Rossarden is a rural locality in the local government areas (LGA) of Northern Midlands (89%) and Break O'Day (11%) in the Central and North-east LGA regions of Tasmania. The locality is about 81 kilometres (50 mi) east of the town of Longford. The 2016 census recorded a population of 42 for the state suburb of Rossarden.[3]

Rossarden
Tasmania
Rossarden is located in Tasmania
Rossarden
Rossarden
Coordinates41°40′S 147°45′E / 41.667°S 147.750°E / -41.667; 147.750
Population48 (2021 census)[1]
Postcode(s)7213
Elevation610 m (2,001 ft)[2]
Location81 km (50 mi) E of Longford
LGA(s)Northern Midlands Council (89%), Break O'Day Council (11%)
RegionCentral, North-east
State electorate(s)Lyons
Federal division(s)Lyons
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall
14.8 °C
59 °F
4.5 °C
40 °F
952.5 mm
37.5 in
Localities around Rossarden:
Ben Lomond Ben Lomond Mangana
Deddington Rossarden Fingal
Conara Avoca Fingal

History

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Rossarden was gazetted as a locality in 1973.[4]

It is an old mining town in north-east Tasmania, located 19 km from Avoca and within sight of Ben Lomond.[5]

The town came into being primarily as a result of the tin mining operations of Aberfoyle Tin Mining Company, N.L which created a demand for employees.[6]

The town is located in a valley below Stacks Bluff (1527 m) and it is an old tin mining town, though the mine closed in 1982. Prior to this Rossarden was one of Australia's major tin producing towns. The main road into and out of the town is Rossarden Road.[7]

At the 2006 census, Rossarden and the surrounding area had a population of 172.[8] According to the 2011 census, this number had grown to 301 people.[9]

In 2008 an irregularity in the deed paperwork belonging to the residents of Rossarden was discovered. It was discovered that each resident actually owned the house next door to their own.[10] The irregularity has since been corrected by the State Government.

By 1933 the town was said to be growing steadily with a town hall, a post office, and 17 dwellings built in a matter of months, while a community ball was reported to have been arranged in order to raise funds for a tennis and badminton court.[11] The post office opened on 20 November 1933.[12][13]

Nearby locations include Storeys Creek, where there was a wolfram mine, Fingal and Avoca. The town's decline was captured in the Weddings Parties Anything song "Rossarden".

A book was written about the town in 2004 focusing on the stories of former residents.[14] There are also various books written about the mineralogy in the area.

In recent times there has been a campaign to draw tourists to the area.[15]

In 2016 plans for a new base station that would better serve mobile telephone coverage in the Rossarden area were revealed.[16]

Geography

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Almost all the boundaries are survey lines. Storys Creek, a tributary of the South Esk River, flows through from north to south.[17]

Road infrastructure

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Route B42 (Rossarden Road) runs through from south to north-east.[4][18]

References

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  1. ^ "2016 Census Quick Stats Rossarden(Tas.)". quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 26 July 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  2. ^ Bureau of Meteorology Retrieved on 2007-11-14
  3. ^ "2016 Census Quick Stats Rossarden(Tas.)". quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 23 October 2017. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Placenames Tasmania – Rossarden". Placenames Tasmania. Select “Search”, enter "1222R", click “Search”, select row, map is displayed, click “Details”. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  5. ^ "Rossarden Heritage Highway Tourism Tasmania". www.heritagehighway.com.au. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  6. ^ "ABERFOYLE TIN. Directors' Optimistic Report". Advocate. 10 September 1934. p. 8. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  7. ^ "Google Maps". Google Maps. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  8. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Rossarden (State Suburb)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 14 November 2007.
  9. ^ "2011 Census QuickStats: 7213, Tas". www.censusdata.abs.gov.au. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  10. ^ "Land title mix-up put right". ABC News. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  11. ^ "ROSSARDEN". The Mercury. 28 August 1934. p. 3. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  12. ^ Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
  13. ^ "ABERFOYLE TIN MINE New Township Postal and Bank Facilities". The Mercury. 21 November 1933. p. 13. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  14. ^ Blackaby, Narelle (1 January 2004). Rossarden: Echo of the Mountain. Blackaby, Narelle. ISBN 9780646433035.
  15. ^ "Tourism group hopes to revive towns". ABC News. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  16. ^ "New mobile base stations in lyons under coalitions $220 million mobile black spot programme".
  17. ^ "Rossarden, Tasmania" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  18. ^ "Tasmanian Road Route Codes" (PDF). Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water & Environment. May 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 August 2017. Retrieved 2 April 2021.