Devonport, Tasmania facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Devonport Tasmania
From top; left to right: Devonport aerial, Rooke Street, Mersey Bluff Lighthouse, Home Hill estate, Heritage Walk Track, MS Spirit of Tasmania I
Devonport Location in Tasmania
Population	26,150 (2021) (46th)
Established	1850
Postcode(s)	7310
Elevation	9 m (30 ft)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10)
• Summer (DST)	AEDT (UTC+11)
Location	47 km (29 mi) from Burnie 98 km (61 mi) from Launceston 277 km (172 mi) from Hobart
LGA(s)	City of Devonport
State electorate(s)	Braddon
Federal Division(s)	Braddon
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 17.0 °C 63 °F 8.3 °C 47 °F 773.0 mm 30.4 in

Devonport (/ˈdɛvənpɔːrt/ dev-ƏN-port; pirinilaplu/palawa kani: limilinaturi) is a port city situated at the mouth of the Mersey River on the north-west coast of Tasmania, Australia. Positioned 47 kilometres (29 mi) east of Burnie and 98 kilometres (61 mi) north of Launceston, its harbour manages over half of Tasmania's imports and exports, standing as the busiest freight port on the island. Devonport also plays a pivotal role in Tasmania's trade sector, supporting industries such as agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism. The City of Devonport's gross domestic product (GDP) was estimated at .5b in 2023.

The city is home to the Spirit of Tasmania's passenger terminal, facilitating roll-on/roll-off (RORO) ferry operations connecting mainland Australia and Tasmania since July 1985. In the 2022-23 fiscal year, the Port of Devonport welcomed over 450,000 passengers. The completion of the $240m Quaylink project is expected to increase this capacity by an additional 160,000 passengers annually.

Devonport was established in 1893 through the amalgamation of the 1850s settlements of Torquay on the east bank and Formby on the west bank of the Mersey River. The township became a municipality in 1907 and designated a city by Prince Charles of Wales on 21 April 1981. Devonport holds the status of Tasmania's third-largest city, with an urban population of 26,150 at the 2021 Australian census, encompassing a total of 48,293 residents living within the greater statistical area.

Despite its relatively small size, Devonport has facilitated business for many pioneering industries that achieved notable success on a national scale. Circa 1901, the Finlayson family foundry, known for its innovation, engineered what is believed to be the first steam car in the Southern Hemisphere. Similarly, family members of shipping company Holyman & Sons played a pivotal role in establishing the first airline connecting Bass Strait in 1934 as Holyman Airway's Pty Ltd, which eventually evolved into Australian National Airways and subsequently merged with Ansett.

Devonport holds a significant place in Australian political history as the home town of both Joseph Lyons, the tenth Prime Minister of Australia, and his wife, Dame Enid Lyons. Dame Enid made history as the first woman elected to the House of Representatives and the first woman to serve in the federal cabinet. Enid lived at the family residence, "Home Hill" until her death in 1981. Recognised for its historical significance, Home Hill has been registered with the National Trust of Australia and has become a popular tourist destination.

History

During the 1850s the twin settlements of Formby and Torquay were established on opposite banks at the mouth of the Mersey River. Torquay on the eastern shore was the larger community with police, post, magistrate, at least three hotels, shipyards and stores. A river ferry service connected the two communities. Between 1870 and 1880 the shipping industry grew and work was undertaken to deepen the mouth of the river. When the mouth of the river could support a shipping industry the first regular steamer services commenced, operating directly between the Mersey and Melbourne.

In 1882 the Marine Board building was built and remains the oldest standing building in Devonport.

In 1889 the Bluff lighthouse was completed and the turn of the century saw the railway make a significant difference to the Formby community. It combined a railhead and port facilities in the one place. A wharf was created on the west bank, close to the railway and warehouses. The railway brought a building boom to Formby. In 1890 a public vote united Torquay and Formby, and the settlements became the town of Devonport.

The Victoria bridge was opened in 1902 which enabled a land transport link between Devonport and East Devonport.

Devonport was proclaimed a city by Prince Charles of Wales on 21 April 1981 in a ceremony conducted on the Devonport Oval.

The cross river ferry service was discontinued in 2014 after 160 years of continuous service when the vessel the "Torquay" was taken out of service. It has since resumed operating.

Demographics

In 2021, the population of Devonport was 26,150. External population demographics estimate the resident population for Devonport at 26,977 in 2023, with a population density of 242.8 people per square km across a land area of 111.1 km² (42.9 sq mi). Devonport City Council has set specific population growth goals for the city, aiming to achieve a population of 30,000 by 2030 and 35,000 by 2040.

The median weekly household income is $1,167, compared to $1,746 nationally. 24.6% of households total weekly income is less than $650 week, while 10.4% of households weekly income exceeds $3,000. This compares to national rates of 16.5% and 24.3% respectively.

34.3% of households renting, and 8.1% of owned households with a mortgage experience housing stress, where rent or mortgage repayments payments exceed 30% of total income.

Devonport is home to a sizable First Nations population, with 1,971 residents, comprising 7.5% of the population, identifying as Indigenous Australians. This percentage surpasses the national average of 3.8% of the total Australian population. 83.6% of residents were born in Australia. 2.9% were born in England, 0.8% in India and New Zealand and 0.6% in each Nepal, Philippines and Mainland China.

89.9% of people spoke only English at home. 6.3% of households use a non-English language, including Mandarin (0.8%), Nepali (0.7%), Punjabi (0.4%) and Vietnamese and Tongan (0.3%).

In the 2021 census, 51.1% of people in Devonport professed no religion. 38.7% specified a Christian religious affiliation (including 12.4% as Anglicanism, 11.6% Catholic and 3.5% Uniting Church). Other religious affiliations include Hinduism (1.1%), Buddhism (0.9%), Islam (0.4%) and Sikhism (0.3%).

Suburbs

Areas within Devonport as a suburb include Highfield
Areas within East Devonport as a suburb includes Pardoe Downs, Rannoch, Panorama Heights

The full list of Suburbs of the City of Devonport are: List of suburbs

Facilities and the arts

Downtown Devonport with Spirit I

The main Central business district (CBD) is on the west side of the Mersey River and includes a pedestrian mall, cinema, specialty stores, chain stores, hotels, local restaurants, and cafes. Stores in Devonport include Coles, Woolworths, Kmart, Harvey Norman, Bunnings Warehouse, The Reject Shop, Best & Less, Cotton On and Kathmandu. As part of nationwide restructuring, Target closed its department store on Rooke Street on 27 March 2021, being the only closure of a Tasmanian Target store.

The 1899 Town Hall Theatre is located within the Paranaple Arts Centre

Opening in November 2018, the Paranaple Arts Centre serves as a contemporary focal point for artistic expression and cultural engagement. It is home to the Devonport Regional Gallery, Town Hall Theatre and the Devonport Visitor Information Centre. The Paranaple hosts live performances encompassing a range of genres, including music concerts, theatre productions, dance performances, and other performing arts events. The centre also includes gallery, studio and rehearsal spaces, a theatre, and multipurpose areas designed to host diverse arts-related activities.

The Devonport Regional Gallery evolved from the inception of The Little Gallery, which was founded by Jean Thomas as a private enterprise in 1966. The Gallery presents an annual program of exhibitions, education and public programs including events and workshops. A broad range of selected local artisan works are displayed at the North West Regional Craft Centre and gift store in the CBD.

Tiagarra Aboriginal Culture Centre and Museum, 2016

The Tiagarra Aboriginal Culture Centre and Museum displays petroglyphs, designs in rock and exhibits that depict the traditional lifestyle of Tasmanian Aboriginal people. Meaning "to keep", Tiagarra is one of the oldest Aboriginal-operated museums in Australia, officially opening on 16 October 1976 by Sir Doug Nicholls OBE and Lady Gladys Nicholls.

The Bass Strait Maritime Centre housed in the former Harbour Master's House has objects, models and photographs that tell the stories of Bass Strait and Devonport. Dame Enid Lyons inaugurated an exhibition of maritime memorabilia in 1970, inspiring the establishment of the Tasmanian Maritime and Folk Museum in East Devonport in 1973. By 1980, the museum had relocated to the Harbour Master’s house in Gloucester Avenue. In 1999, a merger with the Devon Historical Society integrated Devonport’s maritime and local history archives into a unified collection. In 2010, the Devonport City Council assumed ownership and management from the volunteer-based organization, leading to the present-day Bass Strait Maritime Centre. The collection, comprising 4500 objects, 200 artworks, photographic prints, negatives, and archival material, explores Devonport and Bass Strait's stories from the early 1800s to the present. Rotating exhibitions feature diverse narratives from the collection.

Devonport Regional Gallery, 2008

A volunteer-run vintage railway and museum, the Don River Railway, is situated at Don, a suburb of Devonport.

The former Devonport Maternity Hospital was recently demolished and the land repurposed into a gated community.

The Mersey Community Hospital at Latrobe serves the Devonport community for their health needs.

Devonport's night club was known as "City Limits" in the 1980s, "The Warehouse" from 1991, and then re-branded as "House" in 2014.

Kokoda Barracks is an army barracks in Devonport.

Transport

Devonport offers a range of transportation options, including road networks, intercity bus services, public transport bus services operated by Kinetic, freight rail, passenger ferry, air travel, and alternative modes like cycling and walking pathways.

Devonport Airport

Devonport Airport, located 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) east of the city at Pardoe Downs, is a vital transportation hub, accessible within a 15-minute car ride. Serving as Tasmania's third-largest airline hub, it accommodates Qantas and Rex Airlines, offering six daily passenger flights. QantasLink operates four Bombardier Dash 8 turboprop services to Melbourne.

Encompassing 308 hectares (760 acres), the airport features a main runway measuring 1,838 by 45 metres (6,030 ft × 148 ft) and a secondary grassed runway spanning 880 by 30 metres (2,887 ft × 98 ft). Its infrastructure includes comprehensive taxiways, passenger terminals and general aviation, and maintenance hangars. Recent upgrades in 2020 enhanced the terminal with a new departure lounge, upgraded security, and a dedicated freight apron.

The airport offers refueling services, car parking, rental cars, and taxi facilities. It is connected to Devonport by various bus services, such as Merseylink, Redline Coaches, and Phoenix Coaches, although services on weekends and public holidays are limited.

Freight transport

From Devonport three shipping operators – Toll Domestic Forwarding, SeaRoad Shipping and TT-Line provide overnight RORO freight service across Bass Strait to Victoria.

SeaRoad Shipping manages vital RORO freight services, initially with MV SeaRoad Mersey I and MV SeaRoad Tamar, later replaced by MV SeaRoad Mersey II (since 2016) and MV SeaRoad Liekut. The King Island service was discontinued due to vessel size limitations after the sale of MV SeaRoad Mersey I.

Cement Australia has been exporting cement from Railton to Melbourne since 1926. Additional exports by ship include tallow, while coal was an export until the closure of the Fingal Valley coal mine. Imports to Devonport include petroleum, bunker fuel, fertiliser and caustic soda.

Due for completion in 2027, the $240 million Quaylink project, a TasPorts investment of new berths and terminal facilities, is expected to further boost the port's freight operations by 40%.

Rail

The heritage Don River Railway

TasRail maintains a freight rail line that connects the port area to Burnie and Railton. Previously, Devonport had a railway roundhouse and maintenance rail yards along the Mersey River's foreshore. Today, this space has been transformed into parkland, offering a recreational area for locals and visitors.

Situated in Don, the Don River Railway is a volunteer-run heritage railway and museum providing an opportunity for visitors to enjoy a passenger train ride from Don to Coles Beach. The railway journey traces a reconstructed section of the former Melrose line, historically connecting Don Junction to Paloona.

Passenger Ferry

Devonport serves as the departure point for the Spirit of Tasmania ferries — MS Spirit of Tasmania I and MS Spirit of Tasmania II — that travel from Devonport to Geelong, Victoria, taking approximately 11 hours for the voyage. These RORO ferries are crucial for transporting passengers, vehicles, and freight between Tasmania and the Australian mainland, providing an essential link across the Bass Strait. A former local ferry service connecting east and west of Devonport named The Spirit of Devonport ceased operations on the Mersey River after more than 160 years in 2022.

Devonport Passenger Ferry History

The first Spirit of Tasmania, 1999

Agriculture

Situated within a modest expanse of 114 square kilometres (44 sq mi), Devonport has a solid history in agriculture. Despite the region's spatial limitations, Devonport has been a linchpin in Tasmania's vegetable cultivation, yielding substantial quantities of beans, onions, peas, and potatoes. The post-World War II era witnessed a transformative phase marked by the establishment of processing factories, with a specific emphasis on peas. These facilities assumed a crucial role in the canning, freezing, and dehydrating processes, not only bolstering local sustenance but also fundamentally influencing Tasmania's broader agricultural and food production paradigm. Devonport has since emerged as a key contributor to Australia's agricultural production, with a significant supporting dairy industry, cereals, poppyseed oil and pyrethrum.

Education

Our Lady Of Lourdes Primary School

Primary schools

• Hillcrest Primary School
• Devonport Primary School
• Miandetta Primary School
• East Devonport Primary School
• Nixon Street Primary School
• Spreyton Primary School
• Devonport Christian School
• Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School

Secondary schools (Years 7-12)

• Devonport High School
• Reece High School
• St Brendan-Shaw College

Senior secondary education (Years 11–12)

• Don College
• St Brendan-Shaw College

A TasTAFE campus, an adult training institution, is situated in Valley Road.

Geography

Climate

Devonport has an oceanic climate (Köppen climate classification Cfb) bordering on a mild-summer mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classification Csb). Most days from January to March are mild, averaging 19 to 24 °C (66 to 75 °F) with frequent sunshine, although cold fronts are a regular visitor even at the height of summer and some days may not exceed 15 °C (59 °F). The warmest and driest days can occasionally reach up to 28 °C (82 °F). Unlike the east coast of Tasmania, moist northwesterly winds prevent heatwaves and temperatures rarely if ever reach above 30 °C (86 °F).

Winters are cool and cloudy with frequent light rain; July and August are the wettest months of the year. Due to ample cloud cover and marine influence, winter temperatures rarely drop below 0 °C (32 °F) or rise above 15 °C (59 °F). September to December usually features cool to mild, windy weather with frequent showers, and occasional warm, sunny breaks.

Despite being nearly two degrees of latitude northward, Devonport is a cooler climate than Hobart due to being windward of the ranges.

Sport

Devonport Oval, 2009

Australian rules football

The Devonport Football Club, Magpies, is an Australian rules football team competing in the North West Football League with their home base being the Devonport Oval. 2021 & 2022 NWFL Senior Back to Back Premiers.

The East Devonport Football Club an Australian Rules Football Club, the Swans play in the North West Football League alongside teams like Ulverstone and Penguin, to name but two.

Netball

Devon Netball is located just outside Devonport in Spreyton, and is the main centre for netball within the Devonport area. The club participates within state wide netball events and tournaments, with some of their best players playing within the State League roster.

Rugby union

The Devonport Rugby Club is a Rugby Union team competing in the Tasmanian Rugby Union Statewide League.

Soccer

Devonport City Football Club an Association Football club that competes in the statewide National Premier Leagues Tasmania, as well as fielding a reserve team in the Northern Championship.

Touch football

The Devonport Touch Football Association is located at Meercroft Park and play touch football

Athletics, cycling and woodchopping

The Devonport Athletic Club, a professional athletic club, hosts a leg of the Tasmanian Cycling Christmas Carnival Series each year in December attended by local and international cyclists, other sports at the carnivals include athletics and woodchopping.

The Devon Amateur Athletics Club compete at the Dial Ranges Sports Centre at Penguin, Tasmania.

The Mersey Valley Devonport Cycling Club host track cycling, the Mersey Valley Tour, Devon 80 Road Race and the Ulverstone Criterium.

Cricket

Devonport Cricket Club is a cricket team which represents Devonport in the North Western Tasmanian Cricket Association grade cricket competition.

Hockey

Devonport Hockey teams compete in the North and North West Hockey roster of Hockey Tasmania.

Basketball

Situated within the Devonport Recreation Centre, the Devonport Warriors are the largest club in the North West Basketball Union (NWBU) and one of the largest in Tasmania. Established in 1949 by George Russell, the Warriors have over 750 members aged 7 and above. The club saw a significant increase of over 350 new members in 2006 after rebranding. With representative teams in senior and junior NWBU competitions for both genders, it has played a pivotal role in the development of basketball infrastructure in Devonport, including the Devonport Youth Centre and Sports Stadium.

The under-14 Australian Junior Championships were held at the Devonport Youth Centre in 1974. The Junior Men's team became the first Tasmanian team to win the under-14 Australian Junior Championship title.

Golf

The Devonport Golf Club is located at Woodrising Avenue, Tasmania and has been home to the Tasmanian Open and Tasmanian Seniors Open.

Power boats

Power Boat racing has been a feature at the Devonport Annual Regatta held each March long weekend. The Regatta commenced in 1958.

Racing

The Devonport Harness Racing Club conduct harness racing events at the Devonport Showgrounds. Inside the harness track is a greyhound racing track used on a weekly basis on Tuesday afternoons by the North West Greyhound Racing Club.

The Devonport Cup a horse race is held annually in January at the Spreyton racecourse. There is a gazetted local holiday for the event.

Swimming and aquatic sports

The Splash Devonport Aquatic and Leisure Centre has a world class gym and indoor swimming pool and is based within the Don Reserve.

Tennis

The Devonport Tennis Club and East Devonport Tennis Club compete in the Tennis North West Association rosters.

Triathlon

The Devonport triathlon held annually in February is the continental championship for Oceania.

Notable residents

Arts

• Monique Brumby, indie pop/rock singer-songwriter, guitarist and producer
• Kataraina Koroheke, painter
• Phil Manning, blues songwriter, guitarist and vocalist of Chain
• Tamara McKinley, author of the Cliffehaven series under the pen name Ellie Dean
• Syd Nicholls (1896–1977), cartoonist best known for the long-running comic strip Fatty Finn
• Prema Smith, actor
• Gerard Vaughan, art historian and curator

Other

• Max Bound (1924–2012), trade unionist and environmental activist
• Sir Ivan Nello Holyman (1896–1957), Gallipoli Military Cross recipient, businessman and founder of Australian National Airways
• Tim Lane, sports broadcaster and journalist

Politicians

• Mike Gaffney, Independent member of the Tasmanian Legislative Council
• Jacqui Lambie, Senator for Tasmania
• Dame Enid Lyons (1897–1981), First woman elected to the House of Representatives and the first woman to serve in the federal cabinet
• Joseph Lyons (1879–1939), 10th Prime Minister of Australia (1932–1939), 26th Premier of Tasmania (1923–1928)
• Steve Martin, Senator for Tasmania (2018–2019)
• Hector McFie (1898–1982), Independent member for Mersey (1954–1972)
• Max Poulter (1913–1962), educator and politician, Senator for Queensland (1961)
• Jeremy Rockliff, 47th Premier of Tasmania

Sportspeople

• John Bowe, V8 Supercar driver
• Nita Burke, Australia women's national basketball team player
• Corey Cadby, darts player
• David Foster, woodchopper
• Owen Kelly, NASCAR and V8 Supercar driver
• Jim Nevin, cyclist who competed at the 1952 and 1956 Summer Olympics
• David Parsons, V8 Supercar driver

VFL/AFL players

• Darrel Baldock (1938–2011), St Kilda (1962–1968)
• Grant Birchall, Hawthorn (2006–2019), Brisbane Lions (2020–2021)
• Matthew Febey, Melbourne (1987, 1990–2000)
• Steven Febey, Melbourne (1987–2001)
• Ben Harrison, Carlton (1995), Richmond (1996–2000), Western Bulldogs (2001–2005)
• Brady Rawlings, North Melbourne (1999–2011)
• Jade Rawlings, Hawthorn (1996–2003), Western Bulldogs (2004–2005), North Melbourne (2006)
• Matthew Richardson, Richmond (1993–2009)
• Dion Scott, Sydney (1990, 1992), Brisbane Bears (1993–1996), Brisbane Lions (1997–1999)
• Graham Wright, Collingwood (1988–1998)

Sister cities

The city of Devonport has a formal sister city agreement with Minamata City in Japan. This was ratified in 1996. Both cities share a similar setting and area.

• Minamata, Japan (1996)
• City of Port Phillip, Victoria, Australia (previous destination for "Spirit of Tasmania" ferries from Devonport, current destination as of 2022 is Geelong).

See also

In Spanish: Devonport (Tasmania) para niños