Parattah, Tasmania

Parattah is a small township in Tasmania, located about 6 kilometres (4 mi) southeast of the town of Oatlands. At the 2006 census, Parattah had a population of 105.^[1]

While not populated as such, the area is home to about 30 families, and contains a farmhouse which was once home to Hudson Fysh, one of the founders of Qantas, and a historic railway station. Parattah was once known as Parattah Junction due to the former Oatlands Railway which branched off towards Oatlands from this area. A few abandoned sidings, as well as a short track for reversing the direction of locomotives and a large industrial loading crane are still on site and easily accessible from the road. A local organisation is attempting to restore the railway which once ran through the district. The main street contains a number of attractive dwellings dating from the town's heyday, some of which are currently undergoing restoration. The village retains the original general store, the impressive Tudor style 'Parratah Hotel' and a number of historic churches. It is well worth the short side trip from Oatlands to enjoy the town. A picnic area is available adjacent to the old rail station.

History

The first post office serving the township opened 1 June 1879 and was named Oatlands Station; the post office was renamed Parattah with effect from 1 January 1882 and was located at the railway station until 8 January 1914.^[2] The postmistress from 1946 to 1966 was Mrs. Mary Fisher; she was succeeded by her daughter, Miss Vera Fisher, who retired in March 1977 and who claimed as an ancestor the postal reformer Sir Rowland Hill.^[3]

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