| Huonville | |
Location: | 37 km southwest of Hobart at the junction of the Huon and Channel Highways |
Council: | Huon Valley |
Population: | 1524 |
Postcode: | 7109 (includes Ranelagh) |
Huonville is the commercial centre of the Huon Valley fruitgrowing district where crops include apples, pears and other small fruits and where many farmers now combinedairy cattle with their orchards. Springtime is a delightful time to visit when the apple and pear trees are in bloom. Fish farming of Atlantic salmon is an important industry and a small amount of the once plentiful Huon pine, a valuable softwood used in shipbuilding, is cultivated.
William and Thomas Walton were the first settlers in the Huon Valley in 1840, their home 'Inlet Farm', built in 1847 is still standing. The village was founded in 1843 and a beautiful church built of local stone in 1872 is a central feature.
Admiral Bruni d'Entrecasteaux discovered the Huon River which flows through Huonville. In the early days the river was used for transporting timber and produce, today it provides a venue for water sports and fishing. In good weather, pedal boats can be hired and visitors can take a scenic jet boat ride. Downstream, at Franklin, a stretch of the river is regarded as one of Australia's leading rowing courses.
Local places of interest include Model Train World in Main Road, where scale models of locomotives travel through a miniature German countryside. The Tasman Antique Motor Museum in Helen Street, Ranelagh, displays 40 restored cars from the period 1906 to 1969 and the Huon Apple and Heritage Museum at Grove is well worth while. A unique souvenir can be purchased from the apple carvers at Glen Huon who transform local apples into wizened characters.