Sheffield, Tasmania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids SheffieldTasmania |
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Mount Roland from lookout at Sheffield
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 Sheffield
Location in Tasmania
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| Population | 1,602 (2021 census) | ||||||||
| Established | 1859 | ||||||||
| Elevation | 280 m (919 ft) | ||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Kentish Council | ||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Lyons | ||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Lyons | ||||||||
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Sheffield is a town in Tasmania, Australia. It is located about 23 kilometers (14 miles) from Devonport, a city on the north-west coast. Sheffield is known as a farming area, especially for dairy products like butterfat. Farmers also raise lambs and beef cattle here. The town of Railton is also nearby. In 2021, about 1,602 people lived in Sheffield.
Contents
- Discovering Sheffield's Past
- Sheffield's Climate
- Exploring Natural Attractions Near Sheffield
- Awards
Discovering Sheffield's Past
Sheffield was first settled in 1859. It was named by Edward Curr after his hometown in South Yorkshire, England. The local post office opened in 1862 and was renamed Sheffield in 1882.
The town grew slowly for many years. However, in 1963, a big project called the Mersey-Forth Power Development Scheme began. This project built seven dams and seven power stations. Sheffield's population grew a lot during this time. After the power scheme finished in 1973, fewer people were needed for the work, and the town's population went down.
Sheffield: The Town of Murals
Sheffield is famous for its amazing murals, which are large paintings on walls. This idea started when a small group of people wanted to help their town. They were inspired by Chemainus, a town in Canada that used murals to attract visitors and save itself.
The Kentish Association for Tourism (now called Sheffield Inc) worked hard to make Sheffield a place where art and tourism came together. A local tourism leader named Brian Inder also helped a lot.
The first mural was painted in Sheffield in 1986. Since then, over 60 murals have been created! These paintings show the area's rich history and beautiful nature. They are painted on buildings all around the town. These murals bring about 200,000 visitors to Sheffield every year.
You can even visit art studios in Sheffield. Here, you can watch artists as they create their work. There are many different types of artists, including photographers, painters, glass artists, woodworkers, and potters.
International Mural Fest Competition
Since 2003, Sheffield has hosted the International Mural Fest art competition every April. Artists use a chosen poem as their inspiration for their murals. After the competition, the nine best murals stay on display at Mural Park until the next year's event. In 2012, for the 10th anniversary, they added an interactive mural and workshops for visitors to enjoy.
Experience the Tasmanian Medieval Festival
Every October, Sheffield hosts the exciting two-day Tasmanian Medieval Festival. This festival is full of medieval fun! You can see thrilling sword fighting and fencing. There are also archery contests and exciting jousting events. You can even watch demonstrations of working cannons and trebuchets, which were old war machines. The festival has become very popular, with 4,000 people attending in 2018.
Sheffield's Climate
| Climate data for Sheffield School Farm (1997–2022); 277 m AMSL; 41.39° S, 146.32° E | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 37.1 (98.8) |
31.9 (89.4) |
31.0 (87.8) |
27.3 (81.1) |
20.0 (68.0) |
18.1 (64.6) |
16.0 (60.8) |
17.7 (63.9) |
21.7 (71.1) |
24.3 (75.7) |
28.7 (83.7) |
32.3 (90.1) |
37.1 (98.8) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 22.2 (72.0) |
21.6 (70.9) |
19.9 (67.8) |
16.5 (61.7) |
13.5 (56.3) |
11.7 (53.1) |
10.8 (51.4) |
11.6 (52.9) |
13.2 (55.8) |
15.3 (59.5) |
17.9 (64.2) |
19.8 (67.6) |
16.2 (61.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 10.9 (51.6) |
10.7 (51.3) |
9.5 (49.1) |
7.1 (44.8) |
5.4 (41.7) |
3.9 (39.0) |
3.3 (37.9) |
3.6 (38.5) |
4.7 (40.5) |
5.8 (42.4) |
7.6 (45.7) |
9.0 (48.2) |
6.8 (44.2) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 2.3 (36.1) |
3.1 (37.6) |
0.9 (33.6) |
−1.5 (29.3) |
−2.0 (28.4) |
−3.6 (25.5) |
−3.0 (26.6) |
−2.5 (27.5) |
−2.1 (28.2) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
−0.2 (31.6) |
1.2 (34.2) |
−3.6 (25.5) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 55.8 (2.20) |
42.8 (1.69) |
71.5 (2.81) |
68.0 (2.68) |
96.3 (3.79) |
113.3 (4.46) |
136.3 (5.37) |
131.2 (5.17) |
115.1 (4.53) |
93.4 (3.68) |
79.7 (3.14) |
62.6 (2.46) |
1,061.3 (41.78) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 8.7 | 8.5 | 10.1 | 11.6 | 15.8 | 16.1 | 18.8 | 18.8 | 17.0 | 13.3 | 11.6 | 10.4 | 160.7 |
| Average afternoon relative humidity (%) | 53 | 55 | 55 | 62 | 69 | 73 | 74 | 71 | 69 | 63 | 61 | 57 | 63 |
| Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology; Sheffield School Farm | |||||||||||||
Exploring Natural Attractions Near Sheffield
The area around Sheffield has many beautiful natural places to visit.
Mount Roland: A Majestic Backdrop
Mount Roland is a large mountain that stands behind the town of Sheffield. It rises 1,234 meters (4,049 feet) above sea level.
Mount Roland Conservation Area and Regional Reserve
This reserve covers 7,600 hectares (about 18,780 acres) around the mountain range. It has many well-marked walking trails for a day of exercise. You can start walks from Claude Road and Gowrie Park to reach the summit. The path goes through plains and a plateau before reaching the top. From the summit, you get amazing 360-degree views of Bass Strait, Cradle Mountain, and Barn Bluff.
Lake Barrington: A Hub for Water Sports
Lake Barrington is famous as a place for international rowing competitions. It even hosted the 1990 World Rowing Championships. The lake was created in 1969 when the Devils Gate Dam was built on the Forth River.
The lake is a popular spot for water skiing. You can access it from West Kentish and Wilmot. Two water ski clubs, the Kentish Aquatic Club and Horsehead Water Ski Club, are based here. People also enjoy canoeing and trout fishing on the lake. There is an adventure playground and a two-hour rainforest walk. Visitors can use picnic areas, boat ramps, and toilets.
Devils Gate Dam: An Engineering Marvel
The Devils Gate Dam is a very special dam. It has a unique design that allows floodwater to fall freely to the riverbed. During a big flood, up to 2,000 tonnes of water can fall per second!
This dam is one of the thinnest concrete arch dams in the world. It was finished in 1969 and is 84 meters (276 feet) high. Because the gorge was narrow and engineers used computer design, they could use less concrete, which saved money. Concrete slabs are placed below the dam to stop the falling water from eroding the ground.
Lake Cethana: A Scenic Walk
The walk to Lake Cethana starts near the Lemonthyme Lodge. This walk takes about two hours. Along the way, you can see many different types of plants. After walking through two open areas, the path crosses a fern gully. Then, you walk through more forest until you reach the lake's quiet backwater. This walk is considered difficult because the return trip is a long uphill climb.
Kimberley Warm Springs: Nature's Hot Tub
Kimberley Warm Springs are natural warm water springs located in the town of Kimberley. The warm water creates a special environment where unique plants and animals can live.
Gowrie Park: Gateway to Mount Roland
The small town of Gowrie Park is about 16 kilometers (10 miles) south of Sheffield. It is a starting point for people who want to climb Mount Roland. This town used to be a village for workers who built the Hydro power projects.
Cradle Mountain: A World Heritage Site
Cradle Mountain is about an hour's drive south-west of Sheffield. You can reach the mountain from the northern part of the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. There are many walking trails available, from short easy walks to long trips that take several days.
Awards
Sheffield won the Australian Tidy Town Award in 2014. This award recognizes towns that are well-kept and environmentally friendly.
