Railton, Tasmania

Railton Tasmania
Topiary in Railton
Railton
Coordinates	41°21′S 146°25′E / 41.350°S 146.417°E / -41.350; 146.417Coordinates: 41°21′S 146°25′E / 41.350°S 146.417°E / -41.350; 146.417
Population	900 (2006)[1]
Elevation	65 m (213 ft)
Location	186 km (116 mi) NW of Hobart 58 km (36 mi) W of Launceston 19 km (12 mi) S of Devonport
LGA(s)	Kentish Council
State electorate(s)	Lyons
Federal Division(s)	Lyons

Railton is a town situated 20 km inland from Devonport on the north-west coast of Tasmania, Australia's island state. At the 2006 census, Railton had a population of 900.^[1] It was first known as Redwater Creek and became known as Railton after the construction of a tramway line in the 1860s.^[2] 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 wide main street was built to make life easier for the bullock teams making their way to the railway station. 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^[3]

Railton promotes itself as the "Town of Topiary".^[4]

Railton is home to a Cement Australia plant which began operations in 1923.^[5] It was previously known as Goliath Cement.^[6][7]

Sykes Sanctuary

Sykes Sanctuary is 40 acres (160,000 m²) 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.^[8]

References