Orford, Tasmania

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Orford
Tasmania

Township of Orford
Population: 485 (2001)[1]
Postcode: 7190
Location:
LGA: Glamorgan Spring Bay Council
State District: Lyons
Federal Division: Lyons
Jetties along the Prosser River
Jetties along the Prosser River

Orford is an attractive coastal hamlet situated on the east coast of Tasmania, some 73 kilometres northeast of Hobart. The village is centred around the mouth of the Prosser River, on the southern margin of a substantial coastal inlet called Prosser Bay. Beyond this bay are the waters of the Mercury Passage, with the strong relief of Maria Island providing a spectacular backdrop to the view.

Contents

[edit] History

The town was named by Edward Walpole, who was granted 1,000 acres (4 km²) in the area in 1831. He named his grant “Strawberry Hill”, after the London residence of his relative Horace Walpole who was the Second Earl of Orford. The town was first established as a mainland port for the convict settlement on Maria Island. However, the marine infrastructure never consisted of more than a few short jetties in shallow waters just inside the mouth of the river which still remain today. The narrow channel at the river's mouth is flanked by a substantial sandbar, rendering the river unsuitable for larger vessels. The larger township of Triabunna approximately 6km north is the main port in the area, and is home base for the region's fishing and timber industries, as well as the ferry service operating to and from Maria Island.

A quarry situated between Orford and Spring Beach provided sandstone for use in buildings in Hobart and Melbourne, including the Melbourne General Post Office. A quarry still operates at the nearby town of Buckland.

[edit] Population

Orford has a small permanent population of approximately 485 (2001 census). There is however a significant number of non-resident 'shack' (Australian colloquial term for weekender or holiday home) property owners who come into the area on weekends and during holiday periods. The area is very popular with tourists; the influx of visitors over the summer months (December to February) swells the population to over 3,000.

Despite its small size and population Orford is well serviced with two supermarkets, several cafes and eateries, a hotel and other accommodation, police and fire brigade, a primary school and a library.

[edit] Climate and geography

The weather in summer is typically warm and sunny, hence the area's popularity with holidaymakers. Winters are colder but generally mild. Rainfall is not very high but can occur at any time of the year.

The surrounding areas are generally hilly, with poor, leached soil. These tracts are in the main covered in dry eucalyptus forest. Where the soil is better, the land had been cleared and these paddocks are used to graze sheep and, to a lesser extent, to grow wheat, oats or barley. The production of grain has decreased steadily over the past fifty years as profitability has fallen.

[edit] Tourist Attractions

Orford has several clean, picturesque beaches - including Raspins, Millingons, Spring and Rheban - with a popular campsite at Raspins Beach. Nearby is the well-regarded 9-hole Orford Golf Course and the Darlington Vineyard. There are several walks, including the Convict Trail along the Prosser River, the coastal walk along the cliff tops between East Shelly Beach and Spring Beach, and the scenic Thumbs lookout in the nearby Wielangta State Forest, which offers a spectacular view of the region. Prosser Bay and the Mercury Passage provide excellent fishing, with Flathead, Trevally, Trumpeter, Abalone and Southern Rock Lobster (Crayfish) sought-after species. [2]

In February 2007 an artificial reef and dive site was created from the scuttling of the ship the Troy D in the Mercury Passage approximately 1km off Maria Island, to further bolster the area's reputation as a premier location for SCUBA diving, thanks to its unpolluted water and abundant sea life. [3]

[edit] Louisville Point Development

The Solis residential and tourism development was approved in May 2004. The estimated A$150 million development at Louisville Point (to the north of Orford) will include 550 residential allotments, 60 'eco-tourism' cabins, a central precinct with retail shops, a day spa, restaurants and bars, and an 18-hole golf course designed by Greg Norman. Construction began in 2007 and is expected to take 10 years to complete.[4][5]

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ Population distribution. Government of Tasmania Department of Justice, Tasmania (2006-12-14). Retrieved on 2007-03-12.
  2. ^ Orford/Triabunna Region Chamber of Commerce. Orford/Triabunna Region Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved on 2007-07-04.
  3. ^ East Coast Artificial Reef and Dive Site. Orford/Triabunna Region Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved on 2007-07-04.
  4. ^ About Solice. Solice Tasmania. Retrieved on 2007-07-04.
  5. ^ Tourism Major Projects. Infrastructure and Resource Information Service (IRIS). Retrieved on 2007-07-04.

Coordinates: 42°33′S, 147°52′E

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