Beaconsfield, Tasmania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids BeaconsfieldTasmania |
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Location of Beaconsfield
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| Population | 1,298 (2016 census) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 7270 | ||||||||||||||
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| LGA(s) | West Tamar, Latrobe | ||||||||||||||
| Region | Launceston, North-west and west | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Bass, Braddon | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Bass, Braddon | ||||||||||||||
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Beaconsfield is a town in Tasmania, Australia. It is famous for its history as a gold mining town. Beaconsfield is located near the Tamar River, about 40 kilometers north of Launceston. In 2016, about 1298 people lived in Beaconsfield.
Contents
Beaconsfield's Early History
Europeans first explored the area around Beaconsfield in 1804. The town itself, first called Brandy Creek, started in the 1850s. People were mining Limestone here. This led to the discovery of gold in 1869. Gold mining began in 1877, and the area's population grew very quickly.
The town was renamed Beaconsfield in 1879. It was named after Benjamin Disraeli, who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom at that time. In 1953, Beaconsfield became the first town in Australia to add fluoride to its water supply. This helps to improve dental health.
Where is Beaconsfield?
Beaconsfield is located in northern Tasmania. The Tamar River estuary forms part of its northern border. The main road through the town is the West Tamar Highway. Other smaller roads connect Beaconsfield to nearby areas.
Gold Mining in Beaconsfield
Gold was first found in Beaconsfield in 1847. In 1877, brothers William and David Dally discovered a rich gold reef. This became known as the amazing Tasmanian Reef. They later sold their claim for a lot of money and a share in any company formed.
At the busiest time of the gold rush, 700 men worked in the gold mine. They dug up 26 tonnes of gold! An early settler described how the town quickly grew. More shops, hotels, and dance halls were built. Circuses and plays often visited because there was plenty of money around.
The town was first called "Brandy Creek". This was because of the color of the water in the creek where gold was found. In 1879, it was renamed Beaconsfield. This honored Lord Beaconsfield, who was the British Prime Minister.
In 1903, an English company bought the mine. They formed the Tasmanian Gold Mining Company Ltd. Mining underground was difficult because of water. So, they needed a lot of money to buy special equipment to pump the water out. The company dug gold from two main shafts: Grubb and Hart Shafts. Today, the buildings from these shafts house the Beaconsfield Mine & Heritage Centre.
Beaconsfield became the richest gold town in Tasmania. By 1881, there were 53 companies working in the goldfield. All of these were eventually taken over by the owners of the Tasmania mine.
The gold mine closed in 1914 because of constant flooding. By then, it had reached a depth of 450 meters and produced 800,000 ounces of gold. The mine reopened in 1999. In 1982, the Grubb Shaft Gold & Heritage Museum was started. It is now called the Beaconsfield Mine & Heritage Centre. It has many displays about the old gold mining days.
During the 1970s, new drilling showed that the gold reef continued much deeper. The mine was reopened and new equipment was installed. In the financial year 2004/05, the mine produced 3890 kilograms of gold.
The 2006 Mine Incident
On April 25, 2006, a small earthquake caused rocks to fall in the Beaconsfield gold mine. Most miners escaped safely. Sadly, one miner was killed. Two other miners, Todd Russell and Brant Webb, were trapped about one kilometer underground. They were found alive five days later. Rescue teams worked for nearly two weeks to free them. They were finally rescued on May 9.
In September 2007, the band Foo Fighters released a song called "Ballad of the Beaconsfield Miners". It was a tribute to the miners. The Beaconsfield gold mining operations finally closed in June 2012.
Water Fluoridation in Beaconsfield
On September 30, 1953, Beaconsfield became the first town in Australia to add fluoride to its water supply. The local chemist, Frank Grey, showed the town council how fluoride could help dental health. With permission from health officials, Grey helped start adding fluoride to the town's water.
Frank Grey's daughter, Jeanette, shared a personal story. She was a singer and believed that healthy teeth were important for singing well. This encouraged her father to promote fluoride.
On the 50th anniversary of this event, a monument was built in Beaconsfield. It thanks Frank Grey, the town council, and the people of West Tamar for bringing fluoride to Australia.
Population Details
At the 2016 census, Beaconsfield had a population of 1,298 people. Most people (82.9%) were born in Australia. Almost everyone (91.2%) spoke only English at home. The most common religions were No Religion (38.6%), Anglican (25.2%), and Catholic (11.1%).
