Dover, Tasmania facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dover Tasmania
Dover Location in Tasmania
Population	486 (2016 census)
Postcode(s)	7117
Elevation	17 m (56 ft)
LGA(s)	Huon Valley Council
State electorate(s)	Franklin
Federal Division(s)	Franklin
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 16.4 °C 62 °F 6.8 °C 44 °F 875.7 mm 34.5 in

Dover is a small town in Tasmania, Australia. It's special because it's the southernmost town of its size in the whole country! You can find it on the western side of the D'Entrecasteaux Channel, south of the Huon Valley. It's also southwest of Hobart, Tasmania's capital city. Dover sits right at the head of Port Esperance.

About 486 people live in Dover. Most residents (91%) were born in Australia. A smaller number (5%) were born in the United Kingdom. Even fewer people are from places like New Zealand, Germany, and Greece.

What's in a Name? The Story of Dover

The name Dover comes from an old word for "waters." It was first written down in Latin as Portus Dubris. This word comes from a very old Celtic language called Brythonic. In Middle Welsh, the word for water was dwfr.

You can still see this old word in the French name for Dover (Douvres). It's also in the Modern Welsh name (Dofr).

A Look Back: Dover's History

The area around Dover has a long history. The name "Blubber Head" nearby might mean that people used to hunt whales from the shore in the 1800s.

The Post Office in Port Esperance first opened on February 6, 1856. Later, in 1895, its name was changed to "Dover."

In 2013, the Dover Hotel, a local pub, was sadly destroyed by a fire.

The Port Esperance Sailing Club

On April 23, 2020, the Port Esperance Sailing Club's building was also destroyed by fire. This event brought the community together. People from all over Tasmania and even further away helped to build a new clubhouse.

The new clubhouse officially opened on March 17, 2024. The main building is now ready for use. Many of the club's usual activities have started again. However, due to the costs from the COVID-19 pandemic, some parts of the club's facilities are still waiting to be finished. Records show that club activities, like regattas (boat races), have been happening since at least 1858. They might even go back further!

Weather in Dover

Dover has a marine climate. This means the weather is usually cool and cloudy all year round. Even though it's far south and doesn't get super hot, snow and frost are not very common in winter. Sometimes, though, you might see sleet, which is a mix of rain and snow.

The hottest temperature ever recorded in Dover was 40.1 °C (104.2 °F). This happened in March 2019. That was more than 20 °C hotter than the usual maximum temperature for March!