Low Head Explained

Type:town
Low Head
State:tas
Lga:George Town Council
Postcode:7253
Coordinates:-41.0667°N 146.8°W
Pop:572
Pop Footnotes:[1]
Elevation:28
Elevation Footnotes:[2]
Stategov:Bass
Fedgov:Bass
Region:Launceston
Dist1:252
Dir1:N
Location1:Hobart
Dist2:55
Dir2:N
Location2:Launceston
Dist3:5
Dir3:N
Location3:George Town
Near-Nw:Bass Strait
Near-N:Bass Strait
Near-Ne:Bass Strait
Near-E:George Town
Near-W:Tamar River
Near-Sw:Tamar River
Near-S:George Town
Near-Se:George Town

Low Head is a rural residential locality in the local government area (LGA) of George Town in the Launceston LGA region of Tasmania. The locality is about north of the town of George Town. The 2016 census recorded a population of 572 for the state suburb of Low Head.[1] It is a suburb of George Town, on a peninsula at the mouth of the Tamar River.

It is a popular snorkel and scuba diving area during much of the year, with extensive wide, unspoiled beaches.

The area also has a lighthouse, beaches and a colony of little penguins (Eudyptula minor).

The foghorn, a Chance Brothers "Type G" diaphone at Low Head Lighthouse, is the only operable foghorn of its type and is popular with tourists as it is sounded at noon every Sunday.

History

Low Head was gazetted as a locality in 1967.[3] The first Low Head Post Office opened on 12 September 1887 and closed in 1894.[4] In 1996 the ran aground on Hebe Reef, off Low Head, causing the worst oil disaster in Australia's history.

Geography

The waters of the Tamar River estuary (also known as Port Dalrymple) and Bass Strait form the western to north-eastern boundaries. The George Town Aerodrome is within the locality.

Climate

Low Head has a temperate oceanic climate (Köppen: Cfb), bordering on a warm Mediterranean climate.

Road infrastructure

Route A8 (Low Head Road) runs through from south-west to north-west, where it terminates.[3] [5]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2016 Census Quick Stats Low Head (Tas.) . . 23 October 2017 . quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au . Australian Bureau of Statistics . 2 April 2021 .
  2. http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_091057.shtml Bureau of Meteorology
  3. Web site: Placenames Tasmania – Low Head . . Placenames Tasmania . 2 April 2021 . Select “Search”, enter "1101W", click “Search”, select row, map is displayed, click “Details”.
  4. Web site: Premier Postal History . Post Office List . Premier Postal Auctions . 16 June 2012.
  5. Web site: Tasmanian Road Route Codes . https://web.archive.org/web/20170801112712/http://dpipwe.tas.gov.au/Documents/Route%20Descriptions%20V3.6.pdf . dead . 2017-08-01 . . May 2017 . Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water & Environment . 2 April 2021 .