Sorell, Tasmania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids SorellHobart, Tasmania |
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St George's Parish Hall containing the Tourist Information Centre in 2007 - Gordon Street, Sorell
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 Sorell
Location in Hobart
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| Established | 1808 | ||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 7172 | ||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Sorell Council | ||||||||
| Region | Hobart | ||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Lyons | ||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Lyons | ||||||||
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Sorell is a historic town in Tasmania, Australia. It is located north-east of Hobart, the capital city. You can find Sorell on the Tasman Highway, where it meets the Arthur Highway.
Sorell is one of Tasmania's oldest towns. It started as a small farming community in 1808. By 1821, it officially became a township. The population has grown over the years. In 2006, about 1,546 people lived there. By 2016, the population had increased to 2,907.
Contents
Sorell's Story: A Look at Its Past
Early Days and First People
Long before Europeans arrived, the land around Sorell was home to the Mumirimina People. They were part of the Oyster Bay Tribe. This area was their traditional living place.
European Settlement and Growth
Europeans first explored Sorell in 1803. This was done by Lieutenant Governor Collins, who named the area Pitt Water. Later, Governor Lachlan Macquarie renamed it Sorell. This new name honored Lieutenant Governor William Sorell.
Settlers found the land was very good for farming. The first farms were set up in 1808. Sorell remained a quiet farming area until 1821, when it became an official town. The Sorell Post Office opened in 1832.
Sorell became very important for growing grain. People even called it the "granary of Australia." It was also a key stop on the road from Hobart to Port Arthur. Today, Sorell is a commuter town for people working in Hobart. It is also the main center for the Sorell Council, which started in 1862.
Over time, Sorell gained modern services. Telegraph service arrived in 1876, followed by a railway in 1892. Water supply was added in 1916, and electricity in 1930. A big change happened in 1872 when the Sorell Causeway opened. This bridge crosses Pitt Water, making the trip to Hobart much shorter. Before the causeway, people had to use ferries or take a longer route through Richmond.
Sorell's Facilities and Buildings
Sorell has several important places for its community.
- Sorell School: This school is the oldest public school in Australia that has been open continuously. It started in 1821 and teaches students from kindergarten all the way to year 12.
- Community Services: The town has a Libraries Tasmania library, a Service Tasmania office, and an Australia Post Office.
- Shopping: You can find two main shopping centers here. Sorell Plaza opened in the mid-2000s and has a supermarket and other stores. Gateway Shopping Center also has a supermarket and smaller shops.
Sorell also has historic churches. St George's Church serves the Anglican community. St Thomas's Church is part of the Parish of Richmond. There was once a Presbyterian church, designed by a famous architect named James Blackburn, but it is now a private home.
Many old buildings in Sorell tell stories of the past. The Sorell Barracks were built to house soldiers during the Black War. You can explore these and other historic spots, like the old railway house and the former Sorell Library (now an antiques shop), on a heritage walk. The town also has a local historical society that helps preserve its history.
Sorell's Weather and Climate
Sorell has an oceanic climate. This means it has mild summers and cool winters. The weather is usually pleasant.
- Temperatures: In January, the average high is about 22.7 degrees Celsius. In July, the average high is around 12.6 degrees Celsius. Nighttime temperatures range from 12.2 degrees Celsius in January to 4.2 degrees Celsius in July.
- Rainfall: Sorell gets about 495 millimeters of rain each year. It rains quite often, with about 139 days of rain per year.
- Sunshine: The town isn't super sunny, but it does get about 45 clear days each year.
The hottest temperature ever recorded in Sorell was 41.4 degrees Celsius on January 31, 2020. The coldest was -3.9 degrees Celsius on June 23, 1972. All this weather information comes from the Hobart Airport, which is not far from Sorell.
| Climate data for Sorell (42º49'48"S, 147º30'00"E, 4 m AMSL) (1958-2022 normals & extremes) | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 41.4 (106.5) |
39.8 (103.6) |
38.1 (100.6) |
31.8 (89.2) |
25.6 (78.1) |
19.6 (67.3) |
20.4 (68.7) |
23.7 (74.7) |
31.1 (88.0) |
33.4 (92.1) |
38.5 (101.3) |
40.8 (105.4) |
41.4 (106.5) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 22.7 (72.9) |
22.4 (72.3) |
20.9 (69.6) |
18.2 (64.8) |
15.3 (59.5) |
13.0 (55.4) |
12.6 (54.7) |
13.5 (56.3) |
15.5 (59.9) |
17.4 (63.3) |
19.1 (66.4) |
20.8 (69.4) |
17.6 (63.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 12.2 (54.0) |
12.1 (53.8) |
10.9 (51.6) |
8.8 (47.8) |
6.7 (44.1) |
4.7 (40.5) |
4.2 (39.6) |
4.7 (40.5) |
6.1 (43.0) |
7.6 (45.7) |
9.3 (48.7) |
10.9 (51.6) |
8.2 (46.7) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 3.7 (38.7) |
3.4 (38.1) |
2.2 (36.0) |
−0.6 (30.9) |
−2.2 (28.0) |
−3.9 (25.0) |
−3.2 (26.2) |
−2.0 (28.4) |
−2.3 (27.9) |
−1.0 (30.2) |
1.7 (35.1) |
2.7 (36.9) |
−3.9 (25.0) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 40.2 (1.58) |
34.9 (1.37) |
36.3 (1.43) |
40.1 (1.58) |
37.3 (1.47) |
34.2 (1.35) |
41.4 (1.63) |
47.2 (1.86) |
40.2 (1.58) |
47.2 (1.86) |
44.3 (1.74) |
52.1 (2.05) |
495.0 (19.49) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 9.0 | 8.2 | 10.1 | 10.4 | 11.4 | 11.3 | 13.2 | 13.9 | 13.7 | 13.6 | 12.8 | 11.9 | 139.5 |
| Average afternoon relative humidity (%) | 50 | 51 | 53 | 56 | 61 | 64 | 63 | 60 | 56 | 54 | 53 | 52 | 56 |
| Average dew point °C (°F) | 9.0 (48.2) |
9.5 (49.1) |
8.8 (47.8) |
7.4 (45.3) |
6.3 (43.3) |
5.1 (41.2) |
4.4 (39.9) |
4.3 (39.7) |
4.7 (40.5) |
5.7 (42.3) |
7.0 (44.6) |
8.0 (46.4) |
6.7 (44.0) |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 254.2 | 223.2 | 207.7 | 177.0 | 145.7 | 129.0 | 148.8 | 176.7 | 189.0 | 229.4 | 222.0 | 244.9 | 2,347.6 |
| Percent possible sunshine | 55 | 57 | 54 | 50 | 49 | 47 | 51 | 55 | 53 | 56 | 51 | 52 | 53 |
| Source: Bureau of Meteorology (1958-2022 normals & extremes) | |||||||||||||
Images for kids
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Sorell Causeway
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Berry farm near Sorell
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Aerial photo
