Tasmania – Sharing old photos with Christian

Christian is interested in Tasmania. Below are some photos from my collection taken in 1988...

Natural Beauty to Discover

ย Coastline

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Caves

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Beaches

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Wateralls

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Hiking

A famous hike in Tasmania follows the Overland Track. Starting at Cradle Mountain, you head across mountain and valley until you reach Lake St. Clair. Catching a boat across the lake, you then make your way home. You can go with a group of friends or join a walking tour but allow about six days and make certain you're fit. ๐Ÿ™‚

Cradle Mountain and the start of your journey.

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Location: Cradle Mountain, Tasmania, Australia

Lake St.Clair

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Location: Lake St. CLair, Tasmania, Australia

For details about the Overland Hiking Tours... Cradle Mountain Huts Tour details

 

Mining and Logging

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Location: Queenstown, Tasmania, Australia

These are the hills around the town of Queenstown. Mining and smelting of copper had eventually killed the trees on the mountains. The town is proud of its mining past but mining ended in 1994. Tourism is now a big money earner for the community. With the rebuilding of the old mining railway, the West Coast Wilderness Railway offers a wonderful scenic ride across the mountains to Strahan (pronounced "strawn") where tourists can ride boats along the beautiful Gordon River (pictured below).

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Location: Gordon River, Tasmania, Australia

Then There Are the Animals

Bennetts Wallaby

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Location: Lake St. CLair, Tasmania, Australia

Cape Barren Geese

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Location: Lake St. CLair, Tasmania, Australia

Some of the Tasmanian animals in a museum display

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Aboriginal Heritage

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The picture is a museum display showing the type of shelters used by Tasmanian Aborigines. The animal you see is a Tasmanian devil. Unlike the Bugs Bunny Tassie, he is the size of a small dog. The devils are meat and carrion eaters and, like kangaroos, are marsupials, i.e. pouched animals.

There was once a vibrant Aboriginal culture in Tasmania but, with the coming of colonists, disease and official persecution brought an end to their language and much of their cultural heritage. It was one of Australia's saddest times in history. For more information on Aboriginal Tasmanians

Convict Past

The first Europeans to come to live in Tasmania were convicts sent by England. They have left behind the remains of their occupation at places such as Port Arthur and in bridges and buildings around Tasmania.

Port Arthur

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Location: Port Arthur, Tasmania, Australia

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Location: Port Arthur, Tasmania, Australia

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Location: Port Arthur, Tasmania, Australia

Convict built bridge at Richmond

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Location: Richmond, Tasmania, Australia

Convict built bridge at Ross.

I wonder if your can work out why I like the name of this town? ๐Ÿ™‚

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Location: Ross, Tasmania, Australia

 

Tasmania lies about as far south of the equator as Iowa is north of the equator.

5 thoughts on “Tasmania – Sharing old photos with Christian

  1. Christian

    Dear Mr. Ross,

    Thank you for the post! We also have a Lake St. Clair here in Michigan, although it does not look as pretty as yours. That hiking trip sounds spectacular! I wish there was sights like that where I live. I assume you like that town name because it is the same as yours. I know what Tasmanian Devils look like but how do they behave?

    Sincerley,

    Christian
    Techie Kids

    Reply
    1. rossmannell

      Post author

      Dear Christian,

      Lake St. Clair is in the state of Tasmania. Tasmania is Australia’s smallest state (although the Australian Capital Territory where Australia’s capital city, Canberra, is located is smaller). Tasmania is also an island. It is bigger than West Virginia and smaller than South Carolina so, if it was a state of U.S.A., it would be the 41st state in size.

      To reach it, we have to fly there or drive to Melbourne and take a ship across the Bass Strait. When I visited the state in 1988, I flew in. It has many beautiful places to see. ๐Ÿ™‚

      Tasmanian devils are only the size of a small dog like the chihuahua but they do have a reputation. Their snarling and growling sounds at night was said to scare early settlers to Tasmania.

      I’ll add a short post about them so I can share some video clips I have found. As I explained to Alexis, I have a cue for comments when I have more than one to do so I will post the Tassie devil one as soon as I can. ๐Ÿ™‚

      @RossMannell

      Reply
  2. Christian

    Dear Mr. Ross Mannell,

    I am excited to see the Tasmanian Devil! Are they viscious or are they more of a docile animal? The climate is very different here but we do have some cool sights. We have the Great Lakes which are a neat sight. I was wondering is there any fishing there?

    Sincerley,

    Christian
    Techie Kids

    Reply
    1. rossmannell

      Post author

      Dear Christian,

      Because of hunting, the last known Tasmanian tiger died in about 1930. From what I have found, they were shy of humans so I don’t know how savage they might have been. I suspect if a human threatened their young, like any animal, they would try to defend their baby.

      There is trout fishing in some areas of Tasmania because trout have been introduced. Being an island state, there are plenty of places to go fishing. You can even fish in Hobart’s Derwent River. Hobart is Tasmania’s capital city.

      Before the end of the coming weekend, I should have the promised post of the Tasmanian tiger ready. Perhaps if you come to Australia, you might be the person who finds surviving Tasmanian tigers. Whomever finds proof of one will be famous. In know many have tried but it’s a little like the search for the sasquatch, although I think finding a Tasmanian tiger has a better chance. ๐Ÿ™‚

      @RossMannell

      Reply

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