Devonport, Tasmania

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Template:Short description Template:Use Australian English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox Australian place

Devonport (Template:IPAc-en Template:Respell;<ref>Template:Cite RDPCE</ref> pirinilaplu/palawa kani: Limilinaturi)<ref>pulingina to lutruwita (Tasmania) Place Names Map</ref> is a port city situated at the mouth of the Mersey River on the north-west coast of Tasmania, Australia. Positioned Template:Convert east of Burnie and Template:Convert north of Launceston, its harbour manages over half of Tasmania's imports and exports, standing as the busiest freight port on the island.<ref name="devonport.tas.gov.au"/> Devonport also plays a central role in Tasmania's trade sector, supporting industries such as agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism. The City of Devonport's gross domestic product (GDP) was estimated at $3.5b in 2023.<ref name="devonport.tas.gov.au">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The city is home to the Spirit of Tasmania's passenger terminal, facilitating roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) ferry operations connecting mainland Australia and Tasmania since July 1985. In the 2022–23 fiscal year, the Port of Devonport welcomed over 450,000 passengers.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The completion of the $240m Quaylink project is expected to increase this capacity by an additional 160,000 passengers annually.<ref name="devonport.tas.gov.au"/><ref>Spirit of Tasmania to relocate to new Devonport terminal Daily Cargo News 1 August 2024</ref>

Devonport was established in 1893 through the amalgamation of the 1850s settlements of Torquay on the east bank and Formby on the west bank of the Mersey River. The township became a municipality in 1907<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and was designated a city by Prince Charles on 21 April 1981.<ref name="Charles">Template:Cite news</ref> Devonport holds the status of Tasmania's third-largest city, with an urban population of 26,150 at the 2021 Australian census,Template:R encompassing a total of 48,293 residents living within the greater statistical area.<ref name=Template:R>Template:Cite web</ref>

Despite its relatively small size, Devonport has facilitated business for many pioneering industries that achieved notable success on a national scale. Circa 1901, the Finlayson family foundry, known for its innovation,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> engineered what is believed to be the first steam car in the Southern Hemisphere.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Citation</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Similarly, family members of shipping company Holyman & Sons played a pivotal role in establishing the first airline connecting Bass Strait in 1934 as Holyman Airways, which eventually evolved into Australian National Airways and subsequently merged with Ansett.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Devonport holds a significant place in Australian political history as the home town of both Joseph Lyons, the tenth Prime Minister of Australia, and his wife, Dame Enid Lyons. Dame Enid made history as the first woman elected to the House of Representatives and the first woman to serve in the federal cabinet. Enid lived at the family residence, "Home Hill" until her death in 1981. Recognised for its historical significance, Home Hill has become a popular tourist destination and is registered with the National Trust of Australia.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

History

Early inhabitants

Template:See also The area now known as Devonport lies within the traditional country of several Palawa/Pakana (Tasmanian Aboriginal) groups associated with the North Nations. These included the punnilerpanner people of Panatana (Port Sorell), the Pallittorre of Lartitickitheker (Quamby Bluff), the Noeteeler of Ningherner or Parteenno (Hampshire Hills), and the Plairhekehillerplue of Emu Bluff.<ref name="Tiagarra">Template:Cite web</ref>

The Mersey Valley, including Panatana and the Devonport area, was an important gathering place, rich in resources such as birdlife, plant foods, and weaving materials.<ref name="Spreyton">Template:Cite web</ref> Seasonal activities included the harvesting of swan and duck eggs along the Mersey River in early spring.<ref name="Spreyton" />

British colonisation of northern Lutruwita (then known as Van Diemen's Land) began in the 1820s with the expansion of the Van Diemen's Land Company and the granting of large pastoral estates such as North Down placed pressure on indigenous populations through the disruption of river and valley corridors.<ref name="Tiagarra" /> By the twentieth century, no known direct descendants of the original groups of this region survived.<ref name="Tiagarra" /> Today, the broader Palawa/Pakana community continues to maintain cultural and custodial responsibilities for the entire island.<ref name="Tiagarra" />

European settlement before 1850

Exploration of the Mersey River was undertaken in 1823, however initial observations by the British were unfavourable. Following the arrival of the Van Diemen's Land Company in 1826, the district underwent further exploration and surveying. Settlers commenced arriving later in the same year.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Indigenous resistance to settlement was evident, leading to the killing of Captain Bartholomew Boyle Thomas on 31 August 1831.<ref>Template:Cite Australian Dictionary of Biography</ref>

The first European settlement in the Devonport region, predating 1850, was established on a block of land at Frogmore, near present-day Latrobe. It was a modest beginning that set the stage for future developments.<ref name="Advocate">Template:Cite news</ref>

Arrival of settlers and economic growth (1850–1870s)

In 1850, the arrival of a settler named Oldaker marked the establishment of present-day Devonport. Saw milling and coal mining gained momentum with the arrival of English settlers aboard the sailing ship Balmoral in 1854.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> During the 1850s, twin settlements, Formby and Torquay, emerged on opposite banks at the mouth of the Mersey River.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Torquay, the larger of the two, thrived with various amenities, including police, post offices, magistrate services, hotels, shipyards, and stores. A river ferry service connected Formby and Torquay.<ref name="Bovill">Template:Cite web</ref>

Between 1870 and 1880, the shipping industry experienced growth, leading to efforts to deepen the mouth of the river.<ref name="Advocate"/> This development facilitated the commencement of regular steamer services between the Mersey and Melbourne.<ref name="DCC">Template:Cite web</ref>

Key developments (1880s–1900s)

Mersey Bluff Lighthouse at sunset, 2015

In 1882, construction began on the Marine Board building, which remains a prominent landmark in the city. The completion of the Mersey Bluff Lighthouse in 1889 further improved maritime safety along the north-west coast. At the turn of the century, the arrival of the railway brought major changes to the Formby area, combining railhead and port facilities that spurred a period of rapid growth and building activity.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="DCG">Template:Cite web</ref>

In 1890, a public vote unified the settlements of Torquay and Formby, officially creating the town of Devonport. The opening of the Victoria Bridge in 1902 provided the first permanent land transport connection between Devonport and East Devonport, significantly strengthening trade and communication across the River Mersey.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Central Devonport, 1908

Around this time, limestone deposits in the Melrose–Eugenana district became important to local industry. Quarries supplied material to the Broken Hill Proprietary Company smelters, and in 1916 the government reconstructed the old Don Railway to transport limestone from Melrose to the Devonport wharves, supporting regional industrial development.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 1924, the Victoria Bridge collapsed following damage caused by Teredo navalis. Although no injuries were reported, the bridge was subsequently rebuilt and reinforced.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Emergence of the Goliath-Portland Cement Company (1926)

Goliath Cement, now known as Cement Australia, traces its origins back to the Tasmanian Cement Company in 1923.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Supercharged by abundant limestone deposits and Railton's proximity to shipping outlets, the company pioneered advancements such as the development of bulk cement transportation by sea and boasted the first fully automatic mill in Australia.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Railton facility, significant for its role in supplying cement for iconic projects like the Sydney Harbour Bridge,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> also produced asbestos products from 1947 to 1986, resulting in the company addressing compensation settlements to 3,000 workers who were exposed to asbestos in 2010.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Advancements in transportation and infrastructure (1930s–1950s)

Ovaltine Factory, Quoiba, circa 1940s

The 1930s brought notable advancements in transportation and infrastructure with the introduction of the motor car and modern roadworks. Street sealing projects were undertaken, main roads were upgraded, and the movement of goods became increasingly efficient across northern Tasmania. Constructed by Hansen Yuncken, the Ovaltine factory opened in 1943 at Quoiba, south of Devonport, becoming the company’s second-largest manufacturing facility globally to meet demand across Australasia and Southeast Asia.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref>

The post-war decades also saw the arrival of other major manufacturing enterprises. Tootal Broadhurst Lee established a weaving mill at Devonport in 1949, later expanding production through the 1950s.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Known locally as “Tootals”, the factory was later operated by Australian Weaving Mills, producing textiles and towels for national distribution.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In East Devonport, Tascot Templeton Carpets became a major carpet manufacturer, employing more than 150 workers until its closure in 2010.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In November 1952, the opening of the aerodrome at Pardoe marked a new era in regional air travel, with regular airline services linking Devonport to Victoria.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="TAHS15">Template:Cite web</ref> Destined for Melbourne, the first freight aircraft departed carrying a Template:Cvt load of Ovaltine.Template:R

In 1955, Gordon Edgell & Sons purchased the former Heinz cannery at Quoiba, establishing a significant food-processing plant that later became one of Tasmania’s largest processors of peas and other vegetables.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The factory continues to operate under Simplot Australia, producing frozen vegetables for the Edgell and Birds Eye brands and remaining one of the city’s largest employers.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Princess of Tasmania ferry service (1959)

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The Princess of Tasmania was the world’s largest ferry in 1959

The roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) terminal at East Devonport was officially opened on 26 September 1959, marking a new era in Bass Strait transport. That same year, the Princess of Tasmania ferry service commenced operations, inaugurating a “sea-road” link between Victoria and Tasmania. The service enabled drivers to take their vehicles aboard, responding to the growing demand for independent car tourism.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The vessel could carry around 334 passengers and approximately 100 vehicles, and the Template:Cvt crossing between Melbourne and Devonport was described at its introduction as one of the longest drive-on/drive-off ferry services in the world.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Over its thirteen years of service on the Bass Strait route (1959–1972), the ‘‘Princess of Tasmania’’ played a significant role in promoting Tasmania as a destination for motorists and improving mainland–Tasmania connectivity.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Residential expansion and infrastructure upgrades (1950s–1970s)

The post-war decades marked a period of rapid expansion for Devonport. New housing subdivisions spread west across the Don Valley, north along the heights of Coles Beach, and south on both sides of the Mersey River. By the late 1960s, the municipality was among the fastest-growing urban centres in Tasmania.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

During this period, the development of the Mersey–Forth Power Scheme transformed the economic landscape of Tasmania’s North West. Constructed between 1963 and 1973 by the Hydro Electric Commission, the scheme comprises seven major dams and power stations supplied by the Mersey, Forth, Wilmot and Fisher Rivers.<ref>Template:Cite report</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The scheme supplied a stable source of hydro-electric power to Devonport and nearby municipalities, fuelling industrial growth and underpinning the expansion of energy-intensive manufacturing and food-processing operations across the region.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 1973, a new prestressed concrete bridge replaced the ageing Victoria Bridge, improving road access across the Mersey and connecting the city to the Bass Highway.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

City proclamation and modern developments (1981–2014)

Devonport achieved city status on 21 April 1981, proclaimed by Prince Charles in a ceremony held on the Devonport Oval.<ref name="Charles"/>

From 1983-1984, the Devonport Warriors competed in the National Basketball League (NBL). The Warriors were forced to exit the NBL after the league announced it would be culled to 14 teams by 1985. The club never experienced financial hardship, and although the Warriors only won four games in 1984, ten of its losses had been by ten points or less.Template:Citation needed

Opening in 2001, the Pandemonium Discovery & Adventure was the North West Coast's largest indoor entertainment venue. Featuring an indoor play area, rock climbing, laser skirmish, skate ramp, and diverse science-focused exhibits, the centre catered to all ages, promoting health through active participation and recreation. The Imaginarium Science Centre located within the complex provided visitors with dynamic hands-on exhibits, programs, and changing displays. From 2001 until its closure in 2009, it hosted compelling traveling exhibitions from renowned science centers, such as 'Body in Action' from Te Manawa and 'Dinosaur Eggs and Babies' from Otago Museum and Gondwana Studios.Template:Citation needed

In 2014, after 160 years of continuous service, the cross-river ferry service was discontinued following the retirement of the Torquay ferry. However, it later resumed operations.Template:RTemplate:R

The town received national attention on 16 December 2021, when a jumping castle and two zorbs were lifted into the air by a gust of a wind at Hillcrest primary school, killing six children and injuring three.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Demographics

Template:See also Template:Historical populations

In 2021, the population of Devonport was 26,150.Template:R External population demographics estimate the resident population for Devonport at 26,977 in 2023, with a population density of 242.8 people per square km across a land area of Template:Cvt.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Devonport City Council has set specific population growth goals for the city, aiming to achieve a population of 30,000 by 2030 and 35,000 by 2040.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The median weekly household income is $1,167, compared to $1,746 nationally. 24.6% of households total weekly income is less than $650 week, while 10.4% of households weekly income exceeds $3,000. This compares to national rates of 16.5% and 24.3% respectively.Template:R

34.3% of households renting, and 8.1% of owned households with a mortgage experience housing stress, where rent or mortgage repayments payments exceed 30% of total income.Template:R

Devonport is home to a sizable First Nations population, with 1,971 residents, comprising 7.5% of the population, identifying as Indigenous Australians. This percentage surpasses the national average of 3.8% of the total Australian population.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 83.6% of residents were born in Australia. 2.9% were born in England, 0.8% in India and New Zealand and 0.6% in each Nepal, Philippines and Mainland China.<ref name="auto">Template:Cite web</ref>

89.9% of people spoke only English at home. 6.3% of households use a non-English language, including Mandarin (0.8%), Nepali (0.7%), Punjabi (0.4%) and Vietnamese and Tongan (0.3%).Template:R

In the 2021 census, 51.1% of people in Devonport professed no religion. 38.7% specified a Christian religious affiliation (including 12.4% as Anglicanism, 11.6% Catholic and 3.5% Uniting Church). Other religious affiliations include Hinduism (1.1%), Buddhism (0.9%), Islam (0.4%) and Sikhism (0.3%).Template:R<ref name="auto"/>

Geography

Climate

Devonport experiences a mild oceanic climate with small annual temperature ranges, influenced by its coastal exposure and frequent westerly frontal systems.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Summers are generally mild: from January to March average daytime maxima are around Template:Cvt, with occasional warmer spells into the high Template:Cvt and periodic cool changes when fronts pass.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Winters are cool and frequently cloudy, with regular light rain from passing fronts; July and August are typically the wettest months of the year. Daytime maxima in July average about Template:Cvt and nights are usually above freezing, while winter days rarely exceed about Template:Cvt.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Spring and early summer (September to December) are typically cool to mild and windy, with frequent showers interspersed with sunnier breaks as weather systems move across the north coast.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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Governance

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There are nine councillors that govern the Devonport City Council.Template:R Alison Jarman was elected mayor of the City of Devonport in 2022.<ref name="2022Election">Template:Cite web</ref> Devonport City Council oversees local governance in Devonport, managing infrastructure, community services, and local regulations. The council is also involved in supporting community development initiatives, including the Devonport Entertainment and Convention Centre. Devonport's political landscape is marked by a blend of conservative and progressive influences, reflecting the region's broader social dynamics.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

At the state level, Devonport falls within the Tasmanian House of Assembly’s electoral division of Braddon, a multi-member electorate that includes both Labor and Liberal members.<ref name="TallyRoom">Template:Cite web</ref>

Nationally, Devonport is located in the federal electorate of Braddon, currently represented by Anne Urquhart of the Australian Labor Party.<ref name="Urquhart">Template:Cite web</ref> Braddon has traditionally been a marginal seat, with representation often alternating between the Labor and Liberal parties in federal elections.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Suburbs

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  • Areas within Devonport as a suburb include Highfield
  • Areas within East Devonport as a suburb includes Pardoe Downs, Rannoch, Panorama Heights

Cultural and educational institutions

Downtown Devonport with Spirit I.
The 1899 Town Hall Theatre is located within the Paranaple Arts Centre.

Opening in November 2018, the Paranaple Arts Centre serves as a contemporary focal point for artistic expression and cultural engagement. It is home to the Devonport Regional Gallery, Town Hall Theatre and the Devonport Visitor Information Centre. The Paranaple hosts live performances encompassing a range of genres, including music concerts, theatre productions, dance performances, and other performing arts events.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The centre also includes gallery, studio and rehearsal spaces, a theatre, and multipurpose areas designed to host diverse arts-related activities.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Devonport Regional Gallery evolved from the inception of The Little Gallery, which was founded by Jean Thomas as a private enterprise in 1966. The Gallery presents an annual program of exhibitions, education and public programs including events and workshops. A broad range of selected local artisan works are displayed at the North West Regional Craft Centre and gift store in the CBD.Template:Citation needed

Tiagarra Aboriginal Culture Centre and Museum, 2016.

The Tiagarra Aboriginal Culture Centre and Museum displays petroglyphs, designs in rock and exhibits that depict the traditional lifestyle of Tasmanian Aboriginal people.Template:R Meaning "to keep", Tiagarra is one of the oldest Aboriginal-operated museums in Australia, officially opening on 16 October 1976 by Doug Nicholls and Gladys Nicholls.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Bass Strait Maritime Centre housed in the former Harbour Master's House has objects, models and photographs that tell the stories of Bass Strait and Devonport. Dame Enid Lyons inaugurated an exhibition of maritime memorabilia in 1970, inspiring the establishment of the Tasmanian Maritime and Folk Museum in East Devonport in 1973. By 1980, the museum had relocated to the Harbour Master’s house in Gloucester Avenue. In 1999, a merger with the Devon Historical Society integrated Devonport’s maritime and local history archives into a unified collection. In 2010, the Devonport City Council assumed ownership and management from the volunteer-based organization, leading to the present-day Bass Strait Maritime Centre. The collection, comprising 4500 objects, 200 artworks, photographic prints, negatives, and archival material, explores Devonport and Bass Strait's stories from the early 1800s to the present. Rotating exhibitions feature diverse narratives from the collection.Template:Citation needed

Devonport Regional Gallery, 2008

A volunteer-run vintage railway and museum, the Don River Railway, is situated at Don, a suburb of Devonport.Template:Citation needed

The former Devonport Maternity Hospital was recently demolished and the land repurposed into a gated community.Template:R

The Mersey Community Hospital at Latrobe serves the Devonport community for their health needs.Template:Citation needed

Kokoda Barracks is an army barracks in Devonport.Template:Citation needed

Transport

Devonport offers a range of transportation options, including road networks, intercity bus services, public transport bus services operated by Kinetic Tasmania, freight rail, passenger ferry, air travel, and alternative modes like cycling and walking pathways.

Devonport Airport

Devonport Airport, located about Template:Convert east of the city at Pardoe Downs, can be reached within a 15-minute car journey.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The airport is served by QantasLink and Rex Airlines, providing non-stop flights to Melbourne.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> QantasLink operates four daily Bombardier Dash 8 turboprop services to Melbourne.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Encompassing Template:Convert, the airport features a main runway measuring Template:Convert and a secondary grassed runway spanning Template:Convert. Its infrastructure includes comprehensive taxiways, passenger terminals and general aviation, and maintenance hangars.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Recent upgrades in 2020 enhanced the terminal with a new departure lounge, upgraded security, and a dedicated freight apron.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The airport offers car parking, rental cars and taxi facilities.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="VisitDevonport">Template:Cite web</ref> It is connected to Devonport by public transport, with bus services operated by Kinetic (formerly including Merseylink) and local taxi services.<ref name="VisitDevonport"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Freight transport

From Devonport, two operators provide roll-on/roll-off freight service across Bass Strait to Victoria:

Cement Australia has been exporting cement from Railton to Melbourne since 1926. Additional exports by ship include tallow, while coal was an export until the closure of the Fingal Valley coal mine.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Imports to Devonport include petroleum, bunker fuel, fertiliser and caustic soda.<ref name="ourtasport">Template:Cite web</ref>

Due for completion in 2027, the $240 million Quaylink project, a TasPorts investment of new berths and terminal facilities, is expected to further boost the port's freight operations by 40%.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="insideconstruction.com.au">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Rail

The Don River Railway

TasRail maintains a freight rail line that connects the port area to Burnie and Railton.<ref>Devonport TasRail</ref> Devonport had a railway station that was demolished in 1983.<ref>ANR Continental Railway Journal issue 59 September 1984 page 326</ref><ref>Don River Railway eyes disused Devonport station site Railway Digest May 2020 page 54</ref>

Situated in Don, the Don River Railway is a volunteer-run heritage railway and museum providing an opportunity for visitors to enjoy a passenger train ride from Don to Coles Beach.<ref>DRR Lanceston depot opened Tasmanian Rail News issue 222 November 2003 page 9</ref> The railway journey traces a reconstructed section of the former Melrose line, historically connecting Don Junction to Paloona.

Passenger ferries

Devonport serves as the departure point for the Spirit of Tasmania ferries (Spirit of Tasmania I and Spirit of Tasmania II) that travel from Devonport to Geelong, Victoria, taking approximately 11 hours for the voyage. These ferries are crucial for transporting passengers, vehicles, and freight between Tasmania and the Australian mainland, providing an essential link across the Bass Strait.Template:RTemplate:R A ferry service connecting east and west of Devonport named The Spirit of Devonport ceased operations on the Mersey River after more than 160 years in 2022.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Tasmania Australian Bus Panorama issue 38/3 November 2022 page 33</ref><ref>Spirit of Devonport Ferry Service Devonport City Council</ref>

Devonport Passenger Ferry History

The first Spirit of Tasmania, 1999
Vessel Destination Years Operator
Oonah Melbourne 1921–1935 Tasmanian Steamers
Loongana Melbourne 1921–1935 Tasmanian Steamers
Nairana Melbourne 1921–1948 Tasmanian Steamers
Taroona Melbourne 1935–1959 Tasmanian Steamers
Princess of Tasmania Melbourne 1959–1972 Australian National Line
Empress of Australia Melbourne 1972–1986 Australian National Line
Abel Tasman Melbourne 1986–1993 Spirit of Tasmania
Spirit of Tasmania Melbourne 1993–2002 Spirit of Tasmania
Spirit of Tasmania I Melbourne 2002–2022 Spirit of Tasmania
Spirit of Tasmania II Melbourne 2002–2022 Spirit of Tasmania
Spirit of Tasmania III Sydney 2003–2006 Spirit of Tasmania
Spirit of Tasmania I Geelong 2022– Spirit of Tasmania
Spirit of Tasmania II Geelong 2022– Spirit of Tasmania

Agriculture

Situated within a modest expanse of Template:Convert,<ref name="Welcome to Devonport">Template:Cite web</ref> Devonport has a solid history in agriculture. Despite the region's spatial limitations, Devonport has been a linchpin in Tasmania's vegetable cultivation, yielding substantial quantities of beans, onions, peas, and potatoes. The post-World War II era witnessed a transformative phase marked by the establishment of processing factories, with a specific emphasis on peas. These facilities assumed a crucial role in the canning, freezing, and dehydrating processes, not only bolstering local sustenance but also fundamentally influencing Tasmania's broader agricultural and food production paradigm.<ref>Template:Citation</ref> Devonport has since emerged as a key contributor to Australia's agricultural production, with a significant supporting dairy industry, cereals, poppyseed oil and pyrethrum.<ref name="Welcome to Devonport"/>

Education

Our Lady Of Lourdes Primary School.

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Primary schools

  • Hillcrest Primary School
  • Devonport Primary School
  • Miandetta Primary School
  • East Devonport Primary School
  • Nixon Street Primary School
  • Spreyton Primary School
  • Devonport Christian School
  • Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School

Secondary schools (Years 7–10)

Senior secondary education (Years 11–12)

A TasTAFE campus, an adult training institution, is situated in Valley Road.

Sport

Devonport Oval, 2009.

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Devonport has a rich sporting culture, with the Devonport Football Club (Magpies) competing in the North West Football League (NWFL), having secured back-to-back Senior Premierships in 2021 and 2022. The East Devonport Football Club (Swans) also plays in the NWFL, with teams like Ulverstone and Penguin. The Devonport Rugby Club competes in the Tasmanian Rugby Union Statewide League,Template:R and touch football is organised by the Devonport Touch Football Association at Meercroft Park.Template:Citation needed

In soccer, Devonport City Football Club plays in the National Premier Leagues Tasmania and fields a reserve team in the Northern Championship.Template:Citation needed

Cricket is represented by the Devonport Cricket Club in the North Western Tasmanian Cricket Association. Devonport’s hockey teams compete in the Hockey Tasmania leagues.Template:Citation needed

The Devonport Warriors, based at the Devonport Recreation Centre, are the largest basketball club in the North West Basketball Union, with over 750 members and a legacy of success, including hosting the Under-14 Australian Junior Championships in 1974 and representing Devonport in the National Basketball League between 1983-1984.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Netball is centered at Devonport Netball in Spreyton, participating in statewide events.Template:Citation needed

Devonport hosts a leg of the Tasmanian Cycling Christmas Carnival Series, along with athletics and woodchopping events.Template:R

The Devonport Golf Club has hosted major events like the Tasmanian Open and Tasmanian Seniors Open. The annual Devonport Regatta features powerboat racing, while the Devonport Cup, held in January at the Spreyton racecourse, is a major horse racing event. The city also hosts regular harness and greyhound racing at the Devonport Showgrounds.Template:Citation needed

The Splash Devonport Aquatic and Leisure Centre offers a gym and indoor pool within the Don Reserve. Devonport Tennis Club and East Devonport Tennis Club compete in the Tennis North West Association, and the annual Devonport Triathlon in February serves as the Oceania continental championship.Template:Citation needed

Notable residents

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Arts

Other

Politicians

Sportspeople

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VFL/AFL players

Sister cities

See also

References

<references> <ref name="ABSLGA">Template:Cite web</ref> <ref name="TORQUAY1">Template:Cite web</ref> <ref name="TORQUAY2">Template:Cite web</ref> <ref name="MUSEUM">Template:Cite podcast</ref> <ref name="FORMERHOSPITAL">Template:Cite web</ref> <ref name="ALDERMAN">Template:Cite web</ref> <ref name="GEELONG">Template:Cite news</ref> <ref name="GEELONG2">Template:Cite web</ref> <ref name="BoM">Template:Cite web</ref> <ref name="BoM2">Template:Cite web</ref> <ref name="RUGBY">Template:Cite web</ref> <ref name="CYCLING">Template:Cite web</ref> <ref name="MINAMATA">Template:Cite web</ref> </references>

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