Tarraleah Explained

Type:town
Tarraleah
State:tas
Coordinates:-42.3°N 172°W
Pushpin Label Position:right
Lga:Central Highlands
Region:Central
Postcode:7140
Est:1934
Pop:nil
Pop Year:2016 census
Pop Footnotes:[1]
Elevation:630
Maxtemp:13.8
Mintemp:3.6
Rainfall:1168.2
Stategov:Lyons
Fedgov:Lyons
Dist1:126
Dir1:NW
Location1:Hobart
Dist2:137
Dir2:E
Location2:Queenstown
Dist3:91
Dir3:NW
Location3:New Norfolk
Location4:Hamilton
Dist4:53
Dir4:NW
Near-Nw:Bronte Park
Near-N:Bronte Park, Dee
Near-Ne:Dee
Near-E:Dee
Near-W:Butlers Gorge, Bronte Park
Near-Sw:Southwest
Near-S:Wayatinah
Near-Se:Wayatinah

Tarraleah is a rural locality in the local government area (LGA) of Central Highlands in the Central LGA region of Tasmania. In the 2016 census, a population of nil for the state suburb of Tarraleah was recorded.[1]

A large section of the town was purchased in 2023 by Hydro Tasmania for 11 million dollars.[2]

Geography

The locality is about north-west of the town of Hamilton, 120 km north-west of the state capital Hobart,[3] and slightly closer to Queenstown.

The Derwent River flows through from west to south, where it forms part of the southern boundary. Lake Binney is contained within the locality, as is Tarraleah Power Station.

History

Tarraleah is Aboriginal for 'brush kangaroo' or 'forester kangaroo.'[4]

The township was built in the 1930s by the Hydro Electric Commission to house Tasmania's pioneering hydroelectricity officers and management.[5] The power scheme and headquarters at Tarraleah commenced in 1934.

Nive Road Post Office opened in 1934 and was renamed Tarraleah in 1935.[6]

Tarraleah was gazetted as a locality on 10 November 1971 and confirmed on 15 March 1972.

Road infrastructure

Route A10 (Lyell Highway) passes through from south-east to north. Route C601 (Fourteen Mile Road) starts at an intersection with A10 and runs north-west until it exits.[4] [7]

Amenities

The area is noted for its alpine lakes and mountains, and many hydro-electric dams, canals and giant steel pipeways. Tarraleah is located along the Lyell Highway, and is only a short distance from both Lake King William and Bronte Lagoon. Lake Lipootah and Bradys Lake are also close by.

After a multimillion-dollar redevelopment,[8] the former Hydro construction village has become an estate that comprises Tarraleah Lodge with accommodation, recreation, and dining options. Fresh water trout fishing, boating, bushwalking, mountain biking and kayaking are all popular activities in and around the township.

Tarraleah is also home to a high-altitude golf course.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2016 Census Quick Stats Tarraleah (Tas.) . . 23 October 2017 . quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au . Australian Bureau of Statistics . 13 September 2020 .
  2. Web site: Hydro Workers Return to Tarraleah. Tasmanian Times. 7 May 2023. 5 July 2023.
  3. Book: Boon, Robert . The Concise Encyclopedia of Australia and New Zealand . Horwitz Grahame Pty Limited . 1991 . 0 7255 2236 4 . 10th . 2 . Sydney . 788.
  4. Web site: . Placenames Tasmania – Tarraleah . 13 September 2020 . Placenames Tasmania . Select “Search”, enter "1270L", click “Search”, select row, map is displayed, click “Details”.
  5. - see chapter 3 On the Upper Derwent - pp.76-101 regarding Tarraleah.
  6. Web site: Post Office List . Premier Postal Auctions . 21 September 2020.
  7. 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 . 13 September 2020 .
  8. Web site: About Tarraleah Lodge. 5 July 2023. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20230326152650/https://www.tarraleahlodge.com.au/about/. 26 March 2023.