Stanley, Tasmania

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Stanley
Tasmania

Stanley, from partway up The Nut

Population:

458 ^[1]

Postcode:

7331

Elevation:

10 m (33 ft) Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved on 2007-11-14.

Location:

379 km (235 mi) NW of Hobart
224 km (139 mi) W of Launceston
21 km (13 mi) NE of Smithton

LGA:

Circular Head Council

State District:

Braddon

Federal Division:

Braddon

Mean Max Temp	Mean Min Temp	Rainfall
16.1 °C ^{61 °F}	9.4 °C ^{49 °F}	934.7 mm ^{36.8 in}

The Nut.

Stanley is a town on the north-west coast of Tasmania, Australia. Travelling west, Stanley is the second-last major township on the north-west coast of Tasmania, Smithton being the larger township in the Circular Head municipality. It is located 127 kilometres from Devonport and 231 kilometres from Launceston. At the 2006 census, Stanley had a population of 458.^[1]

The most distinctive landmark in Stanley is The Nut, an old volcanic plug discovered by the explorers Bass and Flinders in 1798, who officially named it Circular Head. It has steep sides and rises to 143 metres with a flat top. It is possible to walk to the top of The Nut via a steep track.

Stanley is the main fishing port on the north-west coast of Tasmania. It was named after Lord Stanley, the British Secretary of State for War and the Colonies in the 1830s and 1840s, who later had three terms of office as British Prime Minister.

In 1825 the Van Diemen's Land Company was granted land in north-western Van Diemen's Land, including the Stanley area. Employees of the company from England settled in the area in October 1826.^[2]

A port opened in 1827 and the first school opened in 1841. In 1880 the first coach service between Stanley and Burnie was established.

Today Stanley is a popular tourist destination.