Levendale, Tasmania facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Levendale Tasmania
Levendale Location in Tasmania
Postcode(s)	7120
Location	53 km (33 mi) N of Hobart
LGA(s)	Southern Midlands Council (72%), Glamorgan-Spring Bay Council (28%)
State electorate(s)	Lyons
Federal Division(s)	Lyons

Levendale is a small town in Tasmania, Australia. It's about 53 kilometers (33 miles) north of Hobart, the capital city. Most of Levendale is in the Southern Midlands Council area, with a smaller part in the Glamorgan-Spring Bay Council. This town mainly serves the local farming community. Did you know that the famous Australian author and novelist Rachael Treasure lives here?

Levendale has a historic primary school that opened on April 15, 1901. This school is super important to the community. It acts as a meeting place and a central spot for everyone. In 2008, the school was almost closed because not enough students were enrolling. But the community worked together to save it! They tried to get more families to move to the area.

Rachael Treasure explained how important the school is: "It's the only thing Levendale has. We don't have a shop or a pub. This school is all we have. It helps women connect and supports the whole community."

Levendale's Past

First People of Levendale

The very first people to live in the Levendale area were the Portmairremener. They were a group from the Oyster Bay Tribe. They mostly lived near the mouth of the Prosser River. Every winter, different groups of the Oyster Bay Tribe gathered near the coast. They would collect shellfish and marine plants. This lasted until late July. Then, swans and ducks would arrive in the lagoons and rivers. They came to lay eggs and raise their young.

In August, the groups moved up the Little Swanport and Prosser Rivers. They went to the Eastern Marshes. There, they hunted birds, kangaroos, and wallabies. As summer got closer, they moved further west. They headed towards the Central Highlands. But they always returned to the coast when autumn came. Mt. Hobbs was a tall landmark. The Aboriginal people probably used it to guide them on their yearly journeys.

In 1830, a large fire burned on Brown Mountain. This fire was a signal for Governor Arthur's "Black Line." This was a sad attempt to push the remaining Aboriginal people towards the Tasman Peninsula. The goal was to capture them. But the plan failed. So, in 1831, Governor Arthur asked George Augustus Robinson to find and bring in the remaining people. In October, Robinson camped at Hobbs Lagoon. He also traveled over the top of Bluff River.

European Settlers Arrive

Europeans didn't settle in Levendale until the late 1800s. This was because the bush was so thick and hard to get through. In fact, the area was first called "The Scrub" because of how dense the trees were! The first known settler was Henry Buscombe. He chose a large piece of land in Levendale in 1842. He named his property "Cutting Grass Marsh." In 1845, Henry's brother James bought land next to his.

Later, other people started to settle. William Hodgson bought land called Levenbanks. John McConnon also leased and then owned land near the Prosser River. After the Buscombe brothers passed away, William Brown leased their land. In 1873, Kele Balsley, who was from Denmark, bought land in Levendale. He built a family home there. The 1880s saw many more settlers arrive. These included Colin Patterson, Michael Powell, the Montgomery brothers, Harold Burrows, and William Crawford. By the end of the 1800s, over 200 people lived in Levendale.

The first job for these early settlers was very hard. They had to clear the dense bush to create farms and build homes. At first, they did this by hand. They would cut rings around trees to kill them. They also cut the smaller plants with axes. The ash from summer fires helped make the soil better. This helped grass and clover grow for their cattle. Later, horses and bullocks helped make the work a bit easier.

The first homes were made from split timber. Their roofs were made of wooden shingles. There was no running water. So, a big daily chore was carrying water from nearby creeks. This job often went to the youngest family members. Most homes didn't have bathrooms. People bathed using a hip bath. Water was heated in metal tins over open fires or wood stoves. Hurricane lamps and candles were the only light sources.

Life in this remote settlement meant families had to be very self-sufficient. They used straight trees to make fences and parts for buildings. They grew their own vegetables. Each home produced its own milk, butter, and eggs. Meat came from their own farm animals. If that wasn't enough, there were always wallabies or rabbits to hunt.

Keeping food fresh was a challenge. But they salted vegetables and used wet sand to keep butter cool in summer. Buying important items like flour, tea, sugar, and salt meant a long trip. They had to travel to Oatlands or Sorell every three months.

Many young men worked on farms, either their own or a neighbor's. Some traveled to shear sheep or work for richer farmers. Sawmilling was also a big part of the area's history. This industry gave jobs to local men and boys. The first sawmills belonged to the Campbell, Barker, and McConnon families. These mills used steam engines. They provided timber for many local homes and buildings. Today, only one sawmill is still running, owned by Alf and Barry McConnon.

The government offered a reward for trapping and killing Tasmanian tigers (thylacines) starting in 1888. This meant settlers in Levendale could earn some extra money. Many people in the area claimed these rewards.

Young women often worked as housemaids or shop assistants. They usually did this until they married and started their own families. Families often had many children, sometimes thirteen or more! As Levendale grew in the late 1890s, people wanted better services. A local school was at the top of their list.

Levendale Primary School's Story

Reverend T. W. Pitt and Hon. W. W. Perkins pushed for a school in Levendale. The government finally agreed to build one. The decision to build the school also made the community think about a new name for the town. "The Scrub" State School didn't sound very good!

So, when the school opened on April 15, 1901, the community held a public meeting. They decided to call the area Levendale. The first part of the name came from "Levenbanks." This was one of the oldest farms in the area. Mr. V Hodgson owned it, and later Thomas McConnon. Mr. W. Duthie was the first teacher. William Crawford and Frank McConnon were the first students. Over 1000 students would pass through the school's doors over the years.

Like many small country towns, the new school was more than just a place to learn. It became the heart of the whole community. Many local events were organized around the school.

In 2007, Levendale Primary School was still the community's main hub. It had 23 students, a community library, and an active history group. It also offered programs for young children and a playgroup. In 2008, the school was again at risk of closing due to low student numbers. Rachael Treasure, the author and local resident, had a great idea. She suggested that empty farmhouses be rented for just $1 per week. This would encourage more families to move to the area. People from all over Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Singapore were interested in this offer!