Railton is a town situated 20 km inland from Devonport on the north-west coast of

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 ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

's island state. In the , Railton had a population of 997. The locality is in the

Kentish Council Kentish Council is a Local government in Australia, local government body in Tasmania, situated in the north-west of the state, to the south and inland from Devonport, Tasmania, Devonport. Kentish is classified as a rural local government area ...

area, but with about 1% in the Latrobe LGA.

History

Railton was first surveyed in 1853 and a railway line through the town from Deloraine to Latrobe was completed in 1885. Early settlers who were mainly farmers and timber workers lived in slab huts. The new settlers quickly drove out the

traditional owners Native title is the set of rights, recognised by Australian law, held by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups or individuals to land that derive from their maintenance of their traditional laws and customs. These Aboriginal title rig ...

of the area. The wider main street was built for the drovers mustering cattle to the railway station to be loaded for export. By the 1900s Railton had a flourishing timber trade with 2 sawmills. Railton has several topiaries in various locations around the town. Visit the "Town of Topiary" website for information on how to find them. Railton promotes itself as the "Town of Topiary".Railton
''Kentish Council'' Railton is home to a Cement Australia plant which began operations in 1923.Manufacturing Operations – Railton, Tasmania
''Cement Australia'' It was previously known as Goliath Cement.
''The Companian to Tasmanian History''

Facilities

Railton is very popular for mountain bike riding with many tracks around the entire area, a playground park with bbq areas, squash courts, lawn bowls, a neighbourhood centre, a caravan park, public toilets, a town hall and a primary school. Railton Primary School is a campus of Sheffield School. (years P-4).

Sykes Sanctuary

Sykes Sanctuary is of bush land bequeathed by Norman Sykes to the Railton community with the instruction that it be conserved as a bird and fauna sanctuary. Sykes was an eccentric conservationist who gave up city life to live in a small shack, close to nature.Sykes Sanctuary
''Kentish Visitor Information Centre''

References

Localities of Kentish Council Towns in Tasmania {{Tasmania-geo-stub