Chudleigh, Tasmania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids ChudleighTasmania |
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 Chudleigh
Location in Tasmania
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| Population | 203 (2016 census) | ||||||||||||||
| Established | 1866 | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 7304 | ||||||||||||||
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| LGA(s) | Meander Valley Council | ||||||||||||||
| Region | Launceston | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Lyons | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Lyons | ||||||||||||||
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Chudleigh is a small, friendly village in northern Tasmania, Australia. It is located about 64 kilometers (40 miles) west of Launceston. The village sits in the beautiful Chudleigh Valley, surrounded by the Gog Range and the Great Western Tiers mountains.
Chudleigh is mostly a farming area. In the past, people also worked in timber and lime production. The valley's rich, flat land is perfect for growing crops. Each February, Chudleigh hosts a fun agricultural and horticultural show. This show has been running since 1889, making it one of Tasmania's oldest events!
The area was once home to the Pallittorre Aboriginal Tasmanians for thousands of years. European settlers arrived in the 1830s. They started farms and produced lime. The town was planned to be much larger, but it remained a small village. Today, Chudleigh is known as a "village of roses" because of the many roses planted along its main street. It also has a private wildlife park and shops selling local products like honey.
Contents
Exploring Chudleigh's Location
Chudleigh is nestled in a fertile valley. This valley is bordered by the Gog and Magog ranges to the north. To the south-west, you'll find the Great Western Tiers.
Rivers and Land Around Chudleigh
The Lobster Rivulet, a small river, flows through Chudleigh. It is a branch of the larger Mersey River. The land around the town is mostly used for grazing animals. Some areas are also used for growing crops. The hills have different types of rocks, like basalt, limestone, and dolerite. In winter, the area can get quite frosty, and sometimes it even snows!
Chudleigh's Past: A Look Back in Time
The island of Tasmania has been home to Aboriginal Tasmanians for thousands of years. Before Europeans arrived, Chudleigh was part of the land of the Pallittorre Aboriginal tribe. They lived in the area and even had a camping ground where a church cemetery was later built.
Early European Settlement
In the early 1820s, the Van Diemen's Land Company created a track through Chudleigh. This track helped them move farm animals across Tasmania. Europeans began settling west of Deloraine in the early 1800s. John Badcock Gardiner, an early settler, likely named Chudleigh after a village in England.
Growing Industries and Town Life
One of the first big industries in Chudleigh was limestone mining. People used the lime for building in nearby Launceston. The town of Chudleigh was surveyed, meaning its streets and blocks were planned out. It was meant to be a very large town, possibly a railway junction. However, these plans changed over time.
Around 1850, the first hotel, the Chudleigh Inn, was built. A police station was also completed around 1860. By 1862, many caves were discovered nearby, which brought visitors to the area.
Schools and Community Life
A school building was built in the 1860s. It opened in 1864 with 14 students. The school moved a few times due to flooding. It finally closed in 1965 because there weren't enough students. After that, children had to travel to Mole Creek for school.
Chudleigh was officially declared a town in 1866. By 1883, it had a post office, two stores, two churches, and many houses. The annual agricultural show started in 1889. It has only stopped during the two World Wars.
Town Hall and Modern Services
Chudleigh's town hall was finished in 1895. It was built by local people and funded by donations. The town also had a post office from 1865. In the early 1900s, Chudleigh even had a maternity hospital. The first telephones were installed in the 1930s, and electricity arrived in the 1940s.
Churches in Chudleigh
Chudleigh once had churches for four different Christian denominations. However, none of them are still open today.
An Anglican cemetery opened in 1864. The Church of the Good Shepherd was built in 1868. It was replaced by a new building in 1880, which is now a private home. A Presbyterian cemetery was set up in 1860. A Presbyterian church was built by 1877 but later burned down. The Salvation Army also had a small building in Chudleigh from 1878 to 1938. A Wesleyan chapel was built before 1877. This church later became part of the Uniting Church in Australia in 1977. It closed in 1984 and is now a private home.
The Railway Connection
A train line was built from Mole Creek to Deloraine, passing through Chudleigh. It opened in 1890. The train carried mail, goods, and passengers. Passenger services mostly stopped in 1960. The line was mainly used to transport timber and woodchips. The railway line closed completely in 1985.
Getting Around Chudleigh
The main road, B12 (Mole Creek Road), runs through Chudleigh. Another road, C169 (Caveside Road), starts in Chudleigh and heads south-west.
Chudleigh Today: A Village of Roses
Chudleigh is a small service center for the surrounding farming and timber areas. It has a few shops, including one that sells honey products. There is also a service station and a general store.
Historic Buildings and Local Attractions
Many roses were planted along the main street starting in 2001. This project helped make Chudleigh known as the "village of roses."
You can find some historic buildings in Chudleigh. Bentley House is a historic home with beautiful grounds. A restored building from 1827–28, which was once a grain store, stands at the south-east corner of town. The main street also has a surveyor's cottage built around 1840.
Fun Things to Do Near Chudleigh
The Chudleigh show is held every February. It's a great place to see local farming and community spirit. Melita Honey Farm has a shop selling many honey products.
Nearby, you can visit Mole Creek Karst National Park. This park has amazing caves that go through the limestone underground. The Lobster Rivulet Forest Reserve is also close by. It has beautiful waterfalls. Trowunna Wildlife Park is a private sanctuary where you can see native Australian animals like Tasmanian devils. The park helps protect these animals, especially from a serious disease.
Chudleigh is part of the Meander Valley Council local government area. It is also in the Division of Lyons for both state and federal government elections.
People and Climate
In 2011, about 335 people lived in Chudleigh and the surrounding area. The town's population was around 200 in 2000.
Chudleigh's Weather
Tasmania has a mild, oceanic climate. This means it has cool summers and mild winters. Chudleigh is in a "rain shadow" area, which means it gets less rain than some other parts of the mountains. Since the 1950s, average temperatures in the Meander Valley have slowly risen. Rainfall has also decreased since the 1970s.
