Tasmania
Tasmania (TAS) is Australia’s only island state and is comparatively small, covering an area of around 68,330 km². If it were a country on its own, it would be the 121st largest country in the world, just behind Ireland and Georgia. So it is about a quarter of the size of the UK, but a little bit larger than the American state of West Virginia.
It has a population of around half a million people. It is known as “The Apple Isle” and the people who live there are referred to as “Two Headers”, which is, I’m afraid, a reference to what might happen in a situation where, how can I put this, erm, I suppose I should get straight to the point really, it’s… A consequence of inbreeding.
Let’s move on. But before we do, you’ll be pleased to know that most mainland Australians refer to Tasmania as “Tassie”, which is cuter than Two Headers.
In recent years, Tasmania’s most visited attraction has been Port Arthur Historic Site, and Tasmania has more history than most of Australia, having been discovered a fair while before the mainland. But the real attraction of Tasmania is the countryside and to wonder at the wilderness.
I’ve even managed to unearth a famous Tasmanian. Errol Leslie Thomson Flynn, Hollywood movie star, was born in Hobart in 1909.
Places in Tasmania
Other than Hobart, there aren’t too many towns or locations with a population of more than 10,000 people. In fact, there are just four.
- Launceston - has around 71,000
- Devonport – just over 22,000
- Burnie – nearly 20,000
- Kingston-Blackmans Bay – around 17,000
There may be a few more towns with less than 10,000 people and when we find them, we’ll add them here. If you live anywhere in Tasmania and want to Own Your Town then please do check out the details and get in touch.
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi,
Don’t forget we Tasmanians call the rest of Australia the mainland.
Tassie really does have all the services and facilities it needs and if you want a great lifestyle and a really short commute to work then investigate Tasmania to live.
Dale.
Short commute? I should think so, you’d be hard pressed to get stuck in a traffic jam anywhere in Tasmania at any time. I don’t think they have them. How cool is that?
Bob! Seems you may need some insider knowledge. (Your stats are vastly out of date also – for example, I live in Blackmans Bay/Kingston and the population is 31,500 not 17,000)!
I am actually moving to the mainland soon, but thought I’d ‘defend’ Tas and give you some info!
I am a Londoner, but have been in Tassie for 9 years. I am lucky enough to have travelled to around 25 countries in the world, and all over Australia. Hobart is quieter and less populated than most of the other capital cities in Australia, so not for everyone, but I feel I should point out its amazing attributes.
Food. Tassie is a foodies paradise. Our Atlantic salmon, abalone, scallops, octopus, wild trout and rock lobster are served in the best eateries around the world. Prime cheeses, cool-climate wines and some of Australia’s leading boutique and production beers and whiskies are produced here. Specialist delicatessens selling locally grown wasabi, gourmet sauces, handmade chocolates and fudge, and ice-cream studded with organic berries can also be found in abundance.
Paul County and Nick Osborne’s Tasmania’s Table – a food lover’s guide to Tasmania’s fine food, drink and restaurants was officially selected as a finalist in The Cordon Bleu World Food Media Awards 2010 (Tasting Australia) with six other books, as one of the world’s best food guides. It profiles 50 of Tasmania’s best produce, chefs and restaurants and many producers and includes a regional provedore guide and a dedicated beer and wine guide. http://www.tasfoodbooks.com
The oldest theatre in Australia is here. http://www.theatreroyal.com.au/
The $75 million Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) opened in Hobart in January 2011 to global acclaim. MONA is the only Australian travel experience that offers a vineyard, accommodation, fine dining, wine bar, cellar door tastings, and an internationally significant museum and art gallery.
Tasmanians breathe in the cleanest air in the world.
http://www.clickforaustralia.com/Tas_air_quality.htm
We have some of the world’s last great temperate wilderness, where you’ll discover wildlife, scenery and vegetation unlike anywhere else on earth.
Recent accolades include:
World Architecture News: International Hotel of the Year 2011 – Saffire Freycinet Resort
Australian Gourmet Traveller:
• Best Adventure Tourism – Cradle Mountain Huts;
• Best New Hotel, Resort or Lodge – Saffire Freycinet;
• Standout Australian Travel Experience – MONA Museum of Old and New Art
National Geographic Magazine: Tasmania – 20 Best Trips of 2011
Conde Naste Traveller (US): 2010 Gold List – Henry Jones Art Hotel. Named the Top Hotel in Australia, with a score of 93.9%
The Australian Travel and Tourism Awards 2009: Best Eco-Wilderness Experience – Maria Island Walk.
The Australian Travel and Tourism Awards 2009: Best Heritage Tourism – Port Arthur Historic Site.
Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards 2009: Top Island in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific
Three Tasmanian hotels, Freycinet Lodge, Bay of Fires Lodge and the Henry Jones Art Hotel, have been chosen by Condé Nast Traveller as the best hotels in the world as a part of the magazine’s 2008 Gold List awards.
Voted World’s Friendliest Island by readers of Condé Nast Traveler, 2001
Tasmania’s Bay of Fires was named the second most beautiful beach in the world by leading UK travel magazine Condé Nast Traveller.
But now for some real facts:
I have a great home with 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms (I doubt I could never have afforded this in London).
I can walk to a beautiful beach in about 6 minutes (I walk slowly).
I work in Hobart and can get there by bus or car in 15 minutes.
I can walk to a fantastic restaurant on the beach. http://www.thebeachrestaurant.com.au/
I can walk to some local shops (butcher, post office, bakery, supermarket, gift shop, take away, gift shop etc).
I have young children and LOVE my childcare centre. It’s a 2 minute drive from work, and I can park outside, free.
I love Hobart airport. I can check in, relax and get on a plane without any stress, queuing or fuss. There is no walk from car park to terminals, parking is easy, and no walking in the small airport. Easy for kids and older people.
I can get to Melbourne in 50 minutes. Or to Sydney in 1 hr 20.
I can afford investments.
You can get a fantastic salary, what drives it down is the higher unemployment due to some particular catchment areas in very rural areas. Also we have an older population.
I feel safe.
Incredibly easy place to live – this could be the number one thing – no stress!
People are so friendly (this takes some getting used to).
Anyway, if you have any questions or want to know anything else, please ask. Why do I feel the need to defend somewhere I am leaving? I don’t know! I just do.
Love your website – doing some research on Brisbane as we may move there..
Jo
Hi Jo
Well, I don’t quite know what’s gone wrong with those population figures, I got them all from a very reputable source and only a couple of years ago. Blackmans Bay/Kingston hasn’t almost doubled in population in the last two years, has it?
Anyway, I’m sure you know the population where you live better than I do, and you obviously know Tasmania much better than I do too. So I thank you for this incredible write-up on the state.
You’ve given us all lots of fantastic information, much of which I can now agree with, having had a weeks holiday in Tassie just a short while ago. Certainly the food is fantastic, we didn’t have a bad meal all week. We also brought home some fantastic spicy Tasmanian salmon, a huge portion which lasted for weeks. Didn’t cost much either.
We searched the entire state for a traffic jam, just couldn’t find one, and you are spot on about the air. Purist I’ve ever had the pleasure of breathing. And water, well it’s everywhere. Reminded me of the Lake District.
When I got back from my holidays, I wrote a post about it called Tasmania: What’s the point?
But don’t be misled by the title. Tasmania? I’m a fan! I will be back for sure.
Jo, thank you for a great contribution.
Cheers
Bob
Hi Bob
Just found your web site and are now subscribed. Love the info contained! We emigrated to Oz in 1990 and got our citizenship. Had to come back to jolly old UK because of aging parents etc. However, now thinking seriously of coming back to Oz for good and particularly Tassie – we used to live in Perth – seriously too hot! Trying to find out some cost comparisons between UK and Tassie – property prices sound great but surprised about how expensive electricity is – more than we are paying. However, swings and roundabouts. Hope to come down this time next year when hopefully house will be finished renovating and sold – fancy a 250 year old cottage in Nottinghamshire as a holiday home!!!!!
Thanks to Jo for her blog – really interesting. Cheers, Sue & Martin
My uncle lived in Nottingham, so I’ve been there a few times. Probably not exactly where I would consider buying a holiday home
Yes, it is swings and roundabouts, but I’m pretty sure property prices will more than make up for the expensive electricity. There are always solar panels, I’m sure they have those in Tassie, but you would have to check out how efficient they are. I know they work great here in Queensland.
Good luck with the move!
Hi Sue,
I am a relocation agent in Tasmania. We are based in Hobart but cover all of Tassie. We can help you if you decide to move, but am also happy to answer whatever questions you have about our wonderful home state as you plan your move.
You will find that property prices are pretty good in Tassie, although sadly in the main cities it is not as significantly cheaper than other capitals as it used to be. However there certainly is good value in the market.
With respect to cost of living, as you have previously lived in Perth you will find many costs to be similar, especially groceries and eating out.
Electricity is not cheap, but hard to estimate with not knowing the size of property you may end up with. I did have a real estate agent quote $7 per day per person to someone the other day but that sounds rather a lot. Our bill for two people for the past three months was around $350, but we also have gas (which is cheaper) for heating, cooking and hot water which was around $220.
As you say it is swings and roundabouts. You will save in some areas and spend more in others. Plus your earnings are likely to be different too depending on your field of work.
I hope that helps a little.
Jo Reardon
Settled In Home Search and Relocation Services
Hi Jo
Thanks for your email. We’re hoping to come to Tassie around this time next year (fingers crossed) and would love to meet you to discuss the whys and wherefors. We have friends in Hobart who we met in Perth and they really do love the lifestyle – we’re hoping to catch up with them too. I don’t know that working is an option as I would like to retire when we do relocate although if there are any opportunities around I would certainly take a look. I’m the PA for a Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and have been for 19 years now! Don’t know what if any call there would be for that!
Will be in touch. Thanks for responding. Best wishes
Sue
Hi Sue,
Retiring sounds like a wonderful option! Although an experienced PA will be well sought after I am sure.
The lifestyle is wonderful and the weather is not as bad as the reputation. We have had the most amazing summer and autumn. Although winter is trying hard now and it will be cold again from Saturday – just 12 for a few days! Just make sure you have good heating and you will be right. We put in hydronic (which is everywhere in UK but not as common here) and are loving it. Amazingly many Tassie homes have inadequate heating in my opinion.
Get in touch if you have any questions and I am more than happy to help out. We can also talk more as your move approached.
I hope Bob doesn’t mind me saying this… but if you head to our website (click on my name) and sign up to our newsletter you will get news from us each month as well as a checklist that will help with planning the move.
All the best.
Jo
No Jo, I don’t mind you saying it
In fact I recommend anyone interested in moving to Australia to click on your name to get that checklist.
Cheers!
Thanks Bob!