Description
Zeehan is a town on the west coast of Tasmania, approximately 45km north of Stahan. This region is known as a popular tourist destination and also has extensive industrial and mining heritage. In 1882, rich deposits of silver and lead were discovered here and Zeehan became a booming mining centre known as Silver City. Zeehan's population peaked at 10 000 - more than 10 times the current population - and lasted until the closure of the last mine in 1914. Continued mining in nearby Renison Bell has helped to maintain the town's economy in more recent times.
There are a few buildings that remain from the early establishment of Zeehan as a mining centre, including the post office, the bank and St Luke's Church. At its peak, the town was the social hub of the entire west coast. The Gaiety Theatre, where celebrities such as Dame Nellie Melba once performed, has a capacity of 1000 and was state of the art when it was built in 1899. The West Coast Pioneers' Memorial Museum in Main Street provides comprehensive information on the history of the region, an insight into the workings of a mine, and an interesting mineral collection.
From Zeehan you can fish for trout in Lake Peiman or crayfish at Granville Harbour. You might also like to visit Zeehan's original port, Trial Harbour, or take in the views from the top of Mount Zeehan. You can expect to encounter some wet weather when travelling along the west coast of Tasmania - Zeehan averages 2.5 metres of rain a year, so it's best to be prepared and pack the right gear!
