genus '' Allium''. The shallot is a botanical variety of the onion which was classifie ...

pea Pea (''pisum'' in Latin) is a pulse or fodder crop, but the word often refers to the seed or sometimes the pod of this flowering plant species. Peas are eaten as a vegetable. Carl Linnaeus gave the species the scientific name ''Pisum sativum' ...

s, and

potato The potato () is a starchy tuberous vegetable native to the Americas that is consumed as a staple food in many parts of the world. Potatoes are underground stem tubers of the plant ''Solanum tuberosum'', a perennial in the nightshade famil ...

es. The post-World War II era witnessed a transformative phase marked by the establishment of processing factories, with a specific emphasis on peas. These facilities assumed a crucial role in the canning, freezing, and dehydrating processes, not only bolstering local sustenance but also fundamentally influencing Tasmania's broader agricultural and food production paradigm. Devonport has since emerged as a key contributor to Australia's agricultural production, with a significant supporting dairy industry,

cereal A cereal is a grass cultivated for its edible grain. Cereals are the world's largest crops, and are therefore staple foods. They include rice, wheat, rye, oats, barley, millet, and maize ( Corn). Edible grains from other plant families, ...

poppyseed oil Poppyseed oil (also poppy seed oil and poppy oil) is an edible oil obtained from poppy seeds (specifically seeds of ''Papaver somniferum'', the opium poppy). Poppy seeds yield 45–50% oil. Like poppy seeds, poppyseed oil is highly palatable, ...

and

pyrethrum ''Pyrethrum'' was a genus of several Old World plants now classified in either '' Chrysanthemum'' or '' Tanacetum'' which are cultivated as ornamentals for their showy flower heads. Pyrethrum continues to be used as a common name for plants form ...

Education

Our Lady Of Lourdes Primary School Devonport Tasmania

Primary schools

*Hillcrest Primary School *Devonport Primary School *Miandetta Primary School *East Devonport Primary School *Nixon Street Primary School *Spreyton Primary School *Devonport Christian School *Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School

Secondary schools (Years 7–10)

Devonport High School Devonport High School is a government co-educational comprehensive junior secondary school located in , Tasmania, Australia. The school caters for approximately 500 students from Years 7 to 12. The school is administered by the Tasmanian Dep ...

* Reece High School *

St Brendan-Shaw College St Brendan-Shaw College is a co-educational Catholic college for students in Years 7–12. It is located in Devonport on the North-West Coast of Tasmania in Australia. The college has around about 700 students. History In 1960, the Edmund Rice ...

Devonport Christian School Devonport may refer to: * Devonport, Plymouth, Devon, England ** HMNB Devonport, naval base/dockyard ** Plymouth Devonport (UK Parliament constituency), parliamentary constituency formerly known as Devonport * Devonport, New Zealand, a suburb of Au ...

Senior secondary education (Years 11–12)

Don College Don College is a government comprehensive senior secondary Senior (shortened as Sr.) means "the elder" in Latin and is often used as a suffix for the elder of two or more people in the same family with the same given name, usually a parent or ...

TasTAFE TasTAFE is a Tasmanian tertiary education body of the Australian state-based Technical and Further Education system run by the Tasmanian Government. The main campuses are located at Hobart, Warrane, Claremont, Tasmania, Claremont, Glenorchy, Tasmani ...

campus, an adult training institution, is situated in Valley Road.

Sport

Devonport has a rich sporting culture, with the

Devonport Football Club Devonport Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Devonport, Tasmania. The club currently competes in the North West Football League (NWFL). The club previously competed in the Northern Tasmanian Football League, but from 20 ...

(Magpies) competing in the

North West Football League The North West Football League (NWFL) is an Australian rules football competition in North West Tasmania. The league was previously known as the Northern Tasmanian Football League (NTFL) from its inception in 1987 until the end of the 2014 seaso ...

(NWFL), having secured back-to-back Senior Premierships in 2021 and 2022. The

East Devonport Football Club The East Devonport Football Club is an Australian rules football club based on Devonport, Tasmania. The club had competed in the North West Football League since 1987. History The club competed on an irregular basis in various non-senior North ...

(Swans) also plays in the NWFL, with teams like Ulverstone and

Penguin Penguins are a group of aquatic flightless birds from the family Spheniscidae () of the order Sphenisciformes (). They live almost exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere. Only one species, the Galápagos penguin, is equatorial, with a sm ...

. The Devonport Rugby Club competes in the

Tasmanian Rugby Union The Tasmanian Rugby Union, or TRU, is the Sports governing body, governing body for the sport of rugby union within the state of Tasmania in Australia. The TRU was established in 1933. It is a member and founding union of Rugby Australia. Curren ...

Statewide League, and touch football is organised by the Devonport Touch Football Association at Meercroft Park. In soccer, Devonport City Football Club plays in the

National Premier Leagues Tasmania The National Premier Leagues Tasmania is an Australian professional Association football, football league part of the National Premier Leagues, covering the state of Tasmania. The competition sits at step two overall in the Australian football l ...

and fields a reserve team in the

Northern Championship Football Tasmania (FT) is the governing body for soccer in the Australian state of Tasmania. The federation oversees competitions across Tasmania, Tasmanian representative teams, and development of the sport in the state. The federation was kn ...

. Cricket is represented by the Devonport Cricket Club in the North Western Tasmanian Cricket Association. Devonport’s hockey teams compete in the Hockey Tasmania leagues. The Devonport Warriors, based at the Devonport Recreation Centre, are the largest basketball club in the North West Basketball Union, with over 750 members and a legacy of success, including hosting the Under-14 Australian Junior Championships in 1974 and representing Devonport in the National Basketball League between 1983-1984. Netball is centered at Devonport Netball in Spreyton, participating in statewide events. Devonport hosts a leg of the Tasmanian Cycling Christmas Carnival Series, along with athletics and woodchopping events. The Devonport Golf Club has hosted major events like the

Tasmanian Open The Tasmanian Open is an annual golf tournament held in Tasmania, Australia. History The Tasmanian amateur championship was first played in 1902 as a 36 hole stroke-play event. From 1910 the stroke-play acted as qualifying for a match-play stage ...

and Tasmanian Seniors Open. The annual Devonport Regatta features powerboat racing, while the Devonport Cup, held in January at the Spreyton racecourse, is a major horse racing event. The city also hosts regular harness and greyhound racing at the Devonport Showgrounds. The Splash Devonport Aquatic and Leisure Centre offers a gym and indoor pool within the Don Reserve. Devonport Tennis Club and East Devonport Tennis Club compete in the Tennis North West Association, and the annual Devonport Triathlon in February serves as the Oceania continental championship.

Notable residents

Arts

John Heyer John Whitefoord Heyer (14 September 1916 – 19 June 2001) was an Australian documentary filmmaker, who is often described as the father of Australian documentary film.''Oxford companion to Australian film'' (1999) John Heyer spent the major ...

(1916–2001),

documentary A documentary film (often described simply as a documentary) is a nonfiction Film, motion picture intended to "document reality, primarily for instruction, education or maintaining a Recorded history, historical record". The American author and ...

filmmaker often described as the father of Australian documentary film *

Monique Brumby Monique Brumby (born 16 September 1974) is an Australian Indie pop/rock singer-songwriter, guitarist and producer. Her debut single, " Fool for You", peaked into the top 40 in the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) ARIA Singles Ch ...

indie pop Indie pop (also typeset as indie-pop or indiepop) is a music genre and subculture that combines guitar pop with a DIY ethic in opposition to the style and tone of mainstream pop music. It originated from British post-punk in the late 1970s and s ...

/rock singer-songwriter, guitarist and producer * Phil Manning, blues songwriter, guitarist and vocalist of

Chain A chain is a serial assembly of connected pieces, called links, typically made of metal, with an overall character similar to that of a rope in that it is flexible and curved in compression but linear, rigid, and load-bearing in tension. A ...

* Tamara McKinley, author of the '' Cliffehaven'' series under the

pen name A pen name or nom-de-plume is a pseudonym (or, in some cases, a variant form of a real name) adopted by an author and printed on the title page or by-line of their works in place of their real name. A pen name may be used to make the author's na ...

Ellie Dean *

Syd Nicholls Sydney 'Syd' Wentworth Nicholls (20 December 18963 June 1977) was an Australian cartoonist and commercial artist, best known for the long-running comic strip ''Fatty Finn''. Biography Syd Nicholls was born in Frederick Henry Bay, Tasmania on ...

(1896–1977), cartoonist best known for the long-running comic strip ''

Fatty Finn ''Fatty Finn'' was a popular long-run Australian comic strip series, created in 1923 by Syd Nicholls. It ran in Syndication agency, syndication until the creator's death in 1977. History In 1923 Syd Nicholls, a senior artist at Sydney's ''Evenin ...

'' * Gerard Vaughan,

art historian Art history is the study of artistic works made throughout human history. Among other topics, it studies art’s formal qualities, its impact on societies and cultures, and how artistic styles have changed throughout history. Traditionally, the ...

and

curator A curator (from , meaning 'to take care') is a manager or overseer. When working with cultural organizations, a curator is typically a "collections curator" or an "exhibitions curator", and has multifaceted tasks dependent on the particular ins ...

Other

* Max Bound (1924–2012),

trade unionist A trade union (British English) or labor union (American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers whose purpose is to maintain or improve the conditions of their employment, such as attaining better wages ...

and

environmental activist The environmental movement (sometimes referred to as the ecology movement) is a social movement that aims to protect the natural world from harmful environmental practices in order to create sustainable living. In its recognition of humanity a ...

* Tim Lane,

sports broadcaster In sports broadcasting, a sports commentator (also known as a sports announcer or sportscaster) provides a real-time live commentary of a game or event, traditionally delivered in the present tense. There are two main types of sports broadcast ...

and

journalist A journalist is a person who gathers information in the form of text, audio or pictures, processes it into a newsworthy form and disseminates it to the public. This is called journalism. Roles Journalists can work in broadcast, print, advertis ...

Politicians

Mike Gaffney Michael Victor Gaffney (born 30 November 1959) is an Australian politician. He has been an Independent member of the Tasmanian Legislative Council since 2009, representing the seat of Mersey. Born in Devonport, Gaffney was trained as a teacher ...

Independent Independent or Independents may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups * Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in Pennsylvania, United States * Independentes (English: Independents), a Portuguese artist ...

member of the

Tasmanian Legislative Council The Tasmanian Legislative Council is the upper house of the Parliament of Tasmania in Australia. It is one of the two Chambers of parliament, chambers of the Parliament, the other being the Tasmanian House of Assembly, House of Assembly. Both ho ...

Jacqui Lambie Jacquiline Louise Lambie (born 26 February 1971) is an Australian politician who is the leader and founder of the Jacqui Lambie Network (JLN). She is a Australian Senate, Senator for Tasmania since 2019, and was previously a Senator from 2014 to ...

Senator A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or Legislative chamber, chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the Ancient Rome, ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior ...

for

Tasmania Tasmania (; palawa kani: ''Lutruwita'') is an island States and territories of Australia, state of Australia. It is located to the south of the Mainland Australia, Australian mainland, and is separated from it by the Bass Strait. The sta ...

(1897–1981), First woman elected to the

and the first woman to serve in the federal cabinet *

(1879–1939), 10th

(1932–1939), 26th

Premier of Tasmania The premier of Tasmania is the head of the Government of Tasmania, executive government in the Australian state of Tasmania. By convention, the leader of the party or political grouping which has majority support in the Tasmanian House of Assem ...

(1923–1928) *

Steve Martin Stephen Glenn Martin (born August 14, 1945) is an American comedian, actor, writer, producer, and musician. Known for Steve Martin filmography, his work in comedy films, television, and #Discography, recording, he has received List of awards a ...

, Senator for Tasmania (2018–2019) *

Hector McFie Hector McFie (3 October 1898 – 23 May 1982) was an Australian politician. He was born in Devonport, Tasmania and held a Diploma of Mechanical Engineering. In 1954 he was elected to the Tasmanian Legislative Council as the Independent member ...

(1898–1982),

member for

Mersey The River Mersey () is a major river in North West England. Its name derives from Old English and means "boundary river", possibly referring to its having been a border between the ancient kingdoms of Mercia and Northumbria. For centuries it ...

(1954–1972) * Max Poulter (1913–1962),

educator A teacher, also called a schoolteacher or formally an educator, is a person who helps students to acquire knowledge, competence, or virtue, via the practice of teaching. ''Informally'' the role of teacher may be taken on by anyone (e.g. w ...

and

politician A politician is a person who participates in Public policy, policy-making processes, usually holding an elective position in government. Politicians represent the people, make decisions, and influence the formulation of public policy. The roles ...

, Senator for

Queensland Queensland ( , commonly abbreviated as Qld) is a States and territories of Australia, state in northeastern Australia, and is the second-largest and third-most populous state in Australia. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Austr ...

(1961) *

Jeremy Rockliff Jeremy Page Rockliff Tasmanian House of Assembly, MP (born 5 February 1970) is an Australian politician currently serving as the 47th premier of Tasmania. Rockliff's Premiership of Jeremy Rockliff, premiership began in 2022 following the resign ...

, 47th Premier of Tasmania

Sportspeople

* John Bowe,

V8 Supercar The Supercars Championship, also known as the Repco Supercars Championship under sponsorship and historically as V8 Supercars, is a touring car racing category in Australia and New Zealand, running as an International Series under Fédération I ...

driver * Nita Burke,

Australia women's national basketball team The Australia women's national basketball team, nicknamed the Opals after the brightly coloured gemstone common to the country, represents Australia in international basketball. From 1994 onwards, the Opals have been consistently competitive ...

player *

Corey Cadby Corey Cadby (born 18 March 1995) is an Australian professional darts player who played in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events. He was the 2016 World Youth champion. Career A native of Tasmania, Cadby began competing in Darts Players ...

, darts player * Marty Clarke, professional

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appro ...

player and coach, 1989 NBL Champion (

North Melbourne Giants The North Melbourne Giants, previously known as the Coburg Giants, were an Australian professional basketball team based in Melbourne Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital ...

) *

David Foster David Walter Foster (born November 1, 1949) is a Canadian record producer, composer, arranger, and musician. He has won 16 Grammy Awards from 47 nominations. His career began as a keyboardist for the pop group Skylark in the early 1970s befor ...

, woodchopper *

Owen Kelly Owen John Kelly (born 12 March 1977) is an Australian professional racing driver. Son of Chas Kelly, he has competed over the course of his career in V8 Supercars and NASCAR among other series. Racing career Kelly started his circuit racing ca ...

NASCAR The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, LLC (NASCAR) is an American auto racing sanctioning and operating company that is best known for stock car racing. It is considered to be one of the top ranked motorsports organizations in ...

and V8 Supercar driver * Jim Nevin,

cyclist Cycling, also known as bicycling or biking, is the activity of riding a bicycle or other types of pedal-driven human-powered vehicles such as balance bikes, unicycles, tricycles, and quadricycles. Cycling is practised around the world fo ...

who competed at the

1952 Events January–February * January 26 – Cairo Fire, Black Saturday in Kingdom of Egypt, Egypt: Rioters burn Cairo's central business district, targeting British and upper-class Egyptian businesses. * February 6 ** Princess Elizabeth, ...

and

1956 Summer Olympics The 1956 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XVI Olympiad and officially branded as Melbourne 1956, were an international multi-sport event held in Melbourne, Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia, from 22 November to 8 December ...

* David Parsons, V8 Supercar driver

VFL/AFL players

Darrel Baldock Darrel John Baldock (29 September 1938 – 2 February 2011) was an Australian sportsman and state politician. He played Australian rules football for the St Kilda Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL), East Devonport Football C ...

(1938–2011), (1962–1968) *

Grant Birchall Grant Birchall (born 28 January 1988) is a former Australian rules football player who played with the Hawthorn Football Club and Brisbane Lions in the Australian Football League. He is a 4 time AFL Premiership player and All-Australian and ...

, (2006–2019), (2020–2021) * Matthew Febey, (1987, 1990–2000) * Steven Febey, (1987–2001) * Ben Harrison, (1995), (1996–2000), (2001–2005) * Brady Rawlings, (1999–2011) *

Jade Rawlings Jade Rawlings (born 9 October 1977) is a former Australian rules footballer who played in the AFL with the Hawthorn, Western Bulldogs and North Melbourne Football Clubs. He served as the caretaker coach of the Richmond Football Club for 11 gam ...

, (1996–2003), (2004–2005), (2006) * Matthew Richardson, (1993–2009) * Dion Scott, (1990, 1992),

Brisbane Bears The Brisbane Bears were a professional Australian rules football club based in Brisbane, Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, now known as the Brisbane Lions. Granted a Australian Football League, Victorian Football League (VFL), licence in 1986, ...

(1993–1996), (1997–1999) *

Graham Wright Graham Wright (born 6 June 1968) is an Australian rules football administrator and former player. Wright played for in the Australian Football League, and is the current deputy CEO of the Carlton Football Club. Playing career Wright was selec ...

, (1988–1998)

Sister cities

The city of Devonport has a formal

sister city A sister city or a twin town relationship is a form of legal or social agreement between two geographically and politically distinct localities for the purpose of promoting cultural and commercial ties. While there are early examples of inte ...

agreement with Minamata City in Japan. This was ratified in 1996. Both cities share a similar setting and area. *

Minamata is a city located in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. It is on the west coast of Kyūshū and faces Amakusa islands. Minamata was established as a village in 1889, re-designated as a town in 1912 and grew into a city in 1949. As of March 2017, the ci ...

, Japan ''(1996)'' *

City of Port Phillip The City of Port Phillip is a Local government areas of Victoria, local government area of Victoria, Australia on the northern shores of Port Phillip, south of Melbourne's central business district. It has an area of 20.7 km2 and had a pop ...

, Victoria, Australia (previous destination for "

" ferries from Devonport, current destination as of 2022 is

Geelong Geelong ( ) (Wathawurrung language, Wathawurrung: ''Djilang''/''Djalang'') is a port city in Victoria, Australia, located at the eastern end of Corio Bay (the smaller western portion of Port Phillip Bay) and the left bank of Barwon River (Victo ...

References

{{Authority control 1890 establishments in Australia Populated places established in 1890 Cities in Tasmania Coastal cities in Australia Port towns of Tasmania