Burnie facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Burnie Tasmania
Burnie CBD and port
Burnie Location in Tasmania
Population	19,918 (2021)
Established	1827
Gazetted	1967
Postcode(s)	7320
Elevation	19 m (62 ft)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10)
• Summer (DST)	AEDT (UTC+11)
Location	47 km (29 mi) from Devonport 134 km (83 mi) from Launceston 154 km (96 mi) from Queenstown 296 km (184 mi) from Hobart
LGA(s)	City of Burnie
State electorate(s)	Braddon
Federal Division(s)	Braddon
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 16.9 °C 62 °F 9.3 °C 49 °F 947.4 mm 37.3 in

Burnie (pronounced BER-nee) is a busy port city on the north-west coast of Tasmania, Australia. It is the fourth largest city on the island. Burnie is about 325 kilometres north-west of Hobart, Tasmania's capital. It is also 147 kilometres north-west of Launceston and 47 kilometres west of Devonport.

The town started in 1827 as Emu Bay. In the early 1840s, it was renamed after William Burnie. He was a director of the Van Diemen's Land Company. Queen Elizabeth II officially made Burnie a city on 26 April 1988. In 2021, Burnie had a population of 19,918 people. The City of Burnie council manages an area of 600 square kilometres.

Burnie's economy has always relied on heavy manufacturing, mining, forestry, and farming. The city is located on the coast of Emu Bay. Its success is closely linked to its deep water port. The Port of Burnie handles over 5 million tonnes of goods each year. This includes almost half of Tasmania's containerised freight. Burnie is Tasmania's most north-westerly city. This means it has the shortest sea lines of communication to mainland Australia.

The city exports many Tasmanian minerals. These include copper, silver, gold, tin, lead, zinc, iron, tungsten, and very pure silica. It also exports forestry products like logs, pulpwood, and wood chips. The Burnie Chip Export Terminal is sometimes called the "Pyramids of Burnie." In 2017, it exported over 1.5 million tonnes of wood chips.

In the 1970s and 80s, Burnie faced pollution problems. This was due to titanium dioxide production. From the 1990s, the city saw a big decline in industry. Many factories closed, including its pulp and paper mill. This led to fewer people living there and high unemployment. It caused economic hardship for the community.

Recently, Burnie has been focusing on renewable energy. By 2024, it aims to be a leader in Tasmania's renewable energy sector. The North West Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) project will bring new wind and solar energy developments. The Marinus Link is a large power cable planned to connect Tasmania's renewable energy to mainland Australia. This project could create 1,400 local jobs. It might also bring about $3 billion in economic investment. New projects include the Guildford and Hellyer Wind Farms. Australia's first synthetic electrofuel facility is also planned. Other growing areas in Burnie include education, healthcare, and logistics. These help make the city's economy more diverse.

History of Burnie

Early Days (1827 - 1875)

Burnie's story began with the Van Diemen's Land Company (VDL Company). This company was formed in London in 1824. It aimed to develop land in Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania). In 1825, the company received a special permission from the King. This allowed them to develop a large area in North-West Tasmania.

In 1827, Henry Hellyer, a surveyor for the VDL Company, set up camp at Emu Bay. This spot is now called Oakleigh Park. The company chose Emu Bay as a port. It would serve their inland properties at Hampshire and Surrey Hills. These were about 50 kilometres inland. A year later, another surveyor, John Helder Wedge, suggested Emu Bay become an official town. The VDL Company was already using the area. At that time, Emu Bay had a store, a small jetty, and a few huts. Hellyer also built the first road on the North West Coast. It went through thick rainforest from South Burnie beach.

The settlement of Burnie was not always peaceful. Between 1828 and 1832, a Tommeginne woman named Tarenorerer led a resistance. She fought against the settlers. She attacked VDL Company workers. Eventually, she was captured. Alexander Goldie, a VDL Company leader, also led attacks against the local Indigenous people. The VDL Company faced problems. By 1833, their sheep farming at Surrey Hills had failed.

In the 1840s, the VDL Company started renting land to farmers. But Burnie grew slowly. In 1843, the town was surveyed and renamed Burnie. It was named after William Burnie, a director of the VDL Company. By 1853, Burnie had about 200 people. Basic services like doctors were in other towns. Roads and wharves were very basic. Still, the first official births were recorded that year.

Burnie's first school opened in 1862. In 1875, the VDL Company set up its main office in Oakleigh Park. This office stayed in Burnie until the 1950s. Burnie became important for building roads and railways in the region.

Mining Boom and Industry (1876 - 1939)

Burnie township in 1919

In the late 1870s, new ways to communicate arrived. The telegraph and telephone came to Burnie. A horse-drawn tramway was built. It connected Burnie to Waratah. The VDL Company later improved this tramway. It used iron rails and steam engines. This helped transport tin from the Mount Bischoff mine. This made Burnie a key port for exporting minerals from the west coast. By the 1880s, Burnie's economy grew a lot. This was because new mineral deposits were found. The Emu Bay Railway Company extended the railway to Zeehan by 1900. This caused Burnie's population to grow to over 1,500 people.

Burnie's business area grew quickly. Port facilities improved, and the town's buildings expanded. By 1900, a motor coach service ran between Burnie and Stanley. This showed Burnie's growing importance as a transport hub.

A big change happened in 1936. The Associated Pulp and Paper Mill (APPM) was built in South Burnie. By 1939, the mill made 15,000 tonnes of fine paper each year. This was the first time paper was made entirely from eucalypt pulp. This industrial growth led to more jobs and people. Burnie became a strong industrial centre.

Post-War Growth and Industry (1940s - 1980s)

After World War II, Burnie became known for its industry. In the 1950s and 1960s, APPM hired about 3,500 workers. Other industries also started, like Tioxide (making pigments) and North West Acid. This industrial boom led to Burnie becoming an official city in 1988. In the mid-1980s, Burnie's population was over 20,500. It was a busy industrial hub.

However, this success had environmental costs. In the 1970s, Tioxide's production caused heavy pollution. The sea turned rust-red from waste. Burnie became known as one of Tasmania’s most polluted towns. The Australian band Midnight Oil even sang about Burnie's environmental problems in their song "Burnie."

Challenges and New Beginnings (1980s - Present)

In the 1980s and 1990s, changes in Australian industry hit Burnie hard. APPM reduced its operations. The pulp mill finally closed in 2010. This led to many job losses. Other businesses also closed, like the Caterpillar mining machinery factory. This caused economic uncertainty for the town.

Despite these problems, Burnie started to change in the 1990s. The Lion cheese-making factory remained a big employer. Efforts were made to create different types of jobs. By the 2000s, Burnie focused on tourism and the arts. It became known for its clean beaches. Cruise ships started visiting each year. It also gained a growing community of artists. In 2016, Elphinstone Group relaunched its brand. They developed the Haulmax 3900 series off-highway haul truck. This company is still a major local employer. Today, Burnie is seen as the gateway to Tasmania’s northwest. This includes the Tarkine forest. It is also a hub for new industries and outdoor activities.

People of Burnie

In 2021, Burnie had 19,918 people. This makes it an important urban centre in North West Tasmania. Burnie has grown quickly at times, especially in the late 1800s and mid-1900s. In recent years, the population has changed. But there are signs of recovery in the 21st century. While recent estimates show growth, Burnie's population is not yet as high as it was in the mid-1980s. In 2021, Burnie's population was a bit older than the national average. About 19% of residents were 65 or older. This is common in regional areas.

Burnie is a working-class city. The average household income is $1,148 per week. This is lower than the national average of $1,746. The unemployment rate was about 8.1%, higher than the national rate of 5.1%. These numbers show some economic challenges. But Burnie's role as a port and industrial centre is still important for Tasmania.

Burnie also has a notable Indigenous population. About 8.5% of residents identify as First Nations people or Torres Strait Islander. This is higher than the national average of 3.2%. Most residents (84.4%) were born in Australia. Smaller groups came from England (2.4%), New Zealand (0.9%), India (0.8%), Nepal and the Philippines (0.4%), and mainland China (0.3%). English is the main language, spoken by 90.2% of people at home. About 5.9% of households speak a language other than English.

When it comes to religion, 53.4% of Burnie's people said they had no religious affiliation. About 38.8% identified as Christian. This included 11.4% Catholic and 11.2% Anglican. Other religious groups include Hinduism (0.9%), Buddhism (0.7%), Islam (0.6%), and Sikhism (0.2%).

Burnie's Climate

Burnie has an oceanic climate. This means it has very mild, fairly dry summers. Winters are cool and rainy. The Bass Strait helps keep the weather steady. So, there isn't a huge difference between seasons. The highest average temperature is 21.3°C in February. The lowest average is 12.8°C in July. The lowest average temperature is 13.3°C in February. The lowest is 6.0°C in July.

Burnie gets a moderate amount of rain each year, about 947.4 mm. It rains on about 158 days, mostly in winter. The town is not very sunny. It has 141.1 cloudy days and only 51.7 clear days each year. The hottest temperature ever recorded was 33.8°C on January 31, 2009. The coldest was -2.0°C on July 14, 1967.

How Burnie is Governed

The Burnie City Council is made up of nine councillors. Each serves a four-year term. Teeny Brumby became the mayor of the City of Burnie in 2022. The council looks after Burnie's roads, community services, and local rules. They also support arts and projects like the Burnie Arts and Function Centre.

Burnie City Council offices

Burnie's politics involve a mix of conservative and independent ideas. This reflects wider trends in Tasmania. At the state level, Burnie is in the Tasmanian House of Assembly's Braddon area. This area has members from both the Labor and Liberal parties.

Nationally, Burnie is part of the federal electorate of Braddon. Currently, Gavin Pearce from the Liberal Party of Australia represents it. Braddon has often been a close election area. Representation often switches between the Labor and Liberal parties.

In the Australian Senate, Tasmania has six senators. One of them is Jacquie Lambie. She is the leader and founder of the Jacqui Lambie Network (JLN). Lambie lives in Burnie and has strong support there.

Burnie's Economy

Burnie's economy has always been shaped by its main industries. These are heavy manufacturing, forestry, and farming. The Port of Burnie plays a very important role. The port became the main place for exporting minerals from Tasmania's west coast. This happened after the Emu Bay Railway opened in 1897. This made Burnie a strong industrial centre. The railway and the port were key to Burnie's early growth.

Over time, farming became less central. The focus shifted to forestry. This sector began to lead Burnie’s economy in the 20th century. Forestry was very important for the city's growth. Especially with the Associated Pulp and Paper Mills (APPM) starting in 1938. The pulp and paper mill was a big step for Burnie's industry. It made Burnie a key player in Australia’s paper production. The city also became a centre for woodchip exports. The woodchip terminal helped its role in the forestry industry.

However, the paper industry declined. This caused a big economic change for Burnie. The Burnie Paper Mill closed in 2010. This was after attempts to find a buyer failed. It marked the end of an era for one of the city's most famous industries. Even though the mill closed, forestry is still important. Woodchip exports continue through the Burnie Chip Export Terminal. This is also known as the "Pyramids of Burnie." While heavy manufacturing and forestry are still significant, Burnie has tried to diversify its economy. It is now looking into renewable energy, tourism, and education.

A panoramic view of Burnie, Emu Bay and Table Cape in 2009

New Industries Growing

Wind turbine components stored at the former pulp and paper mill site in Burnie

Marinus Link Project

The Marinus Link project is expected to boost Burnie's economy even more. This project will cost $3.5 billion (in 2021). It will connect Heybridge to Waratah Bay, Victoria. It uses a 255-kilometre high voltage direct current submarine power cable. This cable will send renewable energy to Australian mainland.

Supporting projects, like the North West Transmission Developments, will make Burnie a strong renewable energy hub. The project is expected to create 1,400 local jobs. It will also bring $3 billion in direct economic investment. It will supply enough electricity for 1.5 million homes. This will greatly reduce carbon emissions. Construction is planned to start in 2026 and finish by 2030.

E-fuels Facility

Burnie was chosen for Australia’s first large-scale e-fuels facility. This is because Tasmania uses 100% renewable energy. It also has deep water port facilities. And it is close to Forico’s Surrey Hills plantation. This important facility will cost $1 billion. It will produce up to 100 million litres of carbon-neutral e-fuels each year. These fuels will help reduce carbon in industries that still use liquid fuels. Such industries include aviation, shipping, and heavy transport.

By using renewable energy, the plant aims to cut global carbon emissions. It could reduce them by about 260,000 tonnes per year. This is like taking 52,000 cars off the road. The facility is designed by France’s Technip Energies NV. It is set to open by 2028 and create 200 permanent jobs.

Wind Farms

Several wind farm projects are planned near Burnie. The Guildford and Hellyer Wind Farms are south of Burnie. They are part of Tasmania's plan to increase its renewable energy. These wind farms are expected to generate a lot of power. They will help the state reach its goal of 200% renewable energy by 2040.

Culture and Education

Burnie has long been a centre for culture, education, and health services. The Burnie Arts and Function Centre is at the heart of its cultural area. It opened in 1965, replacing the old Burnie Theatre. This multi-purpose venue hosts performances, events, and exhibitions. It attracts visitors from all over the region. The centre also has one of Australia's largest regional art galleries. This gallery opened in 1978. It is also home to the Burnie Regional Museum. The museum features the historic Federation Street, which is the first indoor streetscape of its kind.

In 2021, plans for a new $18 million North West Museum and Art Gallery were stopped. Instead, the focus shifted to improving existing cultural facilities. Burnie also provides important health services. The North West Regional Hospital is on Brickport Road. It is the third-largest hospital in Tasmania. It offers many services, including general medicine, surgery, and paediatrics. It plays a vital role in the community's health.

Burnie also has key educational institutions. These include the Cradle Coast campus of the University of Tasmania. The Cuthbertson Research Laboratories are part of the Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research there. The town also has campuses for the Tasmanian Polytechnic and Tasmanian Academy. These provide many learning opportunities. Burnie also has many sports and social groups. They help create a lively community.

Getting Around Burnie

Burnie Airport in 2022

Burnie Airport is in the nearby town of Wynyard. It is about a 20-minute drive from Burnie's city centre.

Burnie Port is run by TasPorts. It is Tasmania's largest port for general cargo. It is the closest Tasmanian port to Melbourne and Mainland Australia. A shiploader built in 1969 was upgraded in 2024. This doubled the port's capacity.

Burnie is served by TasRail freight services. These run on the Melba and Western lines. Burnie used to be the end point of the old Emu Bay Railway. Burnie also had passenger train services, like the Tasman Limited, until the mid-1970s. As more people used road transport, passenger services stopped.

Burnie is connected to Devonport by the four-lane Bass Highway. There is also a rail link for freight. Burnie is also connected to the West Coast by the Murchison Highway.

Metro Tasmania runs local bus services around the city and its suburbs. Redline Coaches offers a service to Smithton. Tassielink Transit operates services to Strahan.

Coastal Pathway

In October 2024, a 13-kilometre coastal pathway opened. It connects Burnie and Wynyard. This pathway uses the route of the former Western railway line.

Burnie's Suburbs

The city of Burnie includes several smaller suburbs. These are Parklands, Park Grove, Shorewell Park, Acton, Montello, Hillcrest, Terrylands, Upper Burnie, Romaine, Havenview, Emu Heights, South Burnie, and Wivenhoe.

Sports in Burnie

Australian rules football is very popular in Burnie. The city's team is the Burnie Dockers Football Club. They play in the Tasmanian State League. Their home ground is West Park Oval.

Rugby union is also played in Burnie. The local club is the Burnie Rugby Union Club. They were the champions of the Tasmanian Rugby Union Statewide Division Two. They moved up to the Statewide First Division in 2008.

Soccer is also played in Burnie. The Burnie United FC has four teams in the northern premier league. These include a women's team, an Under 18 team, a reserve team, and a Division One team. They also have youth teams for Under 14 and Under 16 competitions. Their home ground is in Montello, Tasmania.

Burnie hosts an ATP Challenger Tour tennis event. It is called the Burnie International. It takes place the week after the Australian Open.

Athletics events include the yearly Burnie Gift and Burnie Ten.

Archery is also popular in Burnie. The Burnie Bowmen Archery Club was founded in 1958. They have helped archery grow along Tasmania's northwest coast. Their first target championship was in 1959. In 1972, the Burnie Bowmen Archery Club hosted the first national championships held outside a capital city. In 2017, they hosted Archery for the XVI Australian Masters Games. They were supposed to host the National Youth Archery Championships and National Archery Championships in 2020 and 2021. But these were cancelled due to COVID-19. Now, Target and Clout shoots are held at Parklands High School Oval in Romaine, Burnie. Indoor archery is at the Upper Burnie Memorial Hall. Field archery is at the Blythe Scout Camp at Heybridge.

Media in Burnie

The Advocate newspaper started in 1890. It serves the North West region. The mailroom is in Burnie. But local printing stopped in mid-2008 and moved to Launceston.

Burnie can receive television stations from the ABC, SBS, WIN, and Southern Cross. It also gets all new free-to-air channels.

There are two commercial radio stations. 7BU is on 100.9 MHz FM. Sea FM is on 101.7 MHz FM. Many Melbourne radio stations can also be heard in Burnie.

Burnie CBD and Port from Wilfred Campbell Memorial Reserve

Famous People from Burnie

• Country music singer Jean Stafford OAM lived in Burnie in the 1960s and early 1970s. Her family still lives in the area.
• Zima Anderson – actress who played Roxy Willis in Neighbours
• Taran Armstrong – basketball player
• Cameron Baird – Australian soldier, awarded the Victoria Cross
• Jamie Cox – cricketer
• Josh Earl – comedian and former host of Spicks and Specks
• Dale Elphinstone – founder of Elphinstone Group and Tasmania's wealthiest person in 2019
• Hannah Gadsby - Comedian
• Brendon Gale – AFL player for Richmond Football Club
• David Guest – Australian field hockey player, 2008 Olympic bronze medalist
• Justin Heazlewood – Australian songwriter, author, actor, and humorist (The Bedroom Philosopher)
• Eddie Jones – current head coach of the Australian Wallabies Rugby Team
• Matthew Knight – basketball player, three-time NBL champion
• Jon Kudelka - cartoonist
• Jacqui Lambie – Senator for Tasmania – Jacqui Lambie Network
• Marcus Marshall – Australian racing driver
• Brody Mihocek – AFL player for Collingwood Football Club
• Vicki O'Halloran – Administrator of the Northern Territory
• Eli Templeton – AFL player for St Kilda Football Club
• Lachie Weller – AFL player for Fremantle Football Club and Gold Coast Suns
• Maverick Weller – AFL player for Gold Coast Suns and St Kilda Football Club
• Shaun Young – cricketer

See also

In Spanish: Burnie para niños